TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5323, 18 April 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Auckland, Wednesday. Messrs. Lusk and Hamlin addressed their constituents last evening. Mr. Hamlin sketched the action of himself and his colleagues in the Assembly. He dissented from Sir George Grey regarding the extension of the franchise and.the compulso'-y operation of the Counties Act., Mr. Lusk also opposed an extension of the franchise, and said that at the present time if a man had anything else except a carpet bag he had a vote ; but Sir Geerge Grey proposed to give a vote to a man who possessed nothing else but his carpet bag. He strongly opposed a tax on laud, but approved of a tax on income, if the income were derived from land. An acreage tax would be unfair. He believed if Sir George Grey persisted in advocating these measures he would sap the foundations of his popularity. Those holding large blocks of land not in cultivation Sir George Grey proposed to compel either to cultivate or sell ; but it would not be right to punish large -holders because they acquired laud by improper; facilities placed in their hands by Government. . However popular Sir George Grey might be now, no long. time would elapse before such vindictive: legislation would be found to be a mistake. He'urged the people to: continued energy -in political matters. He hoped. Sir George Grey would propose some real means of local-self-govern-ment.- After careful consideration he had decided to resign his seat, as he could not afford time to attend to his political duties. He attacked Mr. Macfarianeon the privilege question. :; He : would sooner vote for a carpet bagger than see such a man as Mr. Macfarlane succeed.- Votes of confidence in Messrs. Hamlin and Lusk were passed. The resolution expressed hope that some day Mr. Lusk’s circumstances would enable him again to stand for franklin. A miner named Michael Collins at Coromandel has received a' letter from a London solicitor announcing that he is heir to a fortune of £300,000. . In the case of Arthur v. the Waikato Steam Navigation Company—a claim for £SOO, damages for injuries received in consequence of falling down the hold, through the alleged negligence of defendants a verdict was entered for the defendants. , A young-man, Jas. S. Aitken, a nephew of Mr. Aitken, land agent, (ell. down in an apoplectic fit this, morning, and died immediately. He had been employed as clerk in Messrs.-Hesketh and Richmond's office. - ■ Montague MeMurdo, a son. of Captain MoMurdo, of the Mutual Life Association, was thrown from his horse, and sustained concussion of the brain. It is feared that the injuries are fatal. The City Council to-day referred the question of engaging; the services Of Mr. Clark, 0.E., to the Public Works Committee. Geahamstown, Wednesday; A digger arrived in town to-day from the Upper Thames with some very good coarse gold and two gold-bearing specimens obtained from a-new locality. He,has shown: the gold to the county.authorities with the intention of either, claiming the gold , reward or obtaining assistance from the county prospecting committee. Several parties'who are out. prospecting are said to-have obtained payable returns from alluvial or reef wash. ■ .-■' Taubanga, Wednesday. ’ Mr. Vesey Stewart writes a long letter to the Times, dated. Belfast, in which he bitterly denounces Sir Julius Vogel, who, he states, was placing obstacles in the way of immigration. Mr. Stewart states that - a second party will arrive about the middle of August, and that among them are some Cheshire and Midland County farmers, with capital. Christchurch, Wednesday. Trump Card was scratched last night for the Great Handicap, and, having gone lame, he is not- likely to’start for auy event at the Autumn Meeting. , ■ s . Timaru, Wednesday. A large public meeting was held last night at the Mechanics’ Institute,, to. take into consideration certai r matters in connection with the harbor works here. Mr. Hammersley in a long speech proposed,-—“That the meeting views with feelings of extreme regret that Sir John Coode was allowed to depart from Timaru without an official report being obtained from him ou ; the Timaru Harbor Works." Mr. Turnbull, M.H.R., ; spoke at considerable length in favor of the action of the Board in not obtaining a report., He completely carried the meeting with him. -After several speakers had addressed the meeting on both sides of the question, the resolution was 1 put; and lost, only 15 voting for it. The resolution, was then put endorsing the action of the Harbor Board, and expressing entire confidence in it. It was carried, only four Voting against it. A..painful, accident, occurred late yesterday afternoon to Mr,. .Jones, the-Timaru-Dis-trict station master. He was in a truck attached to a special goods train at St. Andrews Station, and while going into the goods shed was struck with much, force on the side of his face by a-large sliding door. He was at once brought into town and attended 1 by Drs. Fisher and Mclntyre, who by examination found that the lower jaw was severely fractured and both ears almost'severed from the head. The neck and parts of the face were much bruised. The doctors;succeeded' in setting the broken jaw, and the patient is now progressing as favorably as circumstances allow, Oamaku, Wednesday.

-' A well-known farmer named Rogers 1 was proceeding home with his dray from Teanearki ‘yesterday afternoon; While passing through a gateway the horses bolted. Rogers either attempted to' jump oit or .fellfont of./.the dray, and the result was that one Wheel passed bvey the lower portion r of his body. He was picked up insensible, and conveyed to Brown’s Hotel, at WeSkoti/. assistance was: called) but Rogers hhyer'raUied, add diedwt, threa o’cldck'this morning. . .The deceased was a steady yopng map, ageil 29 jeais, and much respected, 1 " J