TELEGRAMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 407, 28 July 1881, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

[per press association, j The Steamer Samson Wrecked. New Plymouth, Yesterday. A telegram from Waitara to-day states that the steamer Samson is in a very dangerous position on the South Spit, Waitara River, and is likely to become a total wreck. The engine-room is already half filled with sand, and not being a new vessel, there is little hope of her withstanding the heavy straining she is at present undergoing. The steamer Sampson, on being moved, has landed on the wreck of the Patterson, knocking a hole in her hull. The engines have shifted, and the water is flowing in and out of her. The captain has abandoned her. She is insured in the South British for L3OO. Fine Weather in Taranaki. It is a matter for surprise that whilst stormy weather of a violent character prevails on the West Coast, the weather in Taranaki has been mild in the extreme. Heavy rain fell during the night, but it cleared off early, and the sun now shines brilliantly. Scholastic. Wanganui, To-day. Mr J. P. Francis, late second master of the Wellington college, has been appointed Head Master of the Wanganui district High School; there wore thirteen applicants, seven of them University graduates. Fire. A Maori whard was burned at Putikikei, yesterday, and an old Maori woman, wife of the late chief Teretiniana, was burned to death. Wellington Racing Club. Wellington, Yesterday. A meeting of the Wellington Racing Club was held to-night. The balance sheet showed that during the past season the club had paid off outstanding accounts to the sum of about L4OO, and that there was still an amount of Ll2 standing to its debit. The report referred to the success attached to both meetings held last year, and recommended that the success which attended the spring meeting, it being the first held here, was such as to warrant its continuance for the future. Another Landslip. Wellington, To-day. Another heavy slip occurred on the Wellington-Master ton line yesterday afternoon. Several hundred tons of earth came down, covering the line for a distance of three chains. A gang of men went to work this morning to clear away the debris. It is expected the line will be clear by to-morrow. Burglary. Timaru, To-day. On Tuesday night someone entered Mr Reeves’ house on his farm at Otaio. A cash box containing valuable papers, of no use to anyone but the owner, was found with the lid burst open, lying on the gravel walk in front of the house the next morning, with its contents intact. Mr Reeves lives alone, but his servants reside on the premises. Four savage dogs are kept, but, strange to say, allowed the thief to enter unmolested. The police are investigating the burglary. Prize for the Best Merino Bam. Dunedin, Yesterday. The Australian Mortgage Land and Finance Company will give a piece of plate, value twenty guineas, for the best merino ram bred in New Zealand, and shown at the forthcoming pastoral show at Dunedin. A Good Dividend. Dunedin, To-day, The Equitable Investment Company have declared a dividend of ten per cent. Another Fire. A five-roomed house at Palmerston, belonging to Mr John Bethune, has been burned down. It was insured in the National Insurance Company for Ll5O. Orepuki Railway, Invercargill, To-day. The first section (about six miles) of the Orepuki railway was opened yesterday. There was no public demonstration, and no public intimation of the opening, to the great indignation of the residents in Riverton. Death from Drowning. The body of Mr John M‘Naughton, an old resident at Riverton, who has been missing since Sunday last, was found this morning, in the Aparima Estuary, The deceased recently showed signs of mental derangement.