(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

West Coast Times, Issue 255, 17 July 1866, Page 3

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Christcjiurch, July 16. Arrived — the s.s. Albion and Rangitoto, from Wellington; s.s. Waipora, from Wanganui ; Spartan, from Sydney. Sailed — s.s Wellington, for the North. In the General Assembly , the financial statement will be made on the 24th, and no business of importance will be transacted until the separation question is decided, which, it is expected will be brought before the House next week.

Concerning the present Insolvency laws, the Governinent*have decided that a general measure would not be introduced ; but only short bills defining tlio powers of Inspectors. The feeling of the House, however, seemed favorable to the repeal of the Acts of 1862 and 1865. A bill was introduced which empowers' Provincial Legislatures to pass laws authorising compulsory taking up of lands for public purposes. A bill' was passed appropriating certain duties received from the sales of land under the Native Land Act. A bill jwas introduced to validate the issue of certain Crown grants of land which had been illegally granted. The bill imposing duties upon bonded warehouses was withdrawn. • •. On Mr Bradsh'aw ? s*' 'motion a committee was appointed to consider the propriety of reducing the export duty upon gold. A resolution was carried in the Legislative Council, limiting the number of members to thirty-eight. The laying of the Submarine Telegraph cable across Cook's Straits will commence in ten days, Greymouth. Monday, 4.50 p.m. Arrived.— John Mitchell, from Hokitika. Sailed.— -Kennedy, for Nelson ; William Miskin, for Dunedin; Emerald, for Picton ; Excelsior, for Onehunga. Advices to hand from goldfields show general prosperity, but great scarcity of provisions. Two men are reported drowned in in the |Inangahua, names unknown. Bodies not recovered.

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