TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5733, 14 August 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Foxton, Wednesday. Electioneering is assuming a more definite form. Messrs. Halcombe and Suelson are both announced, and Mr. Snelson will meet the electors at Palmerston to-night. Efforts are being made by Mr. Halcombe’s party to get Mr. Snelson to retire, but they are not likely to be successful. People are surprised at Mr. Johnston not having yet announced himself. His delay is endangering his chances. He will probably receive the vote of the south end of the constituency. It is rumored that Dr. Buller will assist Mr. Halcombe with the Maori vote, but it is very doubtful whether the natives will vote unanimously for him. Patea, Wednesday.

Major Atkinson held a very successful meeting at Carlyle last night, over two hundred electors being present. Mr. Sherwood’s supporters mustered in strong force. Major Atkinson condemned the action of the Grey Government in strong terms, and more especially attacked the native administration. The speech lasted over two hours, at the end of which a vote of confidence was proposed, but the Sherwoodites brought down an amendment that it be only a vote of thanks. The voting was even. As this is Mr. Sherwood’s stronghold, his chances of being returned are not thought favorable. Napier, Wednesday.

Mr. Sutton’s is the only address issued for Napier as yet. Mr. R. D. Maney, of Wairoa, is in the field, though he has not publicly announced himself yet. Mr. Buchanan is hampered somewhat with the declaration which he made when contesting the seat with Mr. Sutton, that if not returned he would not offer himself for election again, and therefore he would have to be pressed with a numerously signed requisition to induce him to depart from the determination which he previously declared. It is very likely that such a requisition will be presented to him, but whether it will have the intended effect is uncertain. The mystery about Mr. Rees not being on the Napier roll, notwithstanding that he sent in a claim to be registered, is capable of a very simple solution—he omitted to sign the claim. Mr. de Lautour was nearly in the same fix. It would seem that when the claims were overhauled there were two of his found—one not signed, and another one signed. At a meeting of creditors of Stuart and Co., at the Spit, held to-day, a composition of 12s. in the £ was offered. The meeting did not arrive at any decision, but adjourned, so as to afford to creditors at a distance an opportunity of giving an opinion on the offer made. Grahamstown, Wednesday. Colonel Fraser, ex-Warden and Resident Magistrate, has announced himself a candidate for the Thames in the event of Sir George Grey electing to stand for another constituency. Auckland, Wednesday.

Mr. Goldie refuses to come forward again for City West. Messrs. W. Buchanan,‘Robert Graham, and Dr, Wallis are already announced as candidates. John Peter Irvine, gum - digger, while sitting in the Wairoa Hotel, suddenly fell back dead. W. F. Buckland, one of the candidates for Franklyn, addressed the electors of Howick tonight. He said the Native Land Office required amendment and that he would oppose absolute manhood suffrage, but favorable to its extension to people showing six months’ qualification. Would endeavor to rectify the unfair distribution of loans, and opposed to the land tax, as the cost of collection would absorb the greater part. Was in favor of income tax. Would endeavor to secure the abolition of toll bars, and pledges himself to work with Auckland members in the endeavor to secure justice to this part of the colony. If Grey is chosen leader by a majority he would give allegiance to him, not otherwise. He was opposed to the Representation Bill. The candidate received a vote oFthanks. Christchurch, Wednesday.

A public meeting will be held to-morrow evenin'* of electors favorable to the re-election of Messrs. C. J. Stevens, VC. S. Moorhouse, and E. Bichardson, for the City of Christchurch. The Hon. John Hall and Mr. VC. C. Fendall have announced their intention of standing for Selwyn and Ashley. Mr. Allwright addressed the electors of Lyttelton last night. He said he would support the policy shadowed forth in the Governor’s speech at the berinning of the session. He would advocate liberal reforms, manhood suffrage, re-distribu-tion of seats at the earliest period, land law reforms to promote bona fide settlement, secular education, and a change in the constitution of the Upper House, which should be elective. Other gentlemen addressed the meeting in the Liberal interest, and in support of Mr. Allwright. No vote of confidence was asked for.

The annual general meeting of the New Zealand Shipping Company to-day was largely attended. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The Chairman contradicted in the strongest terms the charges made by Sir Julius

Vogel against the company, of not providing sufficient tonnage, and said the charges were without foundation. It was stated that fifty colonial apprentices were now in the company’s ships, A dividend of 5 per cent, was declared, which, with 5 per cent, paid in February, makes 10 per cent, for the year. Messrs. C. W. Turner, W. Reeves, and the Hon. Mr. Richardson were elected .as directors. A vote of thanks was passed to the directors, general manager and staff, and chairman. At subsequent meetings of directors J. L. Coster was elected chairman, and H. P. Murray-Aynsley deputy-chairman for the year. Ashburton; Wednesday. At a public meeting this evening it was decided to ask Mr. E. G. Wright and Mr. Geo. Hart to come forward for Coleridge. Dunedin, Wednesday. Messrs. Fish, Mclndoe, and Carrick contest Caversham. Mr. Macandrew has definitely withdrawn from the city, and will stand for Port Chalmers. Strong efforts are being made to induce Messrs Turnbull and Davie to stand for the city iu the Ministerial interest. The Benares inquiry still continues. Today the carpenter of the Benares, and the engineer and firemen on board the tug were the principal witnesses. Election proceedings hang fire here for the present. A public meeting was held at Caversham bust night, and pledged itself to support Mr. W. Barron, a secularist and supporter of Sir G. Grey. It is possible that Mr. Wales will come forward for Taieri. Mr. Clayton has announced his intention to contest the Tuapeka district against Mr. J. O. Brown. Mr, Green announces himself for Port Chalmers. A meeting of creditors of the notorious T. C. Reid was held to-day. The trustee submitted a balance-sheet, which showed that £3OO were unaccounted for. The total deficiency was £750. It was resolved that the trustee be instructed to take advice as to whether it is possible to prosecute Mr. Rti 1 criminally, and if the reply was in the affirmative that immediate steps be taken in that direction. A letter having been read from Mrs. Reid asking for help as she was destitute, Mr. Maloney, one of the gaol warders, and a heavy loser by Mr. Reid, protested strongly against money being appropriated out of the estate for that purpose while Mr. Reid refused to eat the gaol rations provided by Government, but had his meals sent to him from an hotel close by.