Wellington. The following is a copy of a telegram received from Mr. Russell:—

“ London, October 24. “Russell to Vogel.-Preliminary contracts signed for both services. Mackrill preparing full con tract. Securities on contractor’s behalf: Paul Forbes, of China house of Russell and Co., and Debuesche, China merchants; good men, large steamship experience. Permanent service accord ing with resolutions. Temporary service will be about 11 knots, beginning with the Macgregor, (going to China,) from Sydney in December; the Tamar, new, from Sydney in January. “ The Mongol, now building, goes from London to Dunedin with immigrants in time to take the February mail from New Zealand to San Fran cisco. The Macgregor returns from San Francisco to New Zealand.”

The Opposition have defeated the Provincial Government on the Loan Appropriation Bill for Public Works and have thrown out the Bill. There was but a thin attendance of members, tho majority against being three. The Provincial Executive this morning placed their resignations in the hands of the Superinten dent, who declined to accept them. The dis cussion in the Council was cut short by the Superintendent walking in and proroguing the sitting.
Messrs. Brogden’s two tenders for the extension of the Napier railway have been accepted. The following are the amounts for which the works are to be performed : —£9,469 and £26,871. The site originally selected for the erection of Government offices has been changed. The new buildings will be of a very extensive character, and will be erected immediately opposite the Government House, and contain 160 rooms.
