COLONIAL ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 135, 14 February 1874, Page 2

COLONIAL ITEMS.

Auckland, February 9. The police have memorialized for increased pavDuring the gale, on Saturday, the steamer Challenger was ran into by the schooner Dauntless, which vessel broke loose from her anchors. The steamer smashed against the wharf, and sank a complete wreck. The English barque Lauderdale broke from her moorings, and smashed into the wharf several feet. Later. The walls of Masefield’s foundry fell and crushed in an adjoining building. Vebt Latest. Surveys of the shipping damaged in the late gale show that the total damage is estimated A body was floated ashore

at the North Shore. It is supposed to be tha o*ner of the yacht Pearl. In that case four lives have been lost. Mr. Moriarty, the Sydney Government Engineer, proceeds to Greymouth to report on the harbor works there. Taubanga, February 10. The Southern Cross left Auckland on Saturday evening. She took shelter under Wniheki island during the fierce storm. She started yesterday at 11 o’clock, and sighted a ship under jury rig, between Cape Colville and Cuvier Island. On steaming alongside, she was found to be the iron ship Allahabad, laden with coals, from Newcastle, bound for San Francisco. The maintop and mizzenmast were gone, and the cabin was a complete wreck. The charts, chronometers, Ac., had been all destroyed during the hurricane. Captain Sellars supplied the vessels with charts, and left the mate to pilot the ship to Auckland for repairs. Wellington, February 9. At Messrs. Bethune and Hunter’s sale, to-day, fleece wool in grease realized 9Jd, lambs’ wool 10|d, locks 3fd greasy wool lOd. The buyers were few, and no inclination to speculate was manifested. February 10. M.M.s.s. Blanche arrived this afternoon. She left Levuka on the 6th January. The Commodore remained there. The Consul had arrived from England. She left Sydney on the 14th July, and since then has been stationed at Fiji, She will remain in New Zealand probably until May. She leaves here in a few days for Auckland nnd the Campbell Islands, returning to Auckland. Yesterday the Pott called attention to the fact that, by a proclamation issued on October the 28th, the New Zealand Parliament was called together for the 10th February. To-day a number of members met in the Legislative Council. The Hon. John Johnson was called to the chair. Present: Messrs. Waterhouse, Pharazyn, Grace, and Hart. Mr. Waterhouse spoke at some length, on the importance of proceeding according to due form, in order that subsequent proceedings should not be rendered invalid. Mr. Hart quoted several important cases in George 111., bearing upon the same point, and seconded the motion for an adjournment for a fortnight, which was carried unanimously. In the House of Representatives, amongst these present were Messrs. Fitzherbert, M'Lean, Bunny, Reynolds, and Wakefield. Mr. Fitzherbert was called to the chair.

Great mortality prevails. The death rate of last month is double that of the corresponding month of last year ; for this month it is already double that of last February. The General Government have formally suspended Mr. J. Dorset as Provincial Auditor. Over £7OO worth of shares were taken in the Hutt Course Grand Stand Company in less than an hour this afternoon. February 11. The Imlependi nt says authoritatively, that the proclamation adjourning Parliament till the 13th of April was prepared a few weeks ago, and forwarded to his Excellency at Hokitika, where it now lies. It is supposed that his Excellency is harborbound in some of the inlets on the West Coast of the Middle Island. Invercargill, February 11. Mr. Waddell, a cattle dealer, claimed £2OO from the Superintendent, as proprietor of the Southland railway, for a broken leg, caused by the officials putting a heifer in a defective carriage, which, in trying to get out, broke his limb, thus incapacitating him from his work. The jury awarded him £l7O damages. Nelson, February 10. The dinner given to Mr. Vogel was a great success. In proposing the health of Mr. Vogel, the Superintendent said that no eulogium of that gentleman was needed—that he had attained his present distinguished position by his great talents and his indomitable force of character.

Mr. Vogel said that it was gratifying to find in Nelson such kind expressions of opinion, as that province had .hitherto been a stronghold of the Opposition. He valued this change of opinion as a proof that the Government policy was appreciated. He referred to the Government policy in regard to public works and immigration, and said that he naturally expected opposition in Nelson as being founded on principles totally opposite to the present policy- He spoke of two distinct methods of colonization ; one was where a few persons settling early became jealous of others sharing their profits ; the other class attaching great value to waste lands, felt it no hardship to tax such lands for future inhabitants; these types were represented by Nelson and Canterbury. He hoped that speedy results would not be anticipated from the new policy in Nelson, as the Parliament last session had opposed the Provincial borrowing scheme without an indication of future policy. He hoped that the General Assembly would not fail to see that Nelson had a fair claim to a share in the policy of borrowing for public works ; but he could not say what might be the effect if similar claims came simultaneously from several provinces. But he would assert that no province had greater claims than Nelson. It had been said that men of means would realise, to leave when the borrowing policy was begun; but rich men had now increased their investments. Those who had said that the prosperity of the colony was due to the rise in wool and not to our public policy, would reflect that only parts which curried on public works and immigration shared in the advance.

In reply to the toast of “ The Ministry,” Mr. Vogel, wished to say to all New Zealand that the people should be more careful to retain in their own hands the power of saying by whom they should be governed. In England, the elections were now going on, and with very few exceptions the candidates dare not decline to say which Ministry they would support. The cry of “measures not men ” was most undesirable, and the people of New Zealond should insist upon their representatives saying whether they would support or oppose the Ministry, and not leave it open to them to be influenced by any of the thousand caprices which sometimes affect men as a division draws nigh.