YESTERDAY’S LATE TELEGRAMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1521, 23 April 1885, Page 2

YESTERDAY’S LATE TELEGRAMS.

Auckland.

Then Hon Mr Richardson, Minister of Public Works, was a passenger by the Coptic, for Wellington,

Wang inox,

At the inquest on the body of Charles Kelly the evidence went to prove that he was only seen by two or three persona after the arrival of the South (rain last night, by which he was a passenger. The medical evidence proved that the wounds on his did not cause death, but that he probably fell down an embankment and stunned himself, and his head being under water he was suffocated. He was sober at the time. There was no evidence to account for his being in that place. Deceased told the last man who saw him alive that he was going, home. The place where he was found is in a totally different direction. The verdict was in accordance with the medical evidence. Wellington. A meeting of the Executive Council was held to-day at Government House, but the business transacted was purely formal and of the ordinary routine character. After the meeting terminate 1, the Defence Minister had a conference with the Governor with reference to defences, but no informotion has been allowed to transpire The Minister of Justice has received a telegram from Auckland, statin; that two petitions are on the way to Wellington, respecting the case of Prendergast, under sentence of death at Auckland for murder —one from the jury who tried the case, and the other from residents in the neighborhood. Both refer to the state of the condemned man’s mind. Government have, therefore, deferred their decision until the petitions have been received. A lengthy meeting of the Government Insurance Board was held yesterday, Sir Julius Vogel presiding. The proceedings lasted several hours, and it is understood that the main business was the question of appointing local Boards.. This was urged by Sir J. Vogel, and opposed by several other members of the Board, the result being that it was shown a majority were willing to carry out Sic J. Vogel’s wishes if at any meeting he determines on pressing them. The attention is to appoint local Boards at Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch only. This afternoon the Governor received a telegram from London with reference to the Russo-Afghan difljoilty, which indicated that the colony ought to be prepared with defences. The Government anticipate that the British navy will be represented within the. next few days, in New Zealand waters, by two war vessels. There is, it is stated, a possibility that the s. s. Arawa, another of the S.S. and A. line, will also be required for the purpose of a cruiser. ‘ Dunedin. A rather novel defence waa set up in a case of spearing trout, heard at {'apauni. The defendant sail he was fishing on the previous day, when the fish carried away three or four yards of his tackle, and he used the spear to recover it. A fine of LI and costa was indicted. The mounting of the big guns at Forbury and Lawyer’s Heads was completed to-day by Mr T. B. Low (Public Works) and Sergeant Major *M‘Kay (A’.O.) and should occasion require it, they could open fire to morrow. Dunedin is, therefore, in a state of defence against bombardment from the sea. The mounting of the guns at Taiaroa Heads is expected to be finished early next week, thus completing the defence of the harbor.

M. de Harveo, Belgian Commissioner, has relumed to Dunedin.