LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 153, 1 May 1873, Page 2

LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS.

Wellington, Monday. Eijht tenders were received for the Urunmer Coal Line ; but no decision will bo given until Mr Richardson returns from Napier. 10,000 acres of the Taupara block, at Taupo, surrounding the township of Bowen, were made over to Mr Mitchell, to extinguish the lien held by him for the survey. The remainder of tfie block, consisting of 2 >,00(J acres, is now open- for sale a 1 lease. Tuesday. Arrived : Taranaki, s.s. Mr Reynolds telegraphs to the Chamber of Commerce that the '^overnaient are trying to arrange a regular service connecting with Suez at a moderate cost. If the offer is not accepted, or negotiations fall through, it is not probable that arrangements will be made for next month's outgoing Sue* mail, but mails will be sent to Melbourne as opportunity offers. The Government trusts the Chamber will not embarrass them by entering into negotiations with McMeckan- and Blackwood. The Otago Daily Tuna recommends the Chamber to adopt the suggestion. 1) lined in, Monday. The s.s. Taranaki has not arrived, There is a thick fog outsido, and the papers suggest the use of fog-horns, Mr Shepherd addressed his constituent ut Di-ybrend on Saturday. The meeting passed a vole of entire confidence. At Arrow a unanimous vote of want of confidence in Mr Hallcnstcin was carried. At all other places he received a vote of confidence. He said that he believed the inquiry instituted into the mystery of the Vogel Government by Mr Stafford led to confidence, and instanced Stafford's purchase. The Ministry was indefinitely formed, and he could promise no support until the surroundings of the Ministry were fiKod. He believed that Mr Vogel had a .zeal for the colony largely at heart, and said that ho resembled Warren Hastings' career in the sacrifice of districts and men for the general gocd. He said that the- Arrow town vote was the result of selfish local views. Mr Shepherd sketched the provisions of the Goldfielda Consolidation Bill, which mot with hearty approval at his meeting. Nelson, Monday. The turning of the first sod of the railway has been postponed until the 6th May, in order to permit Mr Vogel to bo presont at the ceremony. The nomination for the Suburbs will tako place on May 9, and the poll on the 14th. The Provincial Council opens to-morrow. Tiiosdav. The Provincial Council was opened to-day. The Superintendent's speech stated that the past year's revenue showed a decrease of £7,000, as corup ired with the previous year's. It recommended the construction of a railway from the Ngakawau coal-mine to Westport, the formation of a dray road from Lyell to Matakitai, and from the Inangahua junction to Lyell. A bdl lias been prepared which provided for forming local boards in goldfield distnets> and handing over to them half the gross revenue raised therein, to bo expended in the mam of roads and public works. An inland communication schome has been strongly recommended. Mr Shepherd gave notice of motion for increased goldfields representation in tho Council Clmstchurch, Tuesday. The mast of a largo ship has drifted ashore near Brighton. It is six feet in circumference at the butt, where it had been chopped off, and is 33 feet long. On removing the barnacles it was found that the mast hud been charred, showing that the ship had been burned. Mr Jiluett received a vote of confidence at Kowhai P.iss. Coal from Porter's Pass on trial proves to bo superior to the Grey or Newcastle coal for steam purposes. A petition is- being signed asking the Provincial Government to extend tho Malvern railway there. Tins would cost £30,000, and bring Chrieteluuvh within one day of Hokitika. Tho Government will probably recommend tho Council to undertake tho work. Napier, TuesdayMr Sheehan's speech, delivered at a recent secret meeting, has been published, and has excited much indignation amongst Europeans. He said that tho present Lands Act was very bad, and had been ■worked by wicked Europeans' so .is to destroy tho Maoris. Ljttelton, Tuesday. The "Rtta, Nile, Fcroma, j.nd Coronet sailed yesterday for Auckland.