TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4803, 14 August 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(prom our own correspondent.) Auckland, Saturday.

The Daily Southern Cross, remarking on the meeting of last night, after referring to • the new men who made their appearance on the platform, says:—" In the earnest enthusiasm of youth some of the speakers were doubtless carried away by their feelings beyond the boundary line which political and social prudence would probably draw before talk would become action. Hence the talk of ' resorting to armed force,' ' seizure of Customs,' and the like sentiments, which by the way were undoubtedly popular. These were very fairly met by one speaker, who also was loudly cheered when he put the question of this armed revolutionary business to the proper test by telling a little anecdote touching a well-to-do shopkeeper who, having a large shop to look after and 'a stake in the country,' did not feel disposed to do the fighting, and risk his shop and stock, but was very ready to leave active hostilities to the ' workingmen.' In fact, this cautious shopkeeper was prepared to shed the last drop of his working brother's blood, but for himself he would, like Bailie Nicol Jarvie, prefer peace and quiet, and the preservation of his shop. After all, a Btake in the country is very much a comparative phrase, the working man who is making fair wages and feeds and clothes comfortably his wife and family, has in his own way as great a stake in the welfare and progress of the country as a lucky landowner or speculator who may own property worth ten times ten thousand. There was just a little too much of warlike speaking, that general advice coming eveh from City Councillors of a pious turn of mind, and who talked glibly enough of resorting to means neither peaceful nor constitutional. As Dr. Wallis argued, it is altogether too early to suggest this sort of thing. Although we know armed resistance has been pretty frankly talked of in the House of Representatives, yet the HouHe did not even deign to reply to the suggestion. There will really be no need for such a resort if separation shall come to be really earnestly struggled for by the North Island—insular separation—fortmancialseparation would be but the forerunner of the absolute division of New Zealand into two colonies. Possibly that separation might be accomplished, and if it is to be, it can be accomplished without either force or bloodshed. But in view of this course, assuming it to be desirable, is it wise for Auckland iu public meeting assembled to throw taunts and sneers and angry words at Wellington, or Taranaki, or Hawke'a Bay? Is it wise or well, at a moment of even just indignation because of our unfair treatment, to upbraid and charge with selling themselves for bribes those very sections of tho North Island whose consent and assistance are necessary in obtaining that insular separation which it is deemed desirable to secure. One lesson should be taught by the meeting of last night to Parliament a id to the Government, and that is what we pointed out three days ago, that the people of all classss are smarting under a feeling of intense bitterness, not now fostered by mere blatant demagogism, but from a genuine sentiment of a sense of wrong, the' force of which has been steadily growing ever since the decision of the House on the land fund, and the unnecessary acrimony of Ministers in taunting Auckland with that policy which, instead of endeavoring to abate, they have allied themselves with the South in striving to perpetuate. We warn the Ministers that their triumph will be_ but short-lived; that the discontent and dissatisfaction will continue unless liberal means are devised, and that speedily, to remove from Auckland the unjust and unequal burdens she so long has been compelled to bear." The Herald sa ys: "Despite the absence, we had almost said the marked absence, of many to whom the people have beeu accustomed to look to as speakers and leaders, it was enthusiastic, whenever the right chord was struck. That chord was unquestionably a .determined and unnecessary resistance to the system, and to the men that would reduce this province to poverty and degradation, and its people to the lowest level of contempt in the estimation of their fellow-colonists in other parts of New Zealand." Referring to the difference of opinion among some of the Auckland members, the same paper says:—" We don't despair of seeing them retrieve the error and save their names from becoming bitter in the mouths of their constituents and of their fellow colonists for many years to come." As to the charge of cowardice in -leaving the Assembly, commented upon at the meeting, it remarks :—" We dismiss it from consideration. It iB certain that it will require infinitely more courage moral and physical to take that course than it will do to remain and carry on a wordy and useless warfar-e after the province has been throttled and laid at the feet of a majority deaf to reason, to justice, and to common sense." On the bellicose business the HcraH remarks: —" Alive to the strength of the popular feeling, and anxious to keep it within ' the due bounds of moderation, Dr. Wallis earnestly deprecated violence in speech or action, but boldly declared that he saw no remedy for existing ills save in insular separation ;" and thus concludes: —" A parliamentary victory the Government party may gain, but it will be a disastrous victory, opening the floodgates of strife, and leading to years of unrest and agitation that will eventually split the colony into sections, more numerous than the two islands into which Dr. Wallis and others would divide it. Insular separation may come; or it may be that a resort to the old provincial system will yet be found the only safe outlet from difficulty, consistent with the preservation of the unity of the colony. But happen what may, itj is perfectly »ure that no change can be

stable that is imposed by the power of a temporary majority on great and important sections of the colony."

(PER PEESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Saturday. All the resolutions proposed at last night's meeting were carried unanimously. The speeches were, of a very bellicose character. A speaker referring to the seizure of the Customhouse was much applauded.

Thames, Saturday. A man named Wall, the husband of the woman who murdered her two children in Grahamstown 18 months ago, died suddenly in. the bush yesterday.

The Advertiser says that Dr. Kilgour's resolution was carried last night by a majority of about 20.

Alexandra, Saturday. Tawhiao with 150 natives arrived at Kopura yesterday with the body of Takerei's grandson, Potatau, en route to Hikurangi, where the body is to be buried. Major Te Wheoro went to join the party this morning. New Plymouth, Saturday.

The Simonsen Opera Company's season, concluded last evening, and they leave by th« Hawea for Auckland at five o'clock. A letter from the Sabbath Observance Committee appears in the Herald to-day, in which' they say they wish the public to understand that when they wrote in memorial to the Minister of Public Works "representatives" they meant "sample" of public opinion, andalthough they wrote to the Minister of Public Works to discontinue Sunday trains, in comformity with the wishes of a majority of the inhabitants, they had no intention to have claimed the votes as constituting a majority of the inhabitants, Blenheim, Saturday. *

The following are the insurances on buildings destroyed by the late fire : —McElwain's premises, supposed value, £700; insured in the Victoria for £2OO ; Standard, £2OO ; the mortgagee is also insured in the National for £4OO. Carter's buildings, insured in the Liverpool and London for £300; Imperial, £2OO ; stock uninsured. Bank of New Zealand buildings and furniture, insured in theNew Zealand office for £llOO. National Bank building, insured in the Norwich Tnion for £2OO ; National, £l5O ; furniture also insured in the National for £l5O. These premises are all destroyed, but some furniture was saved from both banks, and some stock from CarterV. Ewart's Hotel was insured for about £3OOO in four offices, and the loss will be about £4OO or £SOO. The cause of the fire is unknown. An, inquest will be held. Christchubch, Saturday.

The nomination of a member of the Provincial Council for the Rakaia district is an* nounced for August 21. The Times says: This shows that the Superintendent is determined not to abate one jot of the dignity of the Council until that assembly is definitely abolished.