Auckland Notes.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3961, 8 September 1881, Page 2

Auckland Notes.

A friend, writing from Auckland, says: —In the political world of Auckland everything is very quiet just now. The men at the great rununga house at Wellington have nearly talked themselves dry, and as is usual towards the end of the session, the general interest in matters political wains. But it is only the calm before the storm. In a month or so the whole of the provincial district, from North Cape to Lake Taupo, will be up to its neck in the election fever. I do not think Mr Speight will stand much show for City East this time if J. M. Clark chooses to oppose him again. The Thames engine driver has done wonderfully well—that is, for an enginedriver—and hie constituents no doubt feel grateful for his efforts on their behalf; but the present Mayor of Auckland is immensely popular, and I wouldn't give any odds on even Sir George - Grey's chance against him for any of the city constituencies. At last election the cry was " Measures, not men," but we are drifting again to the old idea of " Men and not measures." Major Jackson is going to oppose Fred. Whitaker for the Waipa seat, and Mr Hobbs has been [ influentially requisitioned to stand for the Bay of , Islands. Poor old John; Lunrfon ; I am afraid that tbe days during I which he will have the felicity of affixing M.H.R. to his name are numbered. And ! do you know what i heard the other day ? -r-Vv*hy, that if ijt can. be managed to make "Piako, Te Aroha, and the Upper Thames into an electoral district, that our | old friend Harry Wbitaker intends going in for electoral honors. This accounts for Harry's presiding at Te Aroha teah'ghts, nursing Piako babies, and dancing with Ohineinuri girls, and many other little matters that have been hitherto unexplainable, Though I know you Thames people

Major Atkinson said if the works were stopped the colony must lose heavily, and the district still more. Under the most favourable circumstances; the colony must I lose nearly £20,000 in any case, now, as the House was interfering between lender and borrower, arid the colony would have to guarantee the Board's bonds. The Committee had shown a great want of due care in their statement "of the probable rating powers of the Board. There was really no reason to fear that the district would be unable to pay any rate required, but he did not think any rate would ever require to be levied. The only people who would gain by what was now proposed would be the holders of the Board's bonds. He traced the whole his tory of the harbour scheme pointing out how unjust it was to now suspend the works. The ratepayers who reaped* the benefit by the works were quite willing that any portion of the district not likely to be benefitted by them should be exempted from the Bating Act. There was no ground or right for interfering in the way proposed with the works. He would not oppose the second reading, but would endeavour to get the Com missioners report made final. Sir G. Grey said" that Sir John Coode had expressed to him a very high opinion of Mr Blaekett's professional capabilities He had always maintained, and felt convinced, of the feasibility of constructing a.harbour at New .(Plymouth ; and his opinion was fortified even in 1848 by the highest professional' opinion. He urged ' that the report of the Commission should be made final Mr Kelly challenged the correctness of the Committee's figures and conclusions, and hoped the report of the Commission would b& made'final, as the effect of uncertainty was most injurious. If the works were stopped, he believed the people of Taranaki' would have good claim for compensation against the colony. ' .. .

- Latee, Thia day. | Wright defended the Committee's report, and said he attached very little weight to Blackett's calculations. Richardson expressed full faith 'in Blackett. Ballance and Moss expressed disapproval of the bill altogether. Saunders also opposed it, because he was sure the Government were not in earnest, that the whole thing was a sham, and that the wasteful expenditure was to go on. Pitt, Tawhia, Hursthouse, Fulton, Weston, McCaughan, Montgomery, and others spoke. With the exception of Pift and McCaughan, nearly all the speakers expressed opinions in favour of giving the Commission power to decide finally on .stopping or carrying on the works without further reference to Parliament. The bill was read a second time, and the House rose at 1.5.