TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5402, 20 July 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

. (per press agency.) Auckland, Friday. At a meeting respecting -Kaipara railway extension Mr. Stewart, the district engineer, said that Mr. Lawson and Mr. Conyers adopted the coast lino as being more economical than the inland lino, which would cause too many steep gradients, in-view of the future extensiou of the line to Hokianga and the Bay of Islands. Mr. J. Bnohanau moved—(l.) That this meeting hears with deep regret that the Minister of Public Works has, iu defiance of public opinion and the repeated f promises of both the present and former Governments, abandoned the inland line extension of the Kaipara railway, and has ordered a survey of what is known as the coast line. (2.) That the coast lino passing through a barren and unpeopled country cannot possibly ever contribute to the revenue from railways, whilst the inland line passes through fair agricultural land, which has been occupied by energetic and industrious settlers for twenty-five years, and skirting the extensive forests of Waitakeri, thousands of acres of which have never been touched, and- 'would yield an enormous revenue for many years if its development were assisted by railway communication. (3.) That the Hon. the Minister of Public Works be earnestly requested to adhere to the inland line. Mr. Thomas Headersou seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Napier, Friday. An influentially attended meeting was held last night at tin theatre re the reclamation of tlft swamp, Xhe Mpywr presided, •Ambng

the speakers were Messrs. Corn ford, Rees, Miller, and the Hon. J. N. Wilson. It was decided that the Corporation should borrow £40,000 for twenty-five’years, so as to consolidate their present loans, which amount to £19,000, and have sufficient, to pay for filling in the swamp, and also give £BOOO towards the drainage of the town. One resolution passed calls upon the Corporation to fill in the sections at any cost. Yesterday afternoon there was a tangi at Te Ante over the late chief Te Hapuku. A large number of natives from Poverty Bay, Wairoa, and other districts went up by special train. Mr. Sheehan also went up.

A football team goes from here on 25th inst. to Gisborne. The team includes Mr. Rees; so lie will not be in Wellington for the opening of Parliament.

Waitara, Friday? A smart shock of earthquake was felt here about a quarter past seven last night. Donedin, Friday.’

At the meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday Mr. Reynolds, the. chairman, expressed himself in favor of the Government introducing a Bill abolishing' the Harbor Board, and taking the work in hand itself. Mr. J. W. Thomson, M.H.R., addressed a meeting of electors last evening at Kaihihi. He dwelt at length upon various political questions of the day, notably the land question, education, the extension ot the franchise, and the incidence of taxation. He strongly advocated the separation of the North and South Islands, remarking that the latter would benefit to an incalculable degree by the change. He also expressed himself in favor of the seat of Government being at Christchurch'instead of Wellington. He declared himself to be a staunch supporter of the present Government, but at the same time he reserved to himself the right to hold his own opinion on political measures, no mitter whether such measures were favored by the Government or not. He. received a unanimous vote of confidence. The dead body of a child was found outside a fence at the north end of the town this afternoon. The mother is supposed to be known. Invercargill, Friday. Mr. Goyen, State school teacher at Ballan, Victoria, has been appointed inspector by the Southland Education Board.,. There were 20 applicants, the majority of them being high class men.