TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5254, 25 January 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(I‘EK PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Thursday. The racehorses Hippocampus, Isaac Walton, and Venus Transit will be shipped per Hawea to-morrow. Hippo is still first favorite for the Dunedin Cup; the odds against him do not exceed i to 1. The Italian Opera Company open here on February 1. Tile Auckland Timber Company’s premises had a narrow escape from destruction by fire to-day. It originated in the boiler-house, but was promptly extinguished by the employes. Mr, Moss will probably be elected for Ml'. Header Wood’s seat at Parnell. Private intelligence says that Sir Julius Vogel has retired from the directory of the New Zealand Laud and Agency Company, but he promised to serve again if he resigned the Agent-Generalship. The Union Sash and Door Company have declared a dividend cf 20 per cent. A detachment of the A.C. is to be stationed at Kibikibi,' on the Waikato frontier. Grahamstown, Thursday. A number of cases of scarlet fever are reported, but the disease has assumed a mild form. Taupo, Thursday. An extensive survey of Government purchased land has just been begun here iu the .jUpper Mahaka country. Mr. Monro is the surveyor. The Opeps surveys, suspended in November last through native troubles, were completed yesterday under Captain Turner. Tongariro, after an interval of eight years, is giving signs of activity. Loud rumblings were heard from the direction of the volcano last night, continuing at intervals today. The crater and cone are covered with clouds, so that the fires (if any) are not visible. New Plymouth, Thursday. The Mayor has received a telegram from Sir George Grey stating that he is leaving Wellington for Auckland, where be goes to meet Tawhaio, and on bis return be will call in here. A public meeting is called for Saturday to arrange preliminaries to give him a suitable reception. Wanganui, Thursday. Mr. Bryce addressed his constituents last night. After, referring to various, local matters he said the Atkinson Government had been removed from office as punishment for their sins. When Abolition was settled that Government bad no principles left—no principles, they were not prepared to change to secure their retention of .office. They had reversed , front on the Charitable Institutions Bill, Native Lands Bill, and Woolcook’s motion re incidence of taxation. They had violated their principles of responsible Government in taking as colleagues political opponents. Pair play was duo to any Government which might have succeeded them, and he knew of no reason why. it should have been denied Sir George Grey. Major Atkinson had rushed at theGovernment 'benches with unseemly haste after unholy combination with members who, ten days before, had turned them out of office. Major Atkinson lost his want of confidence motion by accident, which served him right. Sir George Grey’s speeches' indicated an extreme line of politics, which ihis colleagues, might moderate. Ho (Mr. Bryce).had always , been a moderate politician, and , would nbt : join in a crusade .against any Government which solved difficult problems of dealing with) native,; land, —they would deserve the thanks! of the community. The financial position ofj the colony overshadowed that and every other; question. He believed the colony was rapidly: approaching a financial crisis, which would try its resources to the utmost. He, however, had faith , that it would come out of the trial in a counter position to that iu which it was

at present ; and one good resnlt would be that administrative economy would be a necessity. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. Gretiiouth, Thursday, i There are great complaints about the scar-, city of coal waggons, as the three mines are now in full work, and there are not suificisat waggons to bring the coal to the port. The Despatch Tug Company have reduced the price of towage to vessels coining in ballast for coals to 2s. 6d. per ton, taking them in aud out for this amount. Nelson, Thursday. Mr. Sharp, M.H.R., addressed a full meeting of electors last night. Having reviewed the events of the session, he said he had opposed the present Ministry because Sir George Grey was an avowed Separationist, and Mr. Macaudrew a staunch supporter of the land compact of 1856, but when Sir George Grey announced himself in favor of the unity of the colony and the colonialising of the land fund, he gave them his support, and should continue to do so as long as he approved of their measures. After some questions, a vote of confidence in Mr. Sharp was unanimously agreed to. Kumara, Thursday. The Mayor has received a telegram stating that Sir George Grey and Mr. Macandrew will leave for the West Coast on the 15th February. Christchurch, Thursday. It is believed that the police have some clue to the origin of the recent fire. The Soldene Opera Company are playing here to good houses. Timaru, Thursday, Ada Ward aud the Lydia Howarde Troupe had a full house at the Theatre Royal last night, and gave a very successful performance. At the. Geraldine R.M. Court yesterday, Richard Bell, a farmer at Kuikahu, was committed for trial on a charge of stealing 126 sheep, the property of Robert Taylor. The evidence was conclusive, and the prisoner was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, Timaru. The weather has cleared up. Harvest prospects are brightening, aud reaping is becoming general. Invercargill, Thursday. Mr. Larnaoh is expected to return from Riverton this evening, when he will be entertained at a banquet by a number of gentlemen. The Southland County Council passed a resolution to-day directing the attention of the Government to the necessity for a frequent arrival of immigrant ships here.