In his speech at the public meeting on Tuesday evening, Mr Pearce said that the General Government had conceded to the Provincial Government alb that was asked in respect to the Manawatu compensation question. We understand that the offer made by the General Government since the close of the session is really as fol lows : —That they are willing the Hon F. Dillon Bell should arbitrate on the mat ter, and declare what amount of compen sation (if any) should be paid; the General Government undertaking that if Mr Bell’s decision should be in favor of compensation, they will recommend to the Assembly that payment should be made out of moneys available for the purchase of lands in the North Island. If payment is made out of those moneys, it will become a provincial charge ; because interest and sinking fund will have to be paid by the province. It was out of the North Island Land Fund that provision was made for a payment to Auckland, under circumstances which have been stated to be not dissimilar to those of the Manawatu case. The General Govern ment have distinctly taken the position that the charge consequent upon compen sation (if any) in respect to the Mana watu reserves shall not fall upon the colony; and, as we have explained, the offer made provides for the charge being a provincial one.
It is with feelings of regret, which we are sure will be shared by a large number of colonists in every province, that we have to announce the death on Sunday morning last of George Brodie, Esq., the Accountant in Bankruptcy. Mr Brodie had for some months suffered from general constitutional debility, and latterly his

November S), 18*72.
NEW ZEALAND MAIL.
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