TELEGRAMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1487, 13 March 1885, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

[PBB PRF.SH ASSOCIATION.] Defence. Auckland, Last Night. At the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee to-day, a resolution was carried urging Government to take immediate action for the defence of Auckland. The resolution will come up for ratification at the meeting of the Chamber to-morrow. Sudden Death. Walter Dowden, auctioneer, died suddenly in his auction mart this afternoon, while conversing with his wife, of heart disease. Pedeatrianism. D. Makun, a local ped, has closed with J. Bayner’s challenge to a twelve hours’ walking match for LSO a-side. Volunteers for Soudan. Auckland, To-day. It is stated here that negotiations are in progress with one of the other colonies to send 250 picked men out of Auckland as a contingent for the Soudan. North. North, of sweepstake notoriety, is reported to be in Auckland. Music. Wellington, Last night. Mr Batcliffe, flautist, and Madame Bita, prima donna, arrived from Sydney by the Tekapo, to commence a tour through the colony, starting in the South.

Reply to Volunteers. The following appeared in the Gazette, issued to-day :—“ The Government desires to publicly notify th»t it has received numerous offers for active service in the Soudan at the present juncture, and to express its gratification at the patriotic spirit displayed by those Volunteers and others who have so generously offered themselves. At the same time, the Government has to intimate that however desirous it might be to form a body of New Zealand troops to assist Her Majesty’s force in the locality in question, it can take no steps towards that object without the sanction of Parliament.— Robert Stout, Premier.” Another Invitation. Invercargill, Last night. The Invercargill Borough Council have resolved to invite Sir Julius Vogel to address the citizens on political matters. Fire. Invercargill, To-day. A large wooden building at Avenel, a suburb of Invercargill, occupied by Mrs Campbell, and known as the VVorking Men’s Club, was burned down this morning. Nothing was saved, and several houses near were badly damaged. The insurances are—House, L2OO in the Ham-burg-Madgeburg, and L3OO in the Standard ; and the furniture, L 250 in the Standard.