TELEGRAMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 678, 3 July 1882, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

[per press association.] What the Whirlwind Did. New Plymouth, To-day. Yesterday morning Omata was visited by a whirlwind, doing much damage. A house was considerably damaged, the chimney being knocked down and the roof torn off. Several chains of fencing were also blown down, and two haystacks and a strawstack demolished. Several trees were torn up by the roots, and other damage done in the neighborhood. The Breakwater and the Gale. The gale on Saturday night and Sunday morning was felt severely here. The chimney of the house of the engineer of the harbor work's was blown down, and the roof of the mixing-house uncovered. The fury of the wind and sea was at times terrific, and the force of water tremendous, but the breakwater withstood it all, which shows the substantiabiiity of the structure. Physic in Flames. Wanganui, To-day. A lire broke out in Wakefield and Hogg’s chemist shop last right. Shop and stock were entirely destroyed. Mr Hogg narrowly escaped. Tho stock was insured >n the Ojlouial office f<>r LBOO, and the building in the South Brit'sh for L 250. The Wreckage at Motonau. Wellington, To-day. The wreckage recently reported at Motonau, neat Fiaxbourne, has been

ascertained to he that of a small wooden vessel, and not that of any of the N.Z.S. Go’s fleet. Remanded. William Rattray, a Government clerk, charged with embezzlement, was remanded till Friday. Criminal. The Supremo Court criminal sessions commenced to-day, before Judge Richmond. His Honor, in charging the grand jury, sa : .d there were only six cases on the present list, and he would be able to congratulate them on the shortness of tho calendar; but, unfortunately, it contained one charge of a brutal offence, with the class of which wo were only too familiar in this group of colonies, and to which he need not further allude. The Legislature of this colony had seen fit to increase the severity of the punishments awarded to this class of offences beyond that which was in use in England, though we had not as yet resorted to that in vouge is New South. Wales, where it was punishable by death. He wished he could say that he thought the increase in the severity of the law had been attended with a diminution in the frequency of the crime. He could not say that this was so, however, for the offence was still of far too frequent occurrence. His Honor added that these first days of criminal sessions, he must confess, seemed to him like days of sackcloth and ashes, in which they usually had to deplore the the prevalence of crime, and also he might say the impotence of mere law to suppress it.

The Damage to the City of Perth. Dunedin, To-day.

The City of Perth has been taken into the Graving Dock. Tho chief part which at present appears to be damaged is the stern. Her rudder is carried away, and about twenty feet of the kelson; and the keel, together with five {dates from the keel upwards, are completely torn away. Apart from this she seems in good condition. The Fatal Fire at Dunedin. A large sum was collected on Saturday for the assistance ot the sufferers at the late fire. Captain Kitchener and infant are dangerous'y ill. At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned. The iury expressed the opinion that Constable Dwyer was deserving of praise for his exertions in saving life.