COLONIAL ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 211, 7 October 1874, Page 2

COLONIAL ITEMS.

(EROM THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN PRESS AGENCY)

AUCKLAND.

September 24. Mr. Sheehan, in replying to the toast of his health, at the banquet given in his honor, spoke for nearly an hour. Referring to the opposition offered to the Waste Lands Act in the Upper House, Mr. Sheehan said the Upper House had given evidence of a sound commercial spirit. One question on which the members of the Legislative Council were always wrong, was that in which they were so deeply interested; they were prevented from dealing with it fairly and justly, and that was the land questions. So many members were large landed proprietors, who, reckoning their properties by the 10,000 acres, jealously scrutinized every measure, the object of which was to enable men to acquire land easily. The Bill which he (Mr. Sheehan) introduced was, in the hands of such people, in the position that persons were who, when going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, fell into the hands of certain company, to which he need not more particularly refer. In reference to the Representation Bill, he said whenever a proposal was made to give another member to a North Island constituency, it was met by a cry that the balance of power was in danger. He found the Southern Goldfields’ members always came forward manfully and straightforwardly on goldfield questions. The House could no longer delay recognition of the right of the Thames to an additional representation. He thought the Native- Department viewed with alarm every advancing wave of civilization as a hastening of the time when its services would no longer be required. September 26.

The Daily Southern Cross is drawing attention to an announcement from its Raglan correspondent, to the effect that Tawhiao has resolved to permit railways to be constructed south of the confiscation boundary, upon the condition of Government paying the natives sixpence for each lineal foot of railway made into the Maori territory. The Gross shows that this payment would be at the rate of £132 per mile, or £l7 10s per acre.

The ironwork of the Waikato bridge at Ngaruawahia will be landed from the City of Auckland, ship, shortly. It weighs 133 tons. ALEXANDRA. September 25. The Waipa river is now flooded higher than any time this winter. To a great extent the crops on the river settlements are under water. GRAHAMSTOWN. September 22. The engine, battery, and plant of the once famous Shotover claim were submitted to the hammer to-day. All was sold but the battery. It is expected that the claim will be amalgamated with some neighbouring mines.

September 29. A slight gale has been blowing during the night. The Tararu wharf suffered, hut not to a serious extent. The high tide flooded the streets, and damaged the gardens along the beach. From the appearance of the weather to-day the gale is not yet over. WELLINGTON. September 22. Robert R. Strang, Esq., fate Registrar, died this morning, aged 79 years. September 30. The Synod of the Church of England for the diocese of Wellington commenced yesterday. The telegraph lines between Wellington, Wanganui, and New Plymouth have been down for the last three days. October 1. The flood in the Hutt river has forced out of position the concrete protecting wall of the Hutt railway, of which 130 feet in length will have to be rebuilt. The wall is 14 feet high. The death of Admiral Sir William Wiseman is announced in the Australasian. He was in charge of the New Zealand Station during the last Maori war, and afterwards with other British officers, took charge of the Turkish navy.

Heavy rains still continue. The mails are stopped between here and Wanganui, and between here and Wairarapa. J. S. Williams, Esq., Registrar-General, and Mr. Mr. District Judge Weston have been holding a Court of Enquiry into certain charges of defalcation made against au officer in the Stamp Department. The enquiry has just concluded, and it is understood that the result is that no foundation whatever exists for the charges. The Post says : —“ It is currently reported, and we know the report is well founded, that very serious charges have

been preferred by the Government against a member uf the Civil Service holding a high position. The charges relate to conduct in an office which he formerly filled in connection with the administration of intestate estates. The allegations are of such a character as to demand investigation. CHRISTCHURCH. September 28. The British expedition for the observation of the transit of Venus arrived in the ship Merope. The party consists of Major Palmer, R.E., Chief Astronomei and Photographer; Lieut. H. Crawford, R.N., Assistant Astronomer, and three non-commissioned officers of the Royal Engineers. They bring a large equipment of instruments, observatory huts, and other apparatus.

At a meeting of cricketers held last night to consider the proposed visit of the Victorian Eleven, there was an influential attendance, and the project was warmly approved of. Ata meeting last night to consider the question of chartering a vessel to convey passengers to the Palmer River diggings, Queensland, there was a very large attendance, and guarantees were given for fifty passengers, should a vessel be'obtained on reasonable terms. A committee was appointed to make enquiries in the matter. The Lyttelton Times says that C. C. Bowen, Ksq., R.M., of Christchurch, has been offered a portfolio in the Cabinet, and a seat in the Upper House. The department offered to Mr. Bowen is that of Minister of Justice. September 31. The Globe, evening paper, changed hands to-day, having been purchased by Mr. C. A. Pritchard, who continues it on his own account. Showers of rain at short intervals continued till 7 o’clock this morning. The rivers are going down. It will take several days to repair the damage deme to the Northern railway. At a meeting of the Acclimatisation Society it was announced that 3800 trout ova had been artificially hatched. GREYTOWN. September 30. An attempt was made yesterday to carry the Wellington mails across Abbott’s Creek in a trap. The driver was nearly drowned, and the mails lost. September 29.

Rain continues, and traffic is suspended. Masterton is flooded by the Wai paua. The Rumahanga bridge at te Oreoro is injured, and miles of fencing have been destroyed near Masterton- There is a great loss of cattle and sheep throughout the district. The Waihenga bridge is all right, but several small bridges beyond are gone. All the culverts and bridges at Greytown are more or less damaged. BLENHEIM. September 30. The Opawa burst its banks and flooded the whole town last night. Traffic was resumed to day, but the town in the vicinity of the river is still much flooded. HOKITIKA. September 30. It has been raining heavily for four days. The mails are stopped. There has been no damage by floods. WESTPORT. September 29. The river rose rapidly this morning, but still little damage has been done compared with that of former floods. The chief encroachment is at the corner of Molesworth-street, near the old Times office. Fallon’s store, and some cottages are now being pulled down, and the stone groin iu Nelson-street is saved in the lower part of the township. The Orawaiti river is flooded. There was news last night from Lyell of floods there. NEW PLYMOUTH. September 30. The weather here is terrible : the rivers are higher than has been known for years. There is a fearful surf in the roadstead, aud no boat could communicate with the steamer. October 1, Major Atkinson addressed his constituents, and was warmly received. He said the scheme of the Ministry was to establish a Central Government, but he considered that the provinces of Otago and Canterbury should not be abolished so long as their financial position was as good as at present. The speech generally was very hopeful in tone, and a unanimous vote of confidence was passed. Mr. Vavasour, of Wellington, has purchased William Bayley’s Tataraimaka property, at £8 per acre. Mr. Drake, of Wellington, bought Dingle’s farm at Ahuahu, at £3 10s. Some land in Devonstreet sold at £lO per foot. In the centre of the town £l5 and £2O was asked per foot. September 26. Major Atkinson has resigned his seat in the Provincial Council and Executive. A whirlwind passed over Bell Block, doing considerable damage. ~DUNEDIN? September 30. This has been a fine day, but there is the prospect of more rain. Some slight damage has been done by the flood in the low-lying portions of the city. There are reports of heavy rain, aud of the heaviest snow for years from the miuing districts.

A number of persons left by the Tara-, rua for the Palmer River diggings this afternoon. A vessel will, probably, start direct in a few weeks, when it is expected that a large number will go. A movement is on foot here to establish a Marine Store and Piggery Company on a large scale, for the purpose of turning to money the immense quantity of refuse annually wasted.