BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2383, 21 November 1870, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(from greviule’s telegram company,

reuter’s agents.)

Christchurch, November 20,

James Alexander, postmaster at Kaiapoi, was arrested last evening on a charge of embezzling Government moneys. His defalcations amount to over LI 00. He -was remanded this morning to Kaiapoi. The ballot was brought into operation for the first time in this Province on Saturday last at the Oxford election. Mr Higgins has been returned to the Provincial Council for that district, beating Mr M, B. Hart by four votes, Christopher JDalwood’s stables were burnt down last night. The property was not insured. This is the second fire in the same locality in less than three weeks.

DREADFUL BOAT ACCIDENT AT NAPIER.

Napier, November 21

A dreadful boat accident occurred last uigbt, by which five lives were lost. A party of six, comprising Mr Martin M'Nalty and son, Mr Robert Bronton, architect, and son, Mr Henry Yates, printer, and Mr Henry Holloway went on a pleasure trip. They lost the rowlocks near the Rangatira Bank. Mr Benkers, late ferryman, seeing them in difficulty went to their assistance, The party caught hold of his boat, the consequence being that both boats capsized. Other boats went out, but they were prevented from rendering assistance through the darkness coming on Holloway and Benkers man were picked up in an exhausted statu by the steamer Challenger’s boat two miles from land. All the rest were drowned. The bodies have not yet been recovered. The evening was beautifully calm.

The three men drowned all leave wives and children.

Auckland via Wanganui, November 10. Rain broke the long drought on the IT tin

Tames Friers and Irwin Armstrong have been convicted of illicit distillation, and fined LIOO each. The American correspondent of the Cross says Webb’s and the North Pacific Company's first boat starts in February. She calls at Honolulu and Fiji, and a branch boat will proceed to Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers, the main line continuing to Morton Island, there transhipping the mails and telegrams for Brisbane, and thence the boats continue to Sydney and Melbourne. The boats to be. placed on the line arc the Nevada, Nebraska, and Dacotab. The fourth is undecided. Time to Auckland, 21 days; to Sydney, 2S days. The Nelson agent of the company is hero conferring with Mr Vogel

Mr Binney sold wheat at oS 3d to 5s 6d ; barlev at 2s 8d to 3s.

The Provincial Council has considered the Superintendent’s proposal for a subsidized steam service between Auckland, New Caledonia, and Fiji; but postponed the matter until the Estimates come down. H.M.S. Blanche sails on the 21st. She takes -the Governor to Whangaree. He will visit Sir George Grey at the Kawau. At the season sale of wool and flax wool in grease brought 4ld to 61, d; washed, 8d to lid; flax, favorite brands, LIG lbs; medium, Lll toLI3 10s; inferior, LS per ton. The Superintendent’s message to the Council requests attention to immigrants and railways, required under the Public Works and Immigration Act. Arrived—Taranaki. Nelson, November 21. In the Supreme Court to-day, Mrs Needham pleaded guilty to issuing a forged cheque. Sentence was deferred. J. Burke was found guilty of assault, and sentenced to one week’s imprisonment. The committing magistrate at Havelock was blamed for sending the case to trial.

Lynn, a waiter at the Empire Hotel, Westport, was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment for embezzlement.

The Grand Jury found a true bill against F. Harris, late sub-treasurer of the goldfields, on five charges of forgery and two of larceny. He will be tried to-morrow, and is expected to plead guilty.