TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4875, 6 November 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(FHOM CUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ■ Kdmara, Saturday. The, lead cannot be traced any further at present and departures continue, those leaving now being principally good miners who have prospected thoroughly. Wages are almost nominal. Business is becoming slack, but building still continues.

(PER PBESI AGENCY.) ' * Auckland, Saturday. A terrific whirlwind occurred yesterday at Cox’s Creek, which struck Warnook Bros. Soap and Candle Factory, 100 feet long 30 feet wide. The force of the whirlwind drove both walls- out, scattering the weatherboards and roofing far and wide. The blocks en which the building stood were knocked out of position, and .boards and bricks were carried a considerable distance. The brick smoke-stack was blown down. James Warnock and one workman were in, the factory at the time ; both were injured. The latter’s sight wasinjured from potash being blown into his eyes. A hut some distance off was lifted bodily, but not destroyed. The tornado next struck Reid’s farm buildings a quarter of a mile away, lifting it into the air, and Carrying fragments in ail directions. Sheets of corrugated iron were carried two miles. Warnock’s loss is £SOO. The- total damage is estimated at £IOOO. The Theitre Royal was crowded, about eighteen hundred people being present, to meet Sir George Grey and the Auckland members. There were a number of ladies present. The representatives on the platform were O’Rorke, Rees, Swanson, Reader Wood, Dignan, and Tole. Mr. Lusk sent a letter of apology, accounting for his absence by illness. Each member wasreeeived with cheering. SirG. Grey was driven from the hotel in a carriage provided by the reception committee, surmounted by a large standard. On entering the hall, the audience rose and loudly applauded for several minutes. Addresses of welcome were presented, expressing at some length appreciation of the conduct of Grey’s noble efforts to preserve the rights of self-government, to secure purity and economy of administration, and obtain justice for the province. They had observed with deepest pain the cruel manner in which he had been aspersed in official despatches by the Ministry and a portion of the

Press. 1 ' In replying. Sir George Grey spoke r£ the special disadvantage of Auckland, the loso >f the seat of Government, want of land fund, and unfai- share of public works expenditure ; dan at.some length on the advantages of the provincial system which they had lost, and the difficultiesof central administration. To remedy these, the separation resolutions were proposed, which would have been carried but for a section of their own representatives, and an unequal distribution of seats among various electorates. Throwing out the resolutions had lost Auckland 8120,000 yearly. He denied that abolition had been put fairly to tie country. The Bill was passed first, and the sanction of the Governor and Imperial authorities secured for it before the elections. He said that Great Britain, through their action, and that of the Governor, were to soma extent to blame for forcing this farm of government. He referred! at length to the land fund, and maintained that if the colony is to remain one, the laud revenue should be paid into a common fund—and every district get its fair proportion. He declared his belief that Canterbury opposed separation with a capital at Christchurch, because they were afraid of getting Otago people with liberal ideas in among them, who would open the eyes of the people to those great runs and landed aristocracy. He urged the people to lay to heart the idea of two federated islands, All the other members spoke. References to Otago alliance were repeated and cheered. Mr. O’Rorke thought that Auckland ought to work with Otago, and not wish to follow its lead. The Rev. Mr. Wallis proposed an amendment, censuring Auckland members for increasing honorarium, but was roared down. Gkahamstown, Saturday, The Waitekauri Company’s last month’s returns are 3300zs ; Queen of Beauty (Waiokaraka), fortnightly returns, 5790z5. Total weekly returns, 20840z5. ,- A rifle match was held to-day at' I'ai. 'vai, with Maori Volunteers against No. 3 Company Hauraki Rifle Volunteers, for £5 aside. The ranges were 200, 400, and 500 yards, with five shots at each range The match was closely contested throughout, and the Europeans won by seven points The scores were :—Europeans, 370 ; Maori, 363.

Grrytows. Saturday. The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse distributes his honorarium as follows:--Wairarapa Institute, £SO ; Wairarapa Hospital, £2O ; Wairarapa Horticultural Society, £lO ; Featherston Institute, £SO; Lower Valley Presbyterian Church, £7O. Ddnedin, Saturday. Palmerston and Cromwell Councils declined to attend the convention, Menzies, M.L.0., has also declined to attend, alleging that the proceedings are not advisable. The Port Chalmers school committee have declined to send their chairman, D ■. Drysdale, who writes stating that such meetings would be deemed seditious, and as a Justice of the Peace he could not countenance such proceedings. Several favorable replies have been returned. The Art Society Exhibition was poorly attended, but there were a large numbers of excellent exhibits. It is understood that Logan, Secretary to the Superintendent, and a number of other provincial officers, received twelve months' leave of absence prior to abolition, aud thatau inquiry will be held,into the matter. A movement is {on foot to estab ish a free dispensary in connection with the'Socie ies. Riverton, Saturday. The Mayor has replied to the Superintendent’s circalar asking him to attend the convention at .Dunedin that he (the Mayor) does not anticipate any evil result will arise through the abolition of the provinces. In fact he hails with much satisfaction the coming into operation of that Act, which he believes will prove a great benefit to out-districts and the province generally, and the colony as a whole, Ha says ninety per cent, of the ratepayers have the same opinion on the question of administration under the provincial system in this district, which has not been conducive to the welfare of the residents, Therefore he declines to attend the meeting, which cannot be productive of any authoritative or practical result.