INTERPROVINCIAL TELEGRAMS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 99, 29 June 1877, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL TELEGRAMS.

(Per Press Agency.)

Auckland June, 26. To-day, Colonel Haultain commence* an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the Old Men's Refuge. The inquiry showed that grog had been clandestinely smuggled into the Refuge, and the Ladies* Benevolent Society instructed the Manager to search inmates returning home after visiting the town. One man named Harris resisted, and in the struggle he fell and was severely injured in the back. He admitted that there was no 'intention of using violence, but denied the right of the Manager to search him. Another inmate, Mrs Harris, was proved to have been drunk. Walker an old soldier and Waterloo veteran, who left in a pet owing to his being abused ,by another inmate, who was allowed to return. June 27. A report presented to the Waste Lands Board states that out of a total** of 35,000 acres only three were classed ar first quality, and 30' acres second class, and the remainder third class. The Board decided to merely sell the* right to dig. Several persons were summoned on account of light weights to-day. One baker, who had 57 light weights, was fined only ss. At the Auckland Institute Captain Brown read a paper on " Coleoptera." He said that he believed New Zealand contained a hundred species, whereas only forty-four had been discovered in Europe. Forty-three species .had already been discovered in New Zealand. Wellington, June 26. The Government steamer Stella returned to-day from the Ckathams, haying left on Sunday at 4 p.m. She Mr Deighton, R.M., and others as witnesses in the case of perjury against the mates and apprentice of the Ocean Mail. The Stella did not visit the scene m of the wreck. There is no chance of saving any more cargo, and the wreck has almost entirely disappeared. About £600 worth of tallow, dry wool, sails, &c;, was recovered. June 27. Joseph Bartlett, a steady respectable settler at Porirua, for some unknown reasons, cut his throat from ear, to ear. He had money in the bank. A fireman' on a Fairlie engine on the Hutt line, named Robert M'Lachlan, sustained concussion of the brain to-day by falling off the engine on to_ a track. He is supposed to be fatally injured. Westport, Juue26. The road is open for traffic from West- '* port to Reefton. The mail coach started on its first tripthis morning, and will run through in a day twice weekly.

Hokitika, June 26. The Union Bank shipped by the Tararua £14,000 worth of gold from Hokitika. Dunedin, June 22. In the Supreme Court this afternoon, a rule was granted calling upon Mr. W. J.M. Larnach to show cause why he should not be committed for contempt of Court for having, as alleged, gone to Australia to escape examination in the case of Chalmers, Bros., against Clarke and others, in the Moa Flat Station case. Steps are being taken by the Directors of the Peninsula and Ocean Beach Railway Company, and settlers on the Penin_ to extend the railway to Portobello The cost will be about £40,000. Auckland, June 26. The Gisborne Mayoralty election resulted in Mr Crawford being returned by a majority of 57. June 27. In this morning's Herald the following appeared :—A curious telegram comes from Wellington, announcing that Sir Julius Vogel Agent-General for New Zealaud, had telegraphed to the Government here, asking permission to become a director of the Association promoting the Broomhall settlement; in this Province. It further stated that Government resolved to withhold their •consent to snch an arrangement, doubtless being desirous of avoiding sundry difficult complications which might «nsue and which wonld not be easy of arrangement if the Agent-General for the Colony was s director in such an Association., Wellington, June 26. The Licensing Commissioners to-day at an adjourned meeting, without hearing any evidence, granted three licenses which they summarily refused at the original meeting. Strong comments are made in the Press on their caprice, and ignorance of the law. A warrant has been issued, and instructions telegraphed to Sydney, to arxest Arthur Barnsley, lately a clerk in Telegraph office here, for forging a money order telegram purporting to come from Dunedin. He obtained the money without suspicion, everything appearing regular. Dr. Skae has taken action in reference to the Mount View Lunatic Asylum without reference to Dr. France, the medical officer, who therefore declines to act any longer. Sir J. Vogel compromised the Sloman case for upwards of £1000 below the amount at which Maekrell, the GovernSolicitor in London, advised a settlement.

Dunedin, June 26. The Citizens' Vigilance- Committee for spurring on the Chamber of Commerce in the matter of securing the linking of the main lines of railway to Dunedin, and obtained the co-dp'er f ation •of the Dunedin public bodies and the country districts is working vigorously. It consisted of active tradesmen and shopkeepers who have kept the City Council in check in times past, and. some of the most energetic of the wealthy citizens. The • names of the Committee are a guarantee that great public excitement will soon be got up and pressure brought to bear on the Otago members in the Assembly and on the Government. The trial of the dredge New Era was made this afternoon. It is fitted with 39 buckets, and the • discharge was at the rate of 15 buckets per minute, equal to the discharge of 200 cubic yards per hour. The dredge is 120 ft long 25ft beam, with Bffc 6in depth of hold. The machinery was provided by the Harbour Board, and on March 22, Messrs Sparrow and Henderson entered into a contract to complete the dredge within 10 months for £7657 7s. Unforeseen circumstances, however caused delay, and the work consequently, was not complete till four months after contract time. The Board's representatives expressed themselves highly satisfied with the dredge's operations. An infant child was found in the porch of St Joseph's Church early this morning, about 14 days old, wrapped up in flannel and baby's clothes, beneath a seat in front of the porch. In the Supreme Court to-day, in the case of W. Chalmers and another v. Clarke, Mr. Macassey applied for rule nisi calling on Mr. W. J. M. Larnach to show cause why he should not be attached for contempt of Court, in refusing to obey the Judge's order, made in Chambers, requiring his attendance on June 16. The order, which was made 0 n May 4, was strenuously but unsuccessfully opposed by counsel on Mr. Larnach's behalf. It was sought under it to examine him in reference to certain runs in which the Clarices were interested. The order was served personally on May 11. On June 11 Messrs Chalmers Brothers' solicitors, being apprised of Mr Larnach's intention to sail for Melbourne that day, wrote him a letter warning him against neglecting to comply •with the Judge's order, and threatening the present proceedings if he did so. His Honor granted the rule. Mr. Macassey said that after what transpired in Chambers it seemed to him that Mr. Larnach's action was an aggravation of the offence.' He had to apply under the ■circumstances, for the rule to be made returnable immediately, in a week or a fortnight hence. His Honor did not think, in the matter of a rule for attachment, if such was a quasi criminal proceeding, that substitution of service should be made. He also thought it was perfectly safe to leave the matter over until Mr. Larnach's return, as upon the authorities quoted by Jkr. Macassey, Mr. Larnach's privileges as a member of the House of Representatives would not

protect him. Bread has been raised to 8i and 9d. June 26. A most amusing affray happened in the Otago Guardian office last night. Mr. Schwabe, late captain of the disbanded Richardson Fusiliers, expressed his determination *Mr. Brown, the sub-editor. On producing the whip from under his coat Brown knocked him down, Mr. Schwabe, who had come to make him apologise, had to abjectly beg Mr. Brown's pardon.