TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4593, 9 December 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(from our own correspondent.) Westport, Wednesday. The claims to sections, held in virtue of business licenses, were gone on with this morning. Mr. J. B. Fisher, counsel for the claimants, vigorously denounced the G-eneral Government and their agent JVTackay, as persons not to be trusted. He said they had endeavored to pass an Act through the Assembly declaring that there were no encumbrances on the colliery reserve, and failing in that direction were now endeavoring to trap the • claimants into admissions which might prove fatal to their claims. He dwelt upon Mackay s reticence. The claimants were expecfced to prove everything, Government lying in wait to take advantage of them to dispossess the people of their property. He declined to tender any further evidence under the circumstances, leaving the onus with the Government to adduce evidence which would justify them in ejecting the people from their property. Fisher was openly applauded by the people m court. Ultimately an adjournment for an hour was granted to allow Fisher time to consider deliberately whether he would adduce evidence or not. There is - considerable excitement and bitter feeling amongst the i people. Later. —After consultation with his clients, Fisher agreed to tender evidence and trust to the impartiality of the Commissioners, despairing of obtaining justice from the Government. It has been raining hard since Monday. (PEE PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Wednesday. The Cyphrenes has arrived from Handavau. where she transferred her mails and passengers to the Vasco lie Gama, which proceeded on to San Francisco. The Cyphrenes waited four days for the Colima, according to instructions, ■ but that vessel not arriving the Cyphrenes came on to Auckland. She proceeded to Port Chalmers at eleven to-day, to take the outward mail. The Colima immediately on her arrival goes to Sydney, to take up the service there. It she is to time, probably no further hitch will occur in performing the San Francisco service. Messrs. May and Buckland addressed the Franklin constituency. Their addresses were chiefly confined to a review of the business of last session, and a defence of their action on the Abolition and Representation Bills. Buckland said he would not again offer himself as a candidate. He received a vote of thanks. A letter has been received stating that a cricket team from Taranaki will visit Auckland about Christmas. Nelson, Wednesday. Hursthouse is announced as a candidate for Motueka. He, too, has not yet published his ! address; aud as hitherto he has been a stranger to'politics, his views are not known. Hokitika, Wednesday. Mr. R. O. Reid addressed the town electors at the theatre last evening. He strongly favors abolition of the provinces, and advocates municipalities and shire councils ; also an elective Upper House on property qualification. A unanimous vote favoring his candidature was passed. None of the other candidates have as yet addressed the electors. It has been raining for several days. Heavy fresh in the rivers. ___ Christchurch, Wednesday. A high-class thoroughbred entire, for Messrs. Mallook and Lance, has been imported in the Queen Bee from London, A number of valuable rams were also imported by the same vessel. At the meeting of the Presbyterian Assembly last night, measures were taken which are likely to lead to a speedy union of North and South into one Church. Dunedin, Wednesday. The municipality of South Dunedin is proclaimed in to-day’s Gazette. The nomination of candidates for the mayoralty for St. Hilda is fixed for the 15th instant. The City Council yesterday voted .£IOO, which is to be expended in the purchase of books of reference, which are to form the nucleus of a civic library. The Rifle Association meeting will be commenced at 5 a.m. to-morrow, and will extend over three days. The formal opening takes place to-morrow afternoon at 2.30. Mrs. Walters, wife of the Mayor, will fire the first shot. Dillon Bell addressed the electors of Waikouaiti residing in Dunedin at the Temperance Hall last night. R. Stout presided, and in introducing the, speaker explained that although he consented to preside, he was a proviucialist - and an elector of Waikouaiti, who had always voted against- Bell in election contests. In presiding, he did not pledge himself to support Bell. The main points dealt with by Sir Francis were the relation between Otago and : colonial finance, the difficulties in the way of making a political change in the shape of federation of separation of the two islands, and what ought to be done to maintain inviolate provincial administration and entity in respect to those things with which the rest of the colony had. nothing to do. A vote of thanks to the speaker was unanimously passed for the address. Port Chalmers, Wednesday. His Honor the Superintendent notifies that he will address his constituents on Monday next. Mr. Armstrong, M.P.C., delivered a lecture last night in the Mechanics’ Institute. Subject—-" Pilgrim’s Progress through the United States.” The affair was most successful, and the lecturer was repeatedly cheered. Riverton, Wednesday. Mr. McGillivray addressed a well attended meeting of his constituents last night. He gave a most lucid aud straightforward account of his action during the past session of the Assembly! At the conclusion of a most able speech, which was listened to without the slightest interruption, the following resolution was carried by acclamation, without one dissentient voice: —“ That this meeting records a vote of thanks to Mr. McGillivray for his explanation of his proceedings during the last session, and expresses satisfaction with his services, and hope for their continuation.” Mr. McGillivray, in thanking them for their confidence, said he could not give them a decided answer as to whether he would become a candidate for re-election in the next Parliament, until he had addressed the electors of Winton and the other end of the Riverton electoral district.