BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2224, 23 June 1870, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(FROM OUR, OWN' CORRESPONDENT.) Port Chalmers, 3.35 p,m. A store recently erected in Sawyer’s Bay by Messrs Evans and Maitland, has been destroyed by fire. The proprietors, resident a little distance from the store, were awakened by a neighbor at half-past one this morning, and proceeding immediately to the spot, found the store and contents entirely destroyed. About the origin of the fire little is yet known'. It is believed the police are making proper enquiries. The loss is partially covered by a policy in the Victorian Insurance Company, Wellington, June 23. In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr Gillies moved for a return of LIBO,OOO allocated in 1850 for the purchase of Native land ; for returns relating to confiscated land sales; for correspondence relating to the appointment of the present AttorneyGeneral, as it was understood he was drawing a higher salary than LI 000,. and had a promise of the next vacant judgeship,

Colonel Haultain moved for a re* turn of the number of Natives em* ployed on all expeditious since July, 1869, and their cost. The second reading of the Ballot Bill was moved by Mr Fox, and after a long discussion, passed on the voices.

Mr Harrison’s Bill to make municipal corporations levy a lire protective rate, was read a second time. The Punishment for High Treason Bill passed threugh committee without amendments.

Greymouth. We have had very bad weather on the coast.

The Moonlight Company is again in full work. They are going to spend an additional L2OOO in testing the reef. A sluicing party on the Moonlight obtained 20 ozs. to the paddock. There is a big rush to the Half-ounce Creek, where gold has been struck iu one of the long tunnels. The diggings generally are very prosperous.