TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4489, 9 August 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(FROM OUII OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Tauranga, Saturday. The Native chiefs held a council yesterday, and unanimously agreed to forward a counter petition to Parliament, praying the House not to alter the Native rights to vote. The petition ■will be entrusted to McLean. (PER PRESS AGENCY - .) G-rahamstown, Saturday. The gold returns for the week are 2500 ounces. The Evening Star of to-night has an article on the subject of the numerous petitions sent this session to the Assembly, and specially regarding the petition taken by a person named Adam Porter. The article says it was adopted at a meeting called for another purpose, and while the people were leaving. The business of the meeting being over, the chairman of the meeting and the Mayor were asked to sign the petition, but the Mayor declined. The article says the most effectual way to bring the Thames and its petitions into ridicule with the House would be to send a man like Adam Porter to represent the inhabitants of the Thames. “We protest against ids assumption of a position of trust. He will be sent back with a flea in his oar, which will be tiro case if the local representatives pf the people take the proper steps to vindicate their own dignity and the good sense of the community, which are both unsettled by Adam Porter’s consummate impudence in constituting himself a delegate from the Thames to the Parliament of the colony. We make bold to say that not one in a hundred on the list has seen the petition Porter is the bearer of, and that they would not have signed it if they had seen it. If there are many signatures appended to it, we should be inclined to question their genuineness.” Hamilton, Saturday. The Waikato Times this morning has a strong article regarding provincialism. It says the Waikato people are for a speedy and effectual demolition of the old useless idols which they have so long kindly worshipped. Sir George Grey may telegraph craving a little more grace to prepare for political execution, but the fiat has gone forth from the neglected and isolated districts—from settlers floundering in quagmire roads ; from parents whose children are tired of mental food ; from hundreds who have never seen a sight of Provincial Government but its tax collector. Prom every long suffering settler the cry will resound in one mighty volume “ Cut it down, this deadly Upas tree ; why cumbereth it the ground.” In vain will despairing provincialists ask where the funds are to come from. The answer is : “ From your own despoil.” It means the sweeping away of useless offices ; the abolition of mock parliaments, and farcical little toy governments. A public meeting has been convened. The settlers generally, arc in favor of the Government measures. Invercargill, Saturday. In the Wallace election the following returns have been received;—Lowther—Basstian, 7; Cameron, 3. Wrey’s Bush—Basstian, 19 ; Cameron, 6 ; Monckton, 1. Orepuki—Basstian, 20; Cameron, 29; Monckton, 21. Totals, Basstian, 46 ; Cameron, 38 ; Monckton, 22. Two returns have yet to come in, but they are certain to increase Basstian's majority. Sunday.

Tho V/aiiui returns for the Wallace election have just been received. There are seven votes for Bnsstian. The others have none.

Dunedin, Saturday. Mr. Stout, M.P.O. for Caversham, addressed his constituents last evening, speaking chiefly on the abolition question. He strongly opposed tho abolition of the Middle Island provinces, mainly on the grounds of objection to ' nominated Government and because it involved putting the land fund into the common purse of the colony. Tho following resolution passed unanimously :—That this meeting disproves of the Abolition of Provinces Bill as being a measure not in the interests of

the people or called for by them. The chairman was requested to forward it to his Honor the Superintendent in Wellington. A vote of confidence in Mr. Stout was passed mem. con. Grbymooth, Saturday.

The O’Connell Centenary celebration yesterday was a great success. In the afternoon a procession took place of the Fire Brigade, members of the Hibernian and St. Patrick’s Societies, and general public, extending to over half-a-mile in length. Open air addresses were delivered amidst great enthusiasm. The proceedings wound up with a banquet and a ball, both being numerously attended.