SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1849, 4 September 1874, Page 3

SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

(Per Anglo-Australian Telegraph Press Agency.)

Wellington, Thursday. The report that Major Atkinson is to become a member of the Ministry is confirmed.—The Press Association Agency is authorised to state that the statements which have appeared as to what took place or transpired in the conversation between Mr Stafford and Mr Yogel are altogether incorrect. Mr Vogel is going to Sydney about the electric telegraph cable, not about the San Francisco service, Mr Thomas iiussell being entrusted with negotiating the latter affair. The Tribune says:-"We understand his Excellency will shortly pay a visit to the province of Marlborough. Mr Seymour, Superintendent of the province, has remained in Wellington to accompany him.—lt is understood that the necessary order in Council authorising the sale of 20,000 acres at Auroa to Messrs Douglas and Co,, was signed to-day by his Excellency the Governor.

Lyttelton, Thursday. The auxiliary screw schooner 'Emu' arrived here yesterday at noon, after a stormy passage from Auckland via Tairua mills, with timber. Arrived last night, the ' Oarisbrook Castle,' 90 days from Start Point, with 490 immigrants, all well. On the voyage there were 25 deaths under five years; and 5 births.

Poet Ohamieei, Thursday. The immigrant ship "Tweed/ 1,844 tons, is at the Heads from London.— There is a south-west gale blowing.

THE UPPER THAMES. We understand that when the late session closed, it was the intention of Sir Donald McLean to come to x%pier in about a fortnight from the day the session terminated, and then to come through the interior to Waikatoand the Thames. Hope revives again in our breasts. The great dictator—far more absolute in his own sphere than even Air Vogel-may be of opinion that the hour has cotne in which the Upper Thames may be opened. True.he has telegraphed that he does not wish the Upper Thames opened, and has directed one of his fellow-ministers to call upon the editors of obedient newspapers and get tbera to write against the opening, and we know that they did write against the opening with extraordinary zeal; but it may please him now to signalise his kniahtship by what would appear to New Zealand generally, and to tho_world, as the most brilliant stroke of native diplomacy ever achieved by any Native Minister, namely, the openiug to European influence at once of a great district supposed to have been kept closed for years by hordes of bloodthirsty cannibals. Of course, we on the Thames know better. We know that decided straightforward action would have settled the difficulty long ago; but, if Sir Donald McLean will open the country now, we will promise to say nothing about the past, and to join, with as much heartiness as we can muster, or can manifest, in the chorus of praise. Wo believo that, if pressed, even Te Hira may now yield, the old man is now, we learn, inclined to deal with Mr McLean, whom ho would naturally prefer to transact business-with, 10, Hiras scruples and difficulties are being gradually overcome, and at any moment he may give his full consent, something decisive ought to be done withm the next month or six weeks.