TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4579, 23 November 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(MB PBESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Monday. A Maketu telegram positively denies the report that the survey of Te Puke and Rangururu blocks had been stopped by the natives. The owners thoroughly understand the position of the Government action in negociatou. Both blocks will be thrown open in three months. There are no signs of the Tasco de Gama, overdue. Ghahamstown, Monday. The City of London obtained 6910z5. of gold from 350 tons of stone crushed during the fortnight. Another dividend will probably be paid. W. T. Hurst and John Gibbons are spoken of as likely to contest the Thames. Wanganui, Monday. W. H. Watt has issued an address to the electors of Wanganui announcing himself a local candidate. R. Pharazyn does not retire in his favor, has had been stated, Napier, Monday. An inquest was held to-day on the body of Ernest August Weber, aged seventeen, son of Charles Weber, the Provincial Engineer, who met death under melancholy circumstances. The deceased was a cadet clerk on the railway. A gun belonging to Miller, the manager, was left loaded in the ticket office. Another cadet named Webber was |>laying with the gun, and deceased was showing him how to fire (neither knowing the gun was loaded). The gun wont off and shot Weber dead on the spot. The jury returned a verdict, adding a rider of regret at the culpable and prevalent practice of persons leaving loaded firearms in places accessable to others. There is some talk of another candidate for the Napier district—Joseph Rhodes (absent in England), but no address is out. Timaru, Monday.

Mr. Bruce addressed the Gladstone electors at Waimate, on Saturday night, and declared himself an Abolitionist to the backbone, in favor of the unity of the colony, with a central Government, and local government by Shire Councils. He thought on the expiration of the pastoral leases, the runs should be let by public tender. That the railways as soon as completed should be let to private companies, supervised by an engineer-in-chief. He promised to advocate several local reforms. Mr. Studholme replied at some length as to the

pastoral leases, declaring that no one could compete with the squatter for these runs without ruining themselves, and said he agreed with Brace on most points, but did not think him the best man for the district. Mr. Teschmaker would have ■much more weight in the House. A vote of confidence in Bruce was put to the meeting, and amid great uproar the Chairman declared it carried: many voices crying “No.” Turnbull, M.P.0., an auctioneer at Timaru, has consented to stand against Brace _ and Teschmaker. He is a strong Abolitionist and opposed to the squatters. He has democratic opinions. The Duke of Edinburgh immigrants are rapidly finding engagements, though some are very unsuitable. Great complaints are made as to their treatment on board. Captain Mosey brought his wife with him in defiance of the regulations in force since the Cospatrick disaster. The cabin passengers say they have been fed on the immigrants’ stores, the latter receiving short allowance. The immigrants were sent to Timaru six hours after the ship anchored at Lyttelton and no inquiry made. Dunedin, Monday. Councillor Isaac moves in the Municipal Council to-morrow a motion that members be paid two guineas a sitting, the same as the members of the Harbor Board. A similar motion is tabled for the Port Chalmers School Committee. A deputation waited on the Hon. W. H. Reynolds to-day to ask that gentleman to use his influence with the General Government on behalf of the workmen on a contract on the Clutha and Mataura railway. Bradshaw said the contractor had failed, leaving upwards of .Cl '2OO due to his workmen, and throwing them out of employment. These men, fifty or sixty in number, had tried every legal and legitimate means to obtain what was due to them, but without success, and they were consequently in a state of great distress. Reynolds said the matter was a very serious one, but as the deputation was aware it was not in his department, all he could do was to represent it to the Hon. J. L. C. Richardson, Minister for Public Works, for his favorable consideration. He was perfectly certain that the Hon. Mr. Richardson would do all he could for the workmen, consistent with the interests of the public service, and as that gentleman was expected in Dunedin shortly the deputation might expect soon to have the matter determined.

It has been raining heavily and steadily all day. There is every chance of a flood if it continues much longer. The creeks are rising.