BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1066, 25 April 1873, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(PBOJI OUR OWN - CORRESPONDENTS.) WELLINGTON. April 24. By last mail a despatch, dated Jan. 31, was received from Lord Kimberley, declining to advise the Queen to grant letter patent to the Otago and New Zealand Universities, so as to make degrees granted by those Universities to be recognised throughout the Empire. He desires the Assembly and people to express their views regarding one University upon which the privilege shall be conferred, and deprecates it being granted to two institutions, as likely to deteriorate the value of degrees, and as being beyond the requirements of the colony. He suggests a National University. Advices received by the Albion report bar iron at Birmingham at £l4 2s 6d; second class £l3 10s ; good

brands, sheets and shingles, £l9 ; hotair pigs; £7 12s 6d. The continued advance lias caused a rise in the price of coal. Applications have been received for 12,500 shares in the South British. It is believed that Mr liussell is instructed to make enquiries of English shipowners relative to a ne\V San Francisco service. Caledonians, £l7 ; Thames £3 17s Gd. Moore and Green have been committed for trial for scuttling the ship Alasger. Advices from the Agent- General state that he had invited tenders for the conveyance of 1,200 tons of rail- "■ way material from Sunderland to Lyttelton. Two tenders Were received at 70s and 67s 6d per ton, neither bona fi&e. The Agent-General then agreed with Shaw, Saville, and Co., to send out a first-class ship on the 3lst March, at 55s per ton. Tenders have been accepted for additional tolling stock to be shipped in June. The machinery for repairing-shops to be shipped in the Parsee and Woodlark, for Auckland, and in the Michael Angelo, For Dunedin. More cylinders for the Waikato bridge are to be shipped in the Michael Angelo > 350 torjs rails are on board the Michael Angelo and Glenary, for Port Chalmers. Seven hundred shares have been applied for in the new Coal Company. Captain Tucker-, of the barque Camilla, died last night. Mr Vogel is expected to return to "Wellington next week. AUCKLAND. April 24. The Herald complains that the Press Association, in not supplying ±'ox's speech, acknowledges it from this agency. A traveller in. the King country between Taupo and Cambridge reports a kindly reception, though travelling is Unsafe owing to a prowling armed party of twenty Parakuas who are threatening the lives of Europeans. The prospectors at Tuhua have been opposed, but have avoided natives. They went into the bush ; found no rich quartz but several reefs. Traces of gold were found in every gully tested. The traveller thinks the prospectors lives are endangered-. The Nebraska had again to anchor under Eangitoto reef in consequence of a fearful gale. Mr Vogel has bought a large number of allotments sold by the City Improvement Commissioners-. Mr Luckie has resigned his seat in the Nelson Provincial Council. 5 p.m. Theßank of half-yearly meeting Was held to-day. The report shows net profit to end of March of £37,293 18s Gd-; making, with £BBOO ss, tbo balance undivided for Sept. 30, 1872, £10,154 3s Gd, for dividends.

A dividend of twelve and a half per cent is recommended, amounting to £37,500. Balance to be carried to profit and loss account, £8054 3s 6d. Dividend payable to-morrow. DUNEDIN. April 24. Donald Eeid addressed his constituents at Taieri last night. Referring to the formation of the new Government by Mr Stafford, he said that had Mr Stafford bid for certain Maori votes as others did he might have retained his office in the Government of which Mr Eeid was a member. He considered it wiser and more prudent to push on the completion of railways already commenced than to loiter on too many lines at once. The present Government were proceeding in direct violation of the understanding on faith of which the loans were obtained —that money borrowed should be expended in reproductive works and the interest paid out of the revenue instead of capital. He hoped the day was not far distant when there would be a party in power with a higher aim than the construction of railways—in some instances to secure votes. A vote of thanks to Mr Eeid and of confidence was carried unanimously. Over one hundred and fifty electors were present. The jury, after two hours deliberation, yesterday, acquitted Eyan.