AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3386, 29 October 1879, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

, Last night. The police are enquiring into what appears (o have been a deliberate attempt to wreck a raiitray train. On Sunday evening, tiio train to Qnehimga was just coming out of the Domain tunnel, wUcn n sharp-concussion, resulting apparontly from some obstruction on the line, was felt. The train was stopped, and the rails examiued, when it was discovered that a large stone weighing lOlba, find two smaller ones had been placed oji the line. Some children had been observed playing iv the vicinity, and Ike ueLioti way have been theirs, but the mater has engendered an uneasy feeling ia the public iui»d. Tfaia day. Tku Eotomahantt sailed South this morning. The passengers tor Wellington wore —Mr and Airs W. Graham, Mias Spencer, A'iesars Spencer, liickling, .Kdgecutub, McGuinne/s, Myers, .Dover, McF«trid«e, Dr Young. Lytteltoh—Mr and Mr 3 Peacock, Mr and Mrs Ware and ( itifaut, Mr and Mrs JBaltley, Mr, Mrs and' MiAs it bodes, Mrs Scarboro, Mrs Dacre, Mrs. Orerion,'Misses McLeod, Wright, Kose, Davis, Messrs Berry, 11. Philips Govcr, J. McKenzic, Kobert, Iteid, Mun<-tur, it. Williams, Cuthbert. Dunedin—Mr and Mra f.cary, Mr and Mrs Linike, Misses Burt and Mowbray, Mes:-rs 8. inaVs, Brown, Bony, Mowbray, An^er?tein, tfergt.-Mujor Bcv&n. Napier —Mrs Gnbble, Misses JN'ealand Bu'tain, Mi-ssri Maidt-Ji, McLean, and Major '{ iiursley. Mx Kvssffa OoacLnot. There was ix crowded assembly of City Wi-at elt-crors at tho Young' Men's Chrislias: Association liooius i*sr- night, for the purpose o\ obtaining an expression of opinion froa* tho electolß ou Mr Hurst*

secession from the Auckland party. Mr Lennox in the Chair. Mr Dorrinp.ton proposed—"That Mr ,Hurst Imving been elected to act with the .Aucklnud party, and having deserted the su:nc, this meeting calls upon Mr Hurst either to support that parly or resign his wesit for City West, and that . tlie Chairman Iks requested to wire the resolution bolii Jo Sir George Grey and Mr Hurst" In speaking to the resolution the speaker expressed au opinion that tho aulion taken to judge the member's conduct was premature, but as they were there they might as well say what they thought. It was quite possible that subsequent events would put a different complexion on the action of the four from that which it now bore, and that on their return to Auckhnd they would bo able to justify themselves. Still Mr Hurst had not represented the wishes of his constituents, and had violated his election pledges by acting in opposition to the majority of the Auckland party, and he consequently moved the resolution. The speaker re«d the following telegram which he averred had been received from Sir George Grey: - "Late desertions do not disorganise us.l" The resolution was seconded by Mr C. G. Hill, amidst great disorder. Mr Black protested against the unfair and un-Knglish conduct of condemning a man behind his back, and judging him without waiting for his defence. He applauded their member's action, and tbat of his three colleagues. (Applause and dissent.) The leader'of the party resigned, and the Auckland members were released from their obligations, leaving them free to do their best for the province. Macandrew's antecedents were not such as to justify them in looking to him for justice, rather the reverse. He had ever been an enemy to Auckland, and had done his best to resist her efforts to obtain what was her rightful due. Whatever its faults, the Hall Ministry appeared to be actuated by more impartial desires, and while professing a willingness to render justice to Auckland, they were also ready to carry out the Liberal measures the people were resolved upon. He moved as an amendment to the motion, " That tho electors of City West have no confidence in Macandrew's administration, and fully endorses the action taken by Mr Hurst and othets." Mr E wing ton seconded.—Numbers of other speakers followed, the sides alternating, and the applause and dissent of tho meeting often mingled. . ' The following telegram from Auckland members was read by' the Chairman :— *" Wellington, Thursday.—Chairman political meeting, Auckland. To be read to meeting.—-We understand that a public meeting is to be held tonight to consider the defection of Wood, Colbeck, Swansoii and Hursfc from the Opposition, and we desire to place the facts* before you. After the defeat of Sir George Grey's Government forty-two members agreed that a majority could be secured if Sir George Grey announced his disinclination to be a member or any new' Ministry. Upon this basis Pyke, Stewart, and McCaughan from Otago came over, giving us, without Tomoana (Native), a majority of five. Header Wood proposed Mr Macandrevr as leader, which, under the circumstances, all the party agreed to— Sir G. Grey placing himself in the hands of the managing committee appointed, who guided the operations, Wood, Sheehan, and Grey representing Auckland, arid the whole party agreeing tbat no coalition should be accepted. The defection of these gentlemera was not announced to the parly till Friday morning last. Mr Wood was ou the Committee up to then, acting as one of the advisers. No other member of the party but the four were made acquainted with the terms made with the Government. We held ourselves bound by our mutual promises to Otago, and the other men, who acted in good faith with us, and are satisfied that. Mr Mocandrew's Ministry, if supported by tbe Auckland vote, would have been strong enough to lead Parliament to do justice to Auckland, and would have ddne so.—Signed by Messrs Moss, McDonald, fcsheehan, ■ Speight, Tole, Te Wheoro, Mohi Tawhai, Grey, Wallis, Hamlin, Harris aud Luudon. On the amendment being put to the meeting it was lost, though the majority was not considerable. Mr Masefield then moved as a further amendment "That this meeting postpone consideration of Mr Hurst's action till a future meeting of City West electors." The amendment was negatived by a rather narrow majority, and the motion was carried. The meeting was a very disorderly one, and the number of Hurst's sympathisers large, showing that the electors are pretty well divided in their opinions.