MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Southland Times, Issue 711, 19 August 1867, Page 5

MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

iO ! Since our last Summary political events have been numerous, but-scarcelj of the importance that was expected' when the last mailileft... :The general Assembly is' • still iniSession, arid several measures of "importance, have been debated. The, great : question between . the Provincial Grovernmlenfc of Otago and the General Govern- ■ ntent, as to the refusal of , the flatter to confer the Q-oldfields Delegationr, powers on Mr Macandrew, has terminated. The General Government^ having , made the concession of giving these powers, to the Provincial Executirea, 'biii not to the Superintendents individually. The Go>v6rnment was defeated . on the Local Government Bill, bat it is nbt expected that a ministerial crisis will arise from it. It is generally felt that the Stafford, policy is in the main right, while opposition is strong against the radical changes it involves. It is however a popular belief that such changes must be 'sooner or later effected. The natives are tranquil. It is long sinee v a Sonth has passed without reports having been spread -of the renewal of hostilites until the present. In fact the war may be at last considered as at an end. The Maories have at length realised the fact that it must be obedience or extinction, and although a few fanatics occasionally give signs of rebellion, *he Cplonial forces (including the native contingent) are found sufficiently powerful to prevent an out-break, or punish tie offenders. - [ lln provincial matters politics are, with the exception of Southland, nob exciting although in a measure import--ant. : The Otago agitation has subsided ; the West Coast population of Canterbury is working hard to get that territory constituted a separate, province. The question of " Protection" is occupying considerable attention. Several of the provincial Chambers of Commerce have passed resolutions favorable to the adoption of that policy. The exportation of grain is occupying the attention df the Canterbury, Southland, and other grain producing provinces of New Zealand. It is found that the produce of many of the provinces is in excess of local requirements, and that a distant market must be cultivated. Southland, daring the month, has been undergoing an intense political excitement The general elections now going on, have created much discussion. The question is that of railways. It is proposed to; construct two lines of Eailways involving an expenditure of £210,000. This would open up & large tract of valuable land, and be a great inducement to cultivators to purchase. The Province wants population, and if the Railway works are carried on, as it is likely they will be, this Province offersto the small capitalist, or the industrious toiler, a desirable field for enterprise. The pressure upon our space arising from a variety of circumstances — Election meetings, and the arrival of the English Mail — necessitates our cur-, tailing the extent of fresh matter usually found in our Summary.