He has shown the Goldfields the General Government would do nothing for them, and he has now taken the delegated powers in order that he may be able thoroughly to master their case before the Assembly meets. He has also asked that the control of the Police be again trans ferred to the Province, to which Dr Pollen has agreed. Mr Rees haa been returned for the Provincial Council, in opposition to a powerful party and an esteemed resident who stood against him. One of the chief reasons of his return is that he is an avowed and ardent supporter of Sir George Grey's views. He also declared that if elected to the Council, he should ask the same constituency (City East) to return him instead of its present representative in the Assembly (Mr Vogel). There is no doubt Mr Rees will now beat Mr Vogel for that constituency. He will be in your recollection as the gentleman who rose to question Mr Vogel at the Choral Hall when last here, when Mr Vogel declined to answer, on the ground that he did not come there " to bandy words with popular 1 orators." The chief importance in the election is in affording another proof of the determination to send into public life only those who will sup port the Superintendent. Throughout the nor thern part of the Province this is the case. What it may be in the south I cannot yet say, but the Native Office is very powerful there ; but the dislike of it felt by all real settlers and many Maoris may lead to a blow being given under the secresy which the ballot secures. Sir George Grey, it must also be remembered, is himself a power in dealing with the Natives, both from personal character and old tradition. We have no rain yet. It is threatening, but keeps off. Meantime the sewers are unflushed, and it is amusing to see the gratings all care fully covered with cornsacks by the Corpora tion, to keep down the stench. The experi ment is novel, but not successful. Neither are the silt basins at the wharf. Nearly £4000 has been spent on them, but they are an intolerable nuisance nevertheless. 