TELEGRAMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 284, 26 June 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

NAPIEB. June 24. Heavy floods occurred on Saturday and Sunday last in the lower part of Napier, and the Meanee flats were under water. Many sheep were drowned, but the damage was not as heavy as anticipated in this locality. Ward has been elected member for Blenheim, in opposition to Mr. Moorhouse. A late telegram informs us that Lord Carnavon has replied through Lord Yormanbv to the petition sent, to the Queen by Sir George Grey, regarding Provincial abolition in this colony, to the effect that the General Assembly was quite competent to deal wit h the matter; the Imperial Parliament did not deem it necessary to interfere. WELLINGTON. At the volunteer inspection, Colonel Paeke announced the receipt of a letter from the Defence Office, stating that, a supply of rifles will be shortly served out to old volunteers here. This is expected to remove a longstanding greivance which has threatened to completely stop volunteering in this province. The Nem Zealand Times published a telegram from Auckland, stating that the Echo had received a special telegram to the effect that, Sir Julius Vogel had stopped free immigration, and substituted the system of promissory notes. The Times, remarking on this telegram, says:—“ Thus, in the absence of more authoritative intelligence, it must be taken as extremely doubtful, neither the Shipping Company nor any of the shipping agencies in town, who have all received intelligence of emigrant vessels loading for New Zealand, have heard anything of this alleged action of Sir Julius Vogel with respect Ito emigration.” Tha rumours flying about re the deposit of three millions of the loans, cause much speculation as to whether Mr. Vogel will come out again or not. A great many want to know what Mr. Thomas Russell is doing at home. Indeed, to report half that is said upon the matter would only be adding one more to your many libel cases. It is known in well-informed circles that some four or five months ago a rupture took place in the friendship of Russell and Vogel, and that only for severe domestic affliction Mr. Russell would have come out and obtained a seat to oppose Vogel’s policy. It is surmised that recent transactions will have made peace. The Tribune ridicules the petition of the natives to make Sir Donald McLean a Native Minister for ever.

The old settlers had a meeting to discuss their claim to compensation, and such a collection of grey beards and frosty polls are not. often seen, but there was quite a lack of able and leading citizens. Amongst the gathering the chief mover in the matter was John Howard Wallace, an auctioneer. Generally the public attach no importance to the agitation, though the early settlers every mother’s son of them (and they muster strong), is profoundly convinced that if he had his due, it would take at least a thousand acres of land to repay the perils and hardships of the early days. A resolution was unanimously carried to the effect that the pioneer settlers and members of their families who arrived prior to June, 1848, are entitled to free grants of land, and that Parliament be moved in the matter.

It is understood'that among the measures Io be brought before the next session of Parliament is one for the amendment of the Bankruptcy law, and that the Hon. Mr.

Bowen has devoted a great deal of care to the framing of* the bill. ■NEW PLYMOUTH. The Provincial Secretar} made a statement, in Council, showing the work accomplished by the Government during the past six nuinths. '■/He said £7,000 worth of land had been sold, but only about £3,000 cash has been received, the remainder of the land, being on deferred payments. He said 912 souls had arrived in the Province, and 600 more where on the water. ,