COLONIAL ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 99, 25 October 1873, Page 3

COLONIAL ITEMS.

(PBOM THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland. At the nomination for Superintendent, Mr. Lusk was proposed by Mr. Priestly, and Mr. Dargaville by Mr. Ireland. Alexandra. Te Kooti and Kopua have arrived to meet one or more settlers who were formerly acquainted with him in Poverty Bay. Te Kooti expressed himself anxious for peace, but some of his followers declared that, in case the Government did not agree to the terms which they should soon offer, they would be prepared to fight. Gbahamstown. The Superintendency election is occupying great attention. A rumor is current that Mr. Lusk will retire in Mr. Williamson’s favor. Wellington. An Order in Council was passed to-day, authorising free passages to nominated immigrants. A circular has been sent to Superintendents, empowering them to take charge of the immigrant depbts and quarantine establishments in their respective provinces. The Agent-General is to grant free passages to all suitable immigrants. lie has discretionary power to make advances to enable immigrants to reach the port of embarkation, but he must exercise the greatest stringency in their selection, lie is to endeavour to send out 200,000 (?) immigrants during the next six months, and to charter two fine steamers to start in December, one for Port Chalmers, and the other for Lyttelton, so as to bring out immigrants in time for the next liarvest. Mr. O’Rorke leaves for Auckland, where he will remain until after the elections are over. A Ministerial change has been agreed to, and Mr. O’Rorke will, for the future, perform the duties of Postmaster-General, and Commissioner of Telegraphs. The administration of the Immigration Department will be in the hands of the Premier. The Provincial Government paid the Colonial Treasury £25,000 being the total amount of the liabilities of the province to the General Government. This payment, including £3,100 paid some time ago, was made out of the proceeds of reclaimed land. A proclamation announces that the transmission of telegraphic messages by post to New Zealand, originating in the colony of Victoria, will be free of postage. An order in Council fixes telegraphic charges as follows :—Private message, first ten words, one shilling; for every additional word, one penny. On Sundays double rates will be charged. Press messages, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, for the first ten words, sixpence ; halfpenny for every additional word. Messages between 5 p.m. and *8 p.m., sixpence for the first twenty-five words and threepence for every additional twentyfive words. Exceptions are made in favor of the press with respect to the transmission of news by the Australian and San Francisco mails. The Post says that the new telegraph charges are unfair to the evening papers. It is reported that a new series of Civil Service regulations will shortly be issued, making the working hours from 9.30 to 5 p.m., the same as with the Otago Provincial Government. A fire has been seen outside the Heads. It is supposed to be the E. P. Bouverie, immigrant ship, which is now due. Dunedin. The Guardian opposes the expenditure on coast defences. It says it is a waste of money, and would provoke attack. If England were at war, our real safety would lie in the absence of all defensive works. Commercial towns are never bombarded in modern warfare.