LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 278, 12 December 1877, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[per press agency.]

PARLIAMENTARY. o HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON. December 8. The House sat intermittently up to 7.20, waiting for the Appropriation Bill and Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Bill to come back from Council. This they did, with a message pointing out that certain clauses in the latter were in the way of a tack to a Supply Bill, and therefore a violation of the Council privolegos; hut believing' that the error was inadvertent, they had passed the Biil. The House adjourned till 2 15 on Monday for prorogation. WELLINGTON. December 10. Parliament was prorogued by commission to-day, until the 2'Jtii January. The Commissioners were Sir John Richardson, Sir Francis Dillon Bell, and the Hon Colonel Whitmore. There was no speech, and the usual return of business done was not laid before the House. All the Bills passed were assented to by messages, except: the Seaman and Shipping Bill, which was reserved for the Queen's assent.

'Tiie attendance of members and the public was A'cry small. Just before the formal prorogation. Sir George Grey advised Use Governor to put his veto on the Land Bill, which had not been sent up for the Governor’s assent with the other Bills. The Governor refused point blank to take such an unconstitutional stop, the Government themselves having carried the Bill through both Houses, without a hint while Parliament was assembled that they intended to prevent the Bill coming law. December 11. When the Speaker, Air Macandrew, and, others, waited on the Governor yesterday, with the Appropriation Act, the Governor at once said ho must decline his assent until the Land Bill had been presented. Mr Macandrew said as the House was waiting, and time was precious, he would undertake to obtain Grey’s recommendation to allowance of the Land Bill, if the Governor would at once assent to the Appropriation Bill. The Governor said he would prefer having Grey’s recommendation previously. Air Macandrew then went to obtain it, but if was only after very strong representations by both Air Alaeanclrow and Air Sheehan that Sir G. Grey at length signed the recommendation. Sir G. Grey has again urged Governor to dissolve, but the Governor peremptorily refuses, suggesting that the Assembly immediately meet for approval or otherwise of Sir G. Grey’s action re Lands Bill and Dissolution. J. E. Brown and Ballance having refused office in Grey’s Ministry, have to-day formally severed tneir connection with his party. NEW PLYMOUTH. December 11. The programme of Taranaki Jocko}' Club Races has been published. Total amount of stakes, Tolu The races are lixed for 2nd and 3rd April. The following are the chief events ;—Maiden Plate, 40 sovs; Cup, 60 sovs; Jockey Club Handicap, 150 sovs; Champagne Stakes, for two year olds, 40 sovs ; Handicap Hurdle, 50 sovs; Autumn Handicap, 100 sovs; Harbor Stakes, 40 sovs; Railway Plate, 30 sovs ; Consolation Stakes, 20 sovs. Mr Thomas King lias resigned the managership of the Bank of New Zealand hero, and retires. He has been connected with tbo Bank since it was first opened, and is one of its oldest officers. F. Ronalds has been appointed manager.

SPATEA HARBOR BOARD. A meeting of the above Board was held at Carlyle on Monday last. Present: Messrs Sherwood (in the chair), Captain Wray, Milroy, and Williamson. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Proposed by Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Williamson, and carried, “That Mr John Thomson be employed by the Board to prepare plans and specifications for the first part of the South Groin, on such terms as agreed to by the Board.” Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Milroy, and carried, “ That this Board is of opinion that the lands contained in the schedules to the Harbor Board Amended Act, should be sold as soon as possible for cash, at Carlyle, and that the upset price bo fixed by the Board.” Accounts were passed for payment, and the remainder of the sitting was occupied in arranging about reserves, &c.

Messrs Hunter and Mcßae were appointed to inspect the work ; from T. White, Treasurer, New Plymouth, enclosing draft for £6 18s lid on account of rates collected — Resolved that Mr White bo requested to sue for all arrears of rates previous to the coming into operation of “ The Rating Act, 1t76.”

Report of the Engineer on Mr Chcever’s contract on the Tongahoe Road being read, it was proposed by Mr Honeyfield, seconded by Mr Hunter, and carried, “That Mr Cheover’s be informed that the lime for completion of his contract on Tongahoe Road has expired, and that unless he takes steps to complete the work, within a reasonable time, the Board will bo compelled to enforce the penalty." Tenders sent in for works on Kakaralnea Road were declined, and fresh tenders to be asked for, with alterations in culvert— Resolved, “ That Messrs Mcßae, Hunter, and E. J. Morgan bo appointed a committee to receive and accept tenders for the same.” Proposed by Mr Hunter, seconded by Mr E. J. Morgan, “That Messrs E. R. Morgan and P, Wilson be empowered to attend to two small jobs on Ball and Crompton Roads.”—Carried.

Proposed by Mr Honeyfield, seconded by Mr Hunter, and carried, “ That the members of the Board be appointed as valuers for the district for the purpose of making' a valuation list for the ensuing year.” The committee appointed to inspect road leading to Manutahi Cemetery reported that the work would cost more titan the committee could recommend the Board to expend, considering the state of their funds, and the committee considered that a road which would answer all purposes could be easily made Ity the cemetery committee on to the land from the Main Road —Resolved, “That the Secretary write to the Mannlahi cemetery committee informing them that the Board have no funds at their disposal for the purpose of making the road asked for.”

The committee appointed to inspect the Taumaba Road reported that they considered the road from the Manntahi Hotel to the top of Mr Peacock’s cutting should be ploughed and harrowed ami a portion levelled—Resolved, “That the report of the committee be considered at next meeting-” MessrsHuntcrand Mcßae woroappointed to inspect and report on the best way of making 1 a horse track on the upper portion of Ball Road, and the probable cost of the same.

The next meeting will be held on the 7ih January, 1878.