TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4184, 18 August 1874, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

ME. T. EXJSSELL ON THE SAN FEANCISCO SEEVICE. THE FEESS ON NOETH ISLAND PEOVINCES. [Press Telegraph Agency.] Christchurch, Monday. The Lyttelton Times in a leader this morning agrees that Mr. Vogel’s speech, re abolition of the Northern Provinces, is firm and moderate, but says that it contains evidence that the proposal is the result of pique at the opposition to one of his pet ' schemes, and does not show that the successful prosecution of public works is impossible with the present double form of government. It says that the speech gives no substantial reasons why the Northern Provinces _ should be abolished at the present time, and points out that if they are abolished, the land fund in the South Island will become common property in a year or two. It concludes as follows ; “ We have said that the abolition of the North Island Provinces would not substantially reduce the Colonial liabilities of the South, or materially improve the position of the Colony, and we see no reason to alter that opinion. Mr. Vogel will find that he can most effectually abolish the Provinces by the active and careful prosecution of the policy of public works.” The Press argues in favor of the abolition of the Provinces in both islands. It says, if we sweep away the Provinces of the North Island because they no longer answer the purposes for which they were constituted, why preserve those in the Middle Island which do so even less, and of which two were failures from their birth. : It may be impracticable, perhaps, to abolish Canterbury and Otago. They are politically powerful, and their power rests on a substantial basis in prosperity and wealth; a Province which has nearly a million of money in its coffers occupies an undeniably strong position, and is not to be easily disposed of. But the others can plead no such exemption. It quotes from the Provincial Public Works Advance ' Act to show that Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland, like the Northern Provinces, are all pensioners of the General Government, and says that Canterbury and Otago are the only Provinces not virtually defunct. Mr. Thomas Eussell writes as follows to the Press this morning;— “Sir, —Eeferring to your not unfriendly article this morning, permit mo a few words in explanation. You couple Dr. Featherston’s name with Mr. Samuel and myself as responsible for accepting Mr. Forbes as a contractor with Mr. H. H. Hall. In justice to Dr, Featherston, I must exonerate him from all responsibility. Whatever connection with the contract, he had nothing whatever to do with it. In fact, ho was on the Continent when the preliminary agreement was signed, and did not know who the contractor was until ho returned to England. Shortly after my arrival in London, Dr. Featherston gave me a letter of introduction to Sir Charles Cowper, Agent-General for New South Wales, in which ho strongly urged that New South Wales should co-operate with Now Zealand; but, beyond this, ho did nothing whatever in the matter. The chief cause of the present difficulty undoubtedly has been the hasty and premature contract made by the New South Wales Government with Mr. H. H. Hall. Had Mr. Samuel and myself been free to choose contractors wo could have made arrangements with a company that would not have been afraid of a loss of £50,000 in starting this great undex-taking ; but our hands wore tied. Mr. Hall had the New South

Wales contract in his pocket.'. . He 'esteemed it of great value, and would not allow any persons'- to participate in it hut. those "who would allow him the full management. - For my part, having secured from New South Wales the recognition of our right to one-half the advantages of the service, I had to make the best of the material at my disposal, and put the contract into the best possible shape, and this I claim to have done. Before we accepted Mr Forbes, we rejected several names submitted to us by Mr. Hall, and when Mr. Forbes’s name was accepted, it was only after most careful enquiry as to his means and ability to fulfil the undertaking. In my-first interview with Mr. Forbes he informed me among other satisfactory assurances that he had drawn on Baring Brothers for forty years, and referred me to them. This result of the inquiry made of Baring Brothers was satisfactory. I made inquiry at other sources with the same satisfactory results, evidence of all which I hold. Mr. Samuel, through other quarters, made several inquiries with the same result. We were confirmed in our own opinion of Mr. Forbes by the readiness with which he chartered five large steamships and despatched them for the temporary service, and by the fact that on his own personal responsibility he ordered the building of four splendid steamers, upwards of 3000 tons each. The contract for these vessels was made with two most eminent shipbuilders in Great Britain, and they had previously built many ships for Mr. Forbes. The fact that these shipbuilders accepted Mr. Forbes’ order for £400,000 worth of property was the strongest evidence to us of their estimate of his means and ability. (The order for the new ships was given immediately after signing the preliminary memo, of agreement, and before the contract was drawn and signed.) Mr. Forbes when he agreed with us was principal partner in the well-known China house of Russell and Co., a firm owning a larger steam fleet than the whole of the steamships trading in and to this Colony, and he has been extensively connected with steam for upwards of twenty years. I believe Mr. Forbes entered into the contract without the knowledge, and, as I afterwards learned, against the wish of his partner. I still think Mr. Forbes to he quite able to carry it out, but, being an old gentleman, and having recently lost his health, he has, I believe, been compelled by others to take the step he has taken. “ The temporary service was a mistake. I feared it at the time, and urged Mr. Samuel against it, but New South Wales had quarrelled with Victoria about the Suez terminus, hence the urgent necessity to start a San Francisco service from Sydney in December (the date of the termination of the Suez line to Sydney). Mr. Hall was forced to begin before he was ready, and to this haste I attribute all the disasters that followed. It may he urged that I should have declined to join in a temporary service, but this was a part of the compact with New South Wales. We were to join them inthe whole undertaking. Notwithstanding the great discouragement we met with I still believe the San Francisco service will he a success. There is no more pleasant passage from the Colony to Europe than this, with the additional advantages of touching at the beautiful islands of the Pacific, and a visit to America.” Dunedin, Monday. The Times, in a leader on Mr. Vogel's resolutions rc North Island .Provinces, says if there are no ulterior designs on the Middle Island, no objection can be taken by the people of Otago on their own account. The question must be answered why the General Government is to take the place of the present Provincial institutions. Nothing will suit the Middle Island but that arrangements should bo maintained by which the local expenditure should be met by revenue locally raised. New Plymouth, Monday. Mr. Holloway goes into the country to-day, accompanied by the Deputy-Superintendent and other gentlemen. Auckland, Monday. The s.s. Cyphrenes proceeds to Sydney tomorrow. The s.s. Victoria, which sailed for Sydney, has Mr. Watts’s mare Calumny on board. Mr. Watts proceeded by her to Melbourne. Pout Chalmers, Monday. Giving to the gale which blew from the N.E. here yesterday the Alhambra did not go to sea until the afternoon. THE S.S. HERO AT AUCKLAND. Auckland, Monday. The Hero Has arrived. She left Sydney on 11th August. Melbourne, August 10. Lurline and Papapa are not to he sent to Sydney, being reserved for Melbourne events. New teas are moving off steadily at advanced rates. The brig Ellen Norris was totally wrecked at New Caledonia. Edward Ainley, produce merchant, was convicted of forgery, and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. Sandhurst dividends for the week amount to over £IB,OOO. ’ The Misses Moezlin, who recently came into possession of a fortune of £30,000, at once proceeded to distribute over £20,000 amongst the charitable institutions of Victoria. A man named Thomas Bartholomew has been found on the Puzzle Ranges. He was four days without food, his feet are frost-bitten, and he is in a dangerous state. Adelaide, August 10. Mr. Ross telegraphs to Mr. Elder, from Beltana, to the following effect: —“ Obliged to return throughwantof water. No raiufallenfor long time. Horses several times without water for days together. Great extent raulga scrub. Immense quantities dead underwood prevented using camels for trying country for water. Furthest course was latitude 30'25 ; longitude 131'56. Very few Natives were seen. Every occasion were making towards sea-coast. Are very wild. Was unable to get within speaking distance. Country traversed .high, open, undulating table land ; dense mulga scrub and open mulga scrub, well grassed. There is a great extent of open undulating plains magnificently grassed.” The salary of Dutton, the Agent-General, has been increased to £IOOO, and he is to be allowed a secretary at £SOO per annum. Mr. S. Deering is likely to receive the appointment. The crops in the agricultural areas are looking well. The P, and O. Company’s boats commence to go through the Suez canal on August 20, formalities having been completed; the first steamer leaving Southampton on September 1, and calling at Alexandria. The Chamber of Commerce adopted the proposed Intercolonial Free Trade Bill. Dr. Paterson advocates the establishment of a Government station, at which lunatics may be made to support themselves. Fertile half year ending in June the average liabilities of all the banks amounted to £2,835,000, and the assets were £4,000,000. The wheat trade is quiet. Brisbane, August 11. Blondin gave a benefit for the Hospital. The place was crowded. He walked across the rope with baskets on his feet an d his legs shackled. At his benefit he carried over a harmonium, and he played a selection of airs while on the middle of the rope. The Emperor, from Newcastle, hound for Lyttelton, arrived at Moroton Bay on August 17. She reported experiencing a tremendous westerly gale, or rather a fierce hurricane, on July 31. The heavy sea broke over the port bow, doing serious damage. The hands were kept at the pumps for thirty-six hours ; the cargo shifted, and she lost several sails. She will discharge her cargo. Newcastle, August 11. Arrived : The Memento and Marianna, from Dunedin; Inverallan and,Melrose, from Nelson ; and Helen Schiehallion; from Napier. Sailed : Eerronia, for Lyttelton, with 445 tons of coal. Sydney, August 11. Candles, best brands, 9Jd. to 10)4.; Guinness’s stout, 11s. to 11s. 9d.; Bass’s 9s. ,6d.; Tennent’s, 10s. 6d.; Hennessy’s case brandy, 315.; Martell’s, 275. 6d.; Hennessy’s bulk (nominal), 10s,; Martoll’s, 9s. 6d. ; coarso Liverpool salt, 4s. to 7s. 6d.; kerosene, dull, Is. to Is. Od.; maize, 3s. Cd. to 3s. 9d.