TELEGRAMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 638, 17 May 1882, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

[PKII CHESS ASSOCIATION.] The Central Prison. Wellington, To-day. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce and other citizens, waited on the Colonial Secretary this morning, protesting against the erection of a central prison on Mount Cook. The arguments were that the principle of the erection of penal gaols in large centres was a bad one, and was not followed elsewhere; also, that it would tend to depreciate the value of property iu the neighborhood, and that the site was too valuable for the purpose. Mr Dick replied that the vote was passed last session for the erection of a penal establishment at Mount Cook, and he had allowed the matter to stand over to the last moment —until, in fact, there was a danger of the vote lapsing—before work was commenced. He had spoken to the editors of the papers so that they might write and ascertain public feeling, but as no action had been taken on the part of the public, the people of Wellington had, it appeared, waked up in this matter several months too late. Having gone so far, the Government were compelled to go on with the work. However, the deputation could get the city members to move in the matter in Parliament. Mr Dick also informed the deputation that the site in question had appeared on Government maps as a site for a prison since 1841. The Council took no*action in the matter. The Opening of Parliament. Parliament will be opened by commission to-morrow, the Commissioners being the Hon. Mr V hi taker (Premier), Sir Wm. Fitzherbert and Major Richmond. Should the latter not arrive in time another gentleman will be appointed. It is expected that the Governor will deliver his speech on Friday. It has not tr inspired who will move and second the Address, or whom the Government will nominate as Chairman of Committees. The Wellington Suicide. At the inquest on Vause to-day a ver- t

diet was returned that deceased shot himself while in a state of temporary insanity. Still going on The steamboat collision enquiry is still going on. Hia Excellency the Governor. The Governor arrived at eight this morning. Where Was the Cowcatcher This Time? Westport, To-day. An example of the danger of unfenced railway lines, occurred at 5.40 last evening, when the last train was coming into the Westport station. The engine struck a cow lying across the line. The locomotive capsized, and two trucks loaded with coal followed, the lot going down an embankment. The fireman escaped comparatiyely uninjured, but the driver was pinned to the ground, his arm being caught by the side of the engine cab, but he was extricated after a quarter of an hour’s work, and he is but slightly hurt. The line is torn up and the permanent way injured. The escape of the men is most miraculous. The passenger carriages were dt the rear of the train and kept the line. The men on the engine did not see the animal, causing the accident; until Close to it>

Another Outrage on a Child. Kumara, To-day. Walter Holges, saddler, was yesterday committed for,trial lor rape on Harrietta Hodder, a girl under ten years of age; Ndt in the Programme. , Daring tbe performance last evening , of Burton’s circus, nearly all the seats, which were crammed with people, gave way. Notwithstanding that a large number of tbe fallen hurt their backs and got jammed by the timber, no bones were broken, but several persons were much bruised. A Fatal Mistake. Dunedin, To-day. A man named Hockbaw, 34 years of age, miner, died in his tent at Horse Flat, Waikemo, from taking morphia in mistake for quinine. A Burst Up and a Burn Down. The dwelling-house of Mr Samuel. Savage on the Blueskin road, near Dunedin, was burnt down through the bursting of a kerosene lamp. The inmates hati only time to save themselves Practical Sympathy. Invercargill, To-day. A public meeting is to be held to take steps to raise subscriptions on behalf of the families of the victims of the disaster at Timaru. A Growl About the Trucks. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce to-day waited upon Mr Hannay and brought under his notice the inconvenience and loss arising from the scarcity of trucks on the local railways. Mr Hannay, in reply, said the present time was the busiest of the year, and so there might be an insufficiency for a short time. He said the Government had tried to relieve the pressute by running specials, but if a chionic deficiency existed it would have to be seen to.