TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4452, 26 June 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(rnoji oon own cokkesfondent.) Auckland, Priday. Sir George Grey is still at the Thames, inveighing against tho General Government. In reply to a deputation, he made some very severe remarks on - Mackay, and said two hundred people had been kept from settling on laud, because the public record had been shut up by that officer in a private box. He stated that the whole of the timber on the Tairua block, together with the rivers and streams, had been leased for forty years to Preece and Graham, and no man could out a stick of timber for that time. In some cases rights had been granted for ninety years, and people could not settle on such lands. This little transaction took place the day before the purchase of the Tairua block by Government. This statement is misleading; Preece and Graham having long held a lease of the timber and streams from the natives connected with their mill. Tho Advertiser says another scandal about the reserve has been floating about, but now it has been definitely fixed on a piece of flat land suitable for a township. Tho Advertiser says it fully expects to find tho reserve leased by some European, who will make miners pay through the nose. Sir George Grey recommends the people to petition the Assembly to inquire into the scandal. He said he had every reason to believe that the Government wore buying land for private individuals. He did not believe, that in Kussia or China, or in any other arbitrary Government, they would have done such a thing. The feeling raised at the Thames by his Honor’s disclosures is reported to be intensely strong, and steps are about to be taken to get up a monster petition to the Assembly. The Advertiser . says that tho disclosures are alarming, and that other matters will yet be brought to light. It urges that the people should insist on the Government cancelling the agreement if there has been illegality from first to last, as tho idea of handing over the lands to the province for settlement when in such a position is monstrous, and should bo resented with scorn and contempt. Tho Superintendent received a deputation of the Mayor, Councillors, and nine managers, in reference to tho Warotahi road. He urged the making of the road for tho benefit of tho mines, which were now unable to crush for want of a road. Tho Superintendent said the Provincial-Government had no money and would make no promises which could not bo fulfilled. He pointed out that a large portion of the goldfields revenue was absorbed

in works at Ohinemuri, and wasted for want of proper supervision. In reply to a deputation from the Borough Council in regard ■to the maintenance of a road for goldfields traffic, the ' Superintendent pointed out that he had no money, but would endeavor to procure endowments for them. The General Government had unlawfully taken provincial money ; he might be able to recover it in the Supreme Court. He expressed his astonishment that no steps had been taken by the Thames people to recover from the General Government the large sums expended in Ohinemuri, stating that they ought to petition them to refund this money, deducted from the goldfields revenue. He should himself insist on this return of unlawful expenditure, unless Government brought in an Act of indemnity to legalise the expenditure. Dunedin, Friday. The squabbles between the Bench and Bar continue to-day. In the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Mr. Douniston, a newly passed barrister, who appeared for a defendant, contended that he had no cause to answer, and shrugged his shoulders. HisWorship(authoritativclyaddressing Mr. Denniston) : “ I say that there must be no posture-making hero.” Mr. Denniston indignantly disclaimed any idea of posture-making, and declared that ho must also preserve his rights. Shortly afterwards he said he hoped his Worship would not deem his action disrespectful to the Court. His Worship ; “It is very natural for young counsel to be very zealous and making objections.” Mr. Dennistou objected to being called a young counsel, as such statements wont forth in the papers, and were likely to damage one’s reputation. As Mr. Denniston is a man between thirty and forty years of age, it no doubt seems hard to be called a young counsel. Another sitting in banco was held to-day, when things seem to have been conducted with great propriety, as I have not heard of any sparring between Bench and Bar. In re the Smith and Gillies pugilistic encounter of yesterday the Times of this morning is dumb ; but the Guardian, while withholding names, gives an account of the affair, which has caused quite a sensation, and is the talk of the town. To-day the Timaru Herald publishes Smith’s letter, and in a leader walks into the Times for refusing to insert it. It also says that if Smith’s letter be true, then Macassey ought to be turned out of the profession; and, if not true, then Smith himself ought to be. The Bruce Herald to-day, in speaking of the affair, says it was J. L. Gillies who was “pitched into” by Smith, because he had written to the Times and Guardian. So that altogether things look pretty mixed, and people are beginning to wonder where the whole thing will end. The case Macassey v. Bell, which was set down for re-hearing, has been amicably settled. A man named Gumming committed suicide by jumping from the Mataura bridge. He had been drinking heavily. (PEE PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Friday. In the Nelson bankruptcy ease, Judge Gillies made a rule absolute as against Charles Bray, but discharged that against Thomas Bray. Geahamstown, Friday. The Tairua Company has resumed work. The reef shows very rich stone, with quantities of loose gold in the mullock. Sir George Grey has received numerous deputations during the last few days regarding amendments in the goldminiug acts, leases on goldfields, &c. Napier, Friday. The Council is proceeding with the Estimates. The Municipal Revenues Bill was lost. The Market Reserve Bill passed its second reading. It is expected that the business will be over and the Council prorogued next week. A Maori boy, son of a Taupo chief, has been drowned at Clive. Hew Plymouth, Friday. The Council is still sitting, but is engaged with purely local matter. A resolution was passed in favor of waiting to see what measures the General Government brought down, before deciding to express an opinion that it is desirable to abolish the provinces. Timaru, Friday. The Timaru Herald publishes a long letter from Mr. Jas. Smith, in reply to Mr. Macassey, which all three Dunedin papers refused to publish. Also a sharp leader on the state of the Bar and Press at Dunedin. It says, inter alia, “ If the charges brought against Mr. Macassey be true, he richly deserves to be ignominiously expelled from the' profession of the law.” Dunedin, Friday. The Bruce Herald publishes a letter from Adam, the provincial immigration agent at Horae, in which he states that he has interviewed Vogel, and found him bad with’ gout and unable to stand a return at present; and Vogel distinctly told the writer he • should come back as soon as possible.