TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4493, 13 August 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

PER PEESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Thursday. At the Parnell electors' meeting re abolition last night 600 were present. The first resolution moved was in favor of the Government Bills, but lapsed for want of a. seconder. The second resolution—" That this meeting views with alarm the proposition to abolish the provinces without an appeal to the country, by means of a general election, and protests against the Abolition of Provinces Bill being passed by the Assembly, whose term of office is just expiring " —was received with enthusiastic cheering. A telegram was read from Mr. Reader Wood, declaring his intention to contest Parnell against all comers. Mr. Dargaville moved a resolution supporting the general principles of the Government measures, and declared his intention to contest Parnell with Mr. Wood. Mr. Lusk made an able speech against the Government measures. The other speakers referred to Sir George Grey's exertions, and the necessity for giving him cordial support. A vote of confidence in Mr. Wood was passed with cheers. A meeting re abolition has been called by the Mayor for Saturday next. The suburbs also will convene a meeting. The day has not been fixed. Maurice O'Neill fell overboard from the steamer Waipa into the Waikato River. Another passenger and a Maori jumped into the river to save him, but failed. A number of milkmen have been summoned, at the instigation of the Provincial Analyst, for adulterating milk. Gkahajistown, Thursday.

Mr. Fraser, K.M., will commence an investigation into the grievance re block 5a tomorrow. This is one of the matters referred to in the petition laid before the Assembly recently,

Napier, Thursday. Paora te Apatu, chief of Wairoa, is dead. A big tangi will be held in a day or two. Nelson, Thursday.

A meeting is called by the Mayor for tomorrow night, to consider the abolition proposals. Dcnedin, Thursday.

A respectably dressed woman, named Elizabeth Collins, tried hard yesterday to drown herself by jumping off the wharf. She was rescued, but pleaded hard to bo allowed to drown herself. She is just married, and her husband ill-treated her. The Times considers Sir George Grey's speech on abolition very puerile and egotistical, and says that the public don't care whether he framed the Constitution in a cottage or a palace. It considers his remarks claptrap and rubbish, the allusion to the Chief Justice and "My dear Bowen " all bunkum, and nothing to do with tho question at issue. We don't know whether to laugh or be disgusted at tho twaddle about fishing villages. It says there are excellent men on the Opposition side to follow, who will deal with the question as statesmen, not as mere talkers. Inveuoaugill, Thursday.

Mr. Lumsden, M.P.C., addressed a meeting of his constituents at tho theatre last night. There was a moderate attendance ; the Mayor in the chair. Mr. Lumsden, at considerable length, reviewed tho proceedings of the late session of the Provincial Council, and explained his action in reference to matters of local interest. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried, with two disser-tients. Christciiurch, Thursday.

The Lyttclton Times to-day, speaking of the Road Board finance table published yesterday, points out that if the same rates are levied next year as last year, two suburbau road board district, with 1351 ratepayers, would under the Abolition Bill gain £SOOO, but that five districts with 6980 ratepayers would lose £112,579 ; or if a one shilling rate is levied, six road boards, representing 2214 ratepayers, would gain by tho Abolition Bill to the extent of £2500, but thirty-one road boards, representing 6117 ratepayers, would lose £89,775. Speaking next of what will bo done with the money thus saved from the road boards, the Times says tho balance of land fund remaining over after paying the pound for pound endowment is to be dividod between immigration, charitable, and public works. " There is a balanco for these purposes under the present system, which balanco will bo largely increased by saving from roads boards as proposed by the Bill. Immigration and public works are, no doubt, very good objects for the expenditure of public money, but tho electors must remember the Bill places the appropriation of the very large balance under discussion in the hands of the General Assembly. Remembering this, they will see there is no security that the new district of Canterbury will not lose its proportion of the colonial immigration expenditure iu proportion to the amount supplied by the local land fund. The Bill is silent on this point, aud members representing other districts in the Assembly would bo loud enough in their demands to mulct Canterbury. The same observation will apply to futuro expenditure on public works. It should not be forgotten also that the appropriation of localised land fund by the General Legislature can never be so satisfactory as an appropriation by a local legislature."