We publish our first monthly summary for despatch by way of Panama to-day, in conse quence of the reduction in the rate of newspaper postage. Heretofore Auckland has derived' no benefit whatever from the Panama, service, owing to the imperfect postal arrangements, official neglect in Wellington, and the rivalry of the colonial and the Panama Companies in the inter-colonial service. In future let us hope that this settlement, which is one of the oldest and most important in the colony, will not be altogether isolated, but will be brought into communication with the rising States on the American continent, by means of the Panama steam service. There is a lull in politics generally ; and did we not know that the North Island is in a state of war, we should have little to record in native matters. What little there is to tell will be found fully stated in another column. Since the date of our supplemental summary on the 12th, there has been no con flict with the natives. The Superintendency election passed off without any contest. Mr. John Williamson was elected. He was Superintendent on two former occasions. The seat in the House of Eepresentatives vacated by Mr. James Wil liamson has been filled by the unanimous return of Mr. P. Dignan. Mr. Whitaker is retiring from the Assembly as member for PameD, and several candidates are spoken of, amongst whom are Major Heaphy, V.C., Mr. iWynn, and Mr. Howe. The vacant seat for j (the electoral district of Raglan is likely to be I Jcontested. Mr. H. Chamberlin, Mr. Jamesfl Farmer, and Mr. Crispe are the candidates in J the field ; but whether there will be a contest J to decide who shall succeed Mr. Newman we cannot yet say. The elections for the Provincial Council are exciting considerable attention, for the City West, Mr. J. A. Gilfillan and Mr. C. F. Mitchell have been nominated. The poll comes off to-day. For the Northern Division there are three candidates — Messrs. H. Morrow, E. C. Dyer, and A. O'Neill. The vacant seat for Onehunga will be filled up, we learn, by the return of Mr. Gallagher, who sat in the Council for the same constitu ency on a former occasion. We understand that a vacancy in the electoral district of Franklyn is about to take place by the retirement of Mr. E. 