TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 432, 1 November 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(Per Press Agency ,) Wellington, October 30. The rumor to the effect that the ship Strathnaver, Captain Devey, had arrived home safely, is unfounded. Letters by the last mail state that the ship was, when these were written, over 160 days out. and that no word had been received about her. The head board of the Strathnaver was found a few weeks ago on the beach near Sydney. The Strathnaver, which may now be classed among the missing, left here last December and went to Sydney, where she loaded a valuable cargo for London, leaving in April last. The Governor has been pleased to award the decorative distinction instituted by Order u Council, dated March 10th, 1869, to Isaac Earl Featherston, whose claim to the same has been submitted to his Excellency, on account of his meritorious and intrepid service during the campaign under MajorGeneral Chute, C. 8., on the West Coast of the North Island, of 1865-1866, and more particularly at the storming and capture of the formidable Otapawa on the 13th of ■January, 1866, Mr W. Gisborne, Commissioner of Annuities, is to be asked to allow himself to be nominated as a candidate for next mayorality. The amount of the Custom’s revenue collected at Wellington for October, 1875, is

£13,688, showing an increase of £2469 over the returns for the same month, 1874. The necessary recogmsances'in the case of Alexander McDonald, were entered into this morning at the gaol. McDonald is hound over in £SOO, and his two sureties, Messrs Mase and Moeller, in £250 each, for his future good behaviour. He left for his home in Napier to day. The Fast says there is every probability that a higher grade than he now occupies in the order of St Michael and St George will shortly be conferred on the Agent-General, who will then be Sir Isaac Earl Featherston, K.O.M.G. Dunedin, Oct 30 Sir George Grey and the Superintendent had rather a cold reception at the railway station at Clutha yesterday. Through some neglect on the part of the Mayor in not ascertaining the time of arrival of the special train, not a soul was present, and the visitors trudged to the township on foot. Very little new was said at the Thomson banquet at Clutha last night. About one hundred and fifty persons were present. Mr Macandrew, in replying to his health, remarked that looking at the extent of its territory, and the magnitude and diversity of the interests with which the Superintendent of Otago had to deal, he was disposed to think perhaps that there was no other man in New Zealand who occupied an equally important position. For some years he and Mr Thomson were on opposite sides. They had come together since. Whether he had gone over to Mr Thomson or Mr Thomson to him he could not say, but here they were now, fighting under the same, flag, and he hoped under the leadership of Sir G. Grey that they would soon be’ led on to victory—victory which should have inscribed on its banners a very great reduction in the enormous unreproductive expenditure which was n°w going on, and which, if not checked, was bound jto sink the colony in very serious disaster —a banner on which should also be inscribed “measures, not men.” He was very sorry to say the very opposite was the move in the Assembly at the present moment. Two-thirds of the present House would vote black was white to day, and white was black to-morrow, if the Government of the day said so. Then he hoped they would be led on to such a victory as he had indicated, and as a result they would see New Zealand a great and united federation of provinces. [Loud cheers ] Bir G. Grey replied to the toast of the “ Opposition.” He alluded to the Civil Service, which encouraged young men to a life of idleness when they might be engaged in active pursuits ; and to the armed constabulary as loiterers in public houses, instead of being usefully employed. It was against such things that they set their face. Had he framed the estimates last session he could have saved £150,000 in those directions. There had never been an argument advanced in favor of Centralism. There would be no saving from the change. If the Government proposals were carried out, members would be paid £3OO a year, which meant a total expenditure of £40,000 a year, while all the Provincial Councils in the colony would not cost more than £15,000 or £IB,OOO. Speaking of the Legislative Council, he said the interests of that body were opposed to the people ; there was no means of bringing them into harmony with public opinion. Sir John Richardson, in proposing “ The Visitors from a distance,” said he had always been opposed to separation, but circumstances had altered. A ruthless majority had attempted to crush a noble minority and to abolish the provinces. He was a citizen of the province, and no earthly power, no earthly emolument or consideration of position would prevent him from giving utterance to his opinion that the provinces had been abolished by the operation of a tyrannical andunjustmajority. He looked upon the provinces as they might be substantially realised. Possibly there would be two provinces, and the Middle Island would rise up in its virgin simplicity as a colony with a federal government situated at Wellington. He advised all childish considerations as to the seat of Government to be cast aside. As Speaker of the Legislative Council it was his duty, if any means were in bis power, to speak for that body, but he said fearlessly and emphatically that a nominated Council was utterly incongruous with responsible Government. He wished to goodness he was free and upfettered, If he had been, he would have stood forward in defence of popular rights. Nothing would have given him greater satisfaction than that in the autumn and winter of his life he could have been privileged to have given his intellect and abilities in the service of the colony in this crisis of its fate. The land question was of the greatest importance: all other questions were insignificant compared with it. From the first he had cried “ Land for the people, 1 ’ and would never flinch from it. Reflection for years had only impressed upon him his former conviction, that if this question was allowed to remain in abeyance, New Zealand might be almost wiped out.