A large number of petitions have been pre sented to the Council in favour of the Govern ment policy. SHIPPING. Melbourne. Arrived, 15th—St Hilda from Hokitika. Sailed, 18th—Prosperity for Hokitika ; Yarra for Oamaru. Sydney. Arrived, 13th—Mary from Wellington. Newcastle. Arrived, 13th—Joliba, Hopeful, Australian Sovereign, and Wild Wave from Lyttelton ; Ann Melhuish and Haversham from Wel lington ; Stag from Auckland ; Frances Line, Camille, Mary and Trinidad from Dunedin. 16th —William Archer from Wellington; Sam Merritt from Lyttelton. Sailed, 15th—Melrose for Nelson, 17th— Edith Haviland for Timaru. 17th—Wood ville for Dunedin. COMMERCIAL. Wheat is rather dull, and not so firm. Sales, 6s Bd. New Zealand oats, 3s 7£d. At the sugar sales, brewing sorts experienced a decline. Whites maintain their prices. There have been considerable sales of teas at good prices. Hops are in demand. Sales up to 2s. Kerosene is also enquired for. INTERPROVIN CIAL. New Plymouth, November 26. The adjourned meeting of the Titanic Iron Company shareholders in New Plymouth was held last night, when the committee brought up a report on the charges preferred by Mr Matheson against the directors. The committee report that they believe that the machinery, which cost £4 10s per ton for warding here, could have been brought here for £1 10s per ton, and landed and placed at the company’s works for another 15s per ton. The compound bricks have been mads at £4 10s per thousand, whilst another tender was sent at £2 15s. From Is 6d to 2s per cubic yard was given for excavation, whilst the Provincial Government and private persons were giving from 8d to lOd. Mr Whatton has been retained at £4 per week, after the appointment of Mr Darroch as manager, at £5 per week. The machinery, they considered, could have been erected by an engineer and assistant, and two laborcs, in eight or ten days, whilst Mr Jack has been engaged on it eight or ten months at £5 a week, and the work is not finished. Only about 500 bushels of charcoal are on hand, whereas there should have been three months’ supply. The committee suggest that the blowing in of the furnaces be delayed till a thoroughly practical man is placed in charge, also that the managing director should be a resident here. Several of the shareholders endorsed the state ments that were in the report, and brought forward proofs. 