INTERPROVINCIAL TELEGRAMS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 64, 27 February 1877, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL TELEGRAMS.

[From the Press Agency]. Auckland, February 23. Te Patiri, the murderer of Morgan, Avas brought up to toAvn last night. Charleston, February 23. A Protecting Association Avas formed here last night. It offers a bonus of £250 to the party avlio first finds a payable goldfield Avith an area situated between the Totara, and the range dividing the Fourmile and Fox's River, and terminating at the White Horse Track ; the said new goldfield to be Avithin an area of two miles from the prospectors' claim' and to be capable of giving continuous employment to 250 miners for six months at current Avages; the offer of bonus to extend to Oct. 14 next. Hokitika, February 23. THE COLONIAL PPdZE-FIRING. The highest aggregate scorers for the Rifle Championship, including the fourth match, are—Paynter, 205; Richardson, 192 ; Keefe, 198 ; Acheson, 196 ; Chapman, 193; Davies, 193 ; Partington, 192; Maiding, 190 ; Robinson, 189 ; M'Leod, 188 ; Murray, 188 ; Stonebridge, 188 ; Anderson, 187. For the Carbine Belt—M'Lean, 173 ; LittleAvood, 168 ; Hill, 166; Cummins, 166 ; Sykes, 164; Blake, 158. The Fifth Infanty Match Avas begun this morning, and the long ranges finished ; then the long range of the Fifth Carbine Match after dinner. The latter will be completed, and then the 250 yards contest of the Fifth Rifle Match will be taken. Weather is very fine, and the glass steady. The firing Avas resumed after dinner' Avith the short range of the sth Carbine Match ; the winners begin—M'Lean, 67 ; Hill, 66 ; Muir, 63 ; Sykes, 62. The present positions of the probable Avinners of the Carbine Belt are :—M'Lean, 240 ; Hill, 232 ; Sykes, Littlewood, 226 ; Cummins, 223 ; Sellers, 217. The fifth Rifle Match, at 200 yds, Avas gone on Avith, the winners being—Anderson, 69 ; Richardson, 68 ; Harding, 68 ; Hay, 66 ; Ure Whare, 64 ; Mellsop. 62 J M'Leod,62 ; Chapman, 62. Ure Whare, of the Thames, made a fine score of 26 at 500 yds, and took the range prize. The weather looks very threatening, and rain is falling in the hills. About 500 persons AA'ere present at the rifle firing yesterday during the visit of Governor. In the eA'ening, his Excellency and suite attended a citizens' banquet in the Toavh Hall, the Mayor presiding. The Governor, in responding to the toast of the evening, expressed his gratification at the signs of progress presented in the district. Mr. Button, in proposing the toast of "The Governor's Responsible Advisers," said he was satisfied there Avas no part of NeAV Zealand in Avhich the people Avere more generally satisfied with the Ministry of the day than the people of Westland. The Hon C. C. Bowen, in responding, said no doubt, on the question of Abolition, a great part of the country was at the back of the Ministry, and this part of the

country especially. In afterwards proposng prosperity to Westland, he referred to recent discoveries of tin, antimony, silver, and lithographic stone. He said he should have liked much to have seen the County Council in full Avorking order, so that he might have discussed Avith them at this meeting the question of Avaterraces. After the banquet, the Governor drove through the tOAvn, escorted by the Volunteer band and Fire Brigade, in torchlight procession. The day's proceedings ended with an illumination and grand displaj r of fireworks. Wellington, February 24. STRANGE ACCIDENT. A fatal "accident occurred about one this morning, Avhen the hulk Eli Whitney, with 800 tons of coal aboard, sank in the harbour in deep Avater, about 100 yards from the Avharf. The man in charge, Davey, Avas aroused by bis Avife, a young woman only 16 years old Avho heard the rush of Avater in the hold. He got his Avife and baby hurriedly on deck, but had no time to dress, and had just time to place them and himself on a large plank when the hulk disappeared. They drifted on the plank to the baths at the south end of the harbour, where the man, much exhausted, dragged himself to a neighbouring house for assistance. The Avife was found dead, but the baby is missing and Avas no doubt downed. A furious northerly gale was blowing at the time, and it Avas intensely dark ; the hulk carried no light. A report is current that the steamer Taupo, which left for Picton a little after midnight, ran into the hulk. The steamer was seen very near it, and appeared to remain alongside for a few minutes, and then steamed aAvay. The hulk sank about 20 minutes after the supposed collision; it Avas not insured and belongs to Captain Williams. Nelson, February 24. Capt. Carey, of the s.s. Taupo, states re Eli Whitney, that after leaving the wharf, it Avas blowing hard and very dark at the time, he saAV a schooner's lights ahead and cleared her, and he then saAV the hulk, Avhich had no lights burning ahead. The steamer was going easy at the time, and the engines Avere reversed immediately to full speed astern. The Taupo touched the hulk so lightly that the passengers standing on deck scarcely felt the shock. Capt. Carey immediately sang out to the mate and carpenter, asking Avhether any damage Avas done, and they replied, not to any extent to the bulwarks. They stood by the hulk for five minutes. All hands forward singing out at the top of their voices, asking Avhether there was anyone on board, but they got no reply, and so steamed on. Capt. Carey was shocked on hearing the result, as he had no idea of the collision being serious, or that there were any people aboard. Everybody on the steamer was equally surprised.