COLONIAL ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 100, 29 October 1873, Page 2

COLONIAL ITEMS.

Wellington. The sum of £500,000 has been authorised for the purchase of native lands in the North Island, and of this amount Auckland will, of course, get its proper share. The provinces are realised from liability for the £200,000 previously authorised. The North Island will not suffer, as has been generally supposed, from the General Government not taking, or indeed requiring, special security to be given over blocks of land for railways. The whole of the land revenues in the respective provinces are practically responsible for the railways within them. To the province of Auckland will be allocated a sum of £250,000, out of the new loan: and what is also almost of equal moment, it will be released from all liability for its share of the former £200,000. The Government are now in the field, purchasing enormous blocks of land for the benefit of Auckland. Already about one and a half million of acres of land have been purchased from the natives, or are under negotiation, and will no doubt be secured. As regards the Californian service Auckland is fixed as the first port of call, and last of departure, of the San Francisco boats. It must be said, in this connection, that the extreme selfishness of some of the Auckland representatives almost had the result of Wellington being selected as the port of call; and the contractor, it is believed, could have been influenced to substitute Wellington for Auckland. An inquiry will be held into the conduct of the outer signalman for creating such an alarm by signalling the E. P. Bouverie on fire. She brings 188 immigrants, all well. The Customs Department have ascertained that certain mercantile firms in Australia are supplying New Zealand customers with duplicate invoices for defrauding the revenue. It is intended, to send a circular to the various collectors, with instructions that all goods coming from the said firms be subjected to a rigorous examination ; and the Government will prosecute with the utmost rigour of the law all infractions of the Tariff Act. The Basilisk is expected to be absent for six weeks, and will visit every bay, harbor, and inlet, in the three islands. ml— •"> niwlMW plans tor large buildings in the front of the present pi[§ and facing the street. The cost will be £li UOO. The Government has Di\ Johnston’s residence. The price £9 350. < rov 'SSial Government is going to est ”uiish telegraphic communication with the Heads. Messrs. Haise and Hart will represent Wellington at the Victoria rifle contest. The former made 138 points, and the latter 133. One hundred adults per the E. P. Bouverie will sail by the s.s. Paterson for Napier. Wanganui. The steamer Manawatu is reported to be well upon the beach in the Manawatu River. The Horticultural Show is fixed for the 31st December. The Rangitikei Races are to be held on the following day. Christchurch. With the exception of six men, the immigrants per Adamant, numbering 150, found employment in two hours after the Barracks were opened to the employers. The wages for married farm laborers were £7B, with cottage and firing; married couples, £6O and found; single men, £4O to £52, all found ; and £lO bonus if they remain twelve months with those who now engage them. Masons get 10s a-day ; carpenters, 9s ; single women, £2O to £35. The demand for single women and farm laborers greatly exceeds the supply. A ship has been signalled and is supposed to be the Merope with immigrants. The Star of India, with 317 immigrants to this province, sailed last month. National Insurance shares are in great favor here, 15s premium offered. Napier. There are unsatisfactory rumours afloat regarding the Scandinavian settlement in the Seventy Mile Bush. It is said that the truck system is in full force. Three families came into town to seek employment, others are expected. The natives demand £lOO rent for the land upon which the Constabulary station is erected at Ohauka, Wairoa district. A large amount of public works is being held' over, owing to the want of labor. It is calculated that 800 men could be absorbed by the public works alone, on the day after they landed. New Plymouth. For the Superintendency election, Major Atkinson, and Messrs. Carrington and Brown are stumping the district. The two first are favorites. Votes of confidence have been passed for the first two at all the meetings they have held. Tauranga. The nomination for the Provincial Council will take place on the 21st October. There is great excitement. The Bay of Plenty Fishery is started. The weather is lovely.

NOMINATION FOR SUPERINTENDENCY. Our Northern files to band per Comerang are full of electioneering matter connected with the Superintendency. As we reported on Saturday the nomination has taken place ; but we have only room to give an outline of the proceedings in this issue, which are as follow :— Mr. George Philip Priestly said: Fellowelectors, I have to propose Mr. H. H. Lusk us a fit and proper person to represent us as Superintendent of this province. All I have to say is that if he conducts the affairs of the province in the same manner that he conducted the affairs of the Consolidated and other goldmining companies he will do well. ( Roars of laughter.) Mr. William Eustace Martin said : Gentlemen, I beg leave to second Mr. Lusk’s nomination, and I am sure and hope that he will be successful. Mr. Barton Ireland said: Gentlemen, 1 propose Mr. Joseph McMullen Dargaville as a fit and proper person to be Superintendent of this important province. You have heard Mr. Dargaville’s explanation of his views at two meetings held in Auckland. He has canvassed the country districts, and none of us doubt that he will be returned at the head of the poll. ( Applause.) Captain Butt said : Fellow-electors, I have much pleasure in seconding Mr. Dargaville’s nomination. All I have to say is this, that the finest province in New Zealand is being killed by bod management. All the other provinces are going ahead of Auckland at the present day. Let.mc ask you to give the candidates a fair hearing. Mr, Alexander Black said : We have met here to day to make an important selection, and I hope you will do it for the good of the province. The gentleman that I am going to propose to you has filled a gap for us frequently. 1 have had the honor of proposing him before, and I do not see anything that would hinder me from doing it now. As the province goes ahead, I myself go with it. The gentleman that I propose to you, Mr. John Williamson, is a fit and proper person to be elected as our Superintendent. (A voice; It won’t do, Sandy, and cheers.) Mr. Allan O'Neill said : After the address you have just heard from an old and respected settler I am determined not to trespass upon your patience more than one minute. Mr. Williamson’s political career has been before you through all the eventful years since the commencement of our public institutions. To that, gentlemen, I refer you as an earnest of the future. He has always endeavored to foster active industry. He has great self-reliance, and every measure that comes before him that is calculated in his opinion to improve the progress of the colony, and to improve the social condition of settlers, will receive his hearty support. I have now much pleasure in seconding the nomination of Mr. John Williamson as a fit and proper person to bo our Superintendent. A show of hands was 'Lcn taken with the following.result:— Williamson 189 Dargaville 143 Lusk 18 The Returning Officer inquired whether Mr. Lusk and Mr. Dargaville demanded a poll. Both candidates replied in the affirmative. The Returning Officer then stated that the poll would be taken on the 6th November next. Mr. Williamson proposed a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer. Mr. Dargaville, in seconding the motion, said that no doubt the show of hands had been in Mr. Williamson’s favor in consequence of the age and experience of that gentleman, but he believed that after the poll, he himself would liave the honor of proposing a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer.