BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH

Evening Star, Issue 3751, 2 March 1875, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH

Blenheim, March L Some human bones were found last Thursday on a beach near White’s Bay. A boot and a stocking with the initials “ A. J. M.” worked on it were found. At the inquest, this afternoon, the evidence proved the bones to be those of a young immigrant who was working on Dr Home’s farm in September last, and who was drowned in the Opawa while riding after some cattle. The name of the deceased was Alfred John Merritt, and he was a native of Jersey, . Napier, March 1. Dr English, an old settler of Waipawa, was found dead in his bed in a room at the Empire Hotel, Waipawa, yesterday. Wellington, March L Mr C. B. Borlase, late Mayor, is very ill, and faint hopes of his recovery’are entertained. An endeavor is being made to establish gasworks at the Hutt. _ March 2. There was a fire at the Star Hotel, Newton, at one o’clock this morning. The landlord had been engaged bottling in the cellar storeroom until after midnight, and it is supposed that some straw accidentally ignited. After going to bed he heard a noise like the bursting of bottles, and went down and found the storeroom full of smoke and flames. He gave an alarm, got his wife and children out, and went upstairs to arouse the lodgers ; the fire in the meanwhile spreading so rapidly in the wooden building that they had barely time to get down stairs into the street; one unable to do so jumped out of an upstairs window and sustained serious injury. He was picked up insensible, and conveyed to the Hospital Another named Smith was very much burned' and went himself straight to the Hospital nnobserved. In consequence there was great anxiety throughout the progress of the fire, owing to fears that he was burnt to death. 1 he fire caught an adjoining building occupied by a person named Hemus, a bootmaker. Both that and the hotel were completely destroyed. The exertions of the people who were present successfully prevented the fire extending further. The insurances are not yet ascertained. Christchurch, March L At a meeting of the Board of of Canterbury College this morning, the following resolutions were passed and ordered to be sent to the New Zealand University now sitting in Wellington—“ That this Board requests the Senate of the New Zealand University to consider any suggestions for the. alteration of the University course that may be laid before the

Senate by the professors of the Otago Uni* versity College, and that the Board further request any scheme prepared by the University may be submitted to the affiliated bodies before final adoption.” The Sunday Observance League have appomted a committee to take measures to stop Sundays! Bteamers * Lyttelton on i T e fallen off lately. Ihe total amount received list week was L94S 10s, representing 457 acres 3 roods. The profitsof the Christchurch Gas Company, during the past year were L 4.190 10s 7i being equal to over fifteen per cent, on the capital The price of gas has been reduced to 13s 4d per I,oooft. The number of criminal cases heard in the Christchurch .Resident Magistrate’s Court during the year ending December 31 was 2,361. Of these, 84 were discharged for want of prosecution, 369 were dismissed, 40 were committed for trial, and 1,868 were convicted. The number of civil cases during the same period was 2,374, the total amount sued for being L 22,662 15s Bd, and the amount recovered L 8,773 6s 6d. At the City Council meeting last night there was a great row, arising out of the cab question. One Councillor charged another with. being drunk, and mutual recriminations of a strong character ensued between three of the Councillors.

Auckland, March 2. The Mayor has convened a meeting for Friday to inaugurate a fund for the relief of the family of the late Mr Williamson. (From Pour own Correspondents.) Christchurch, March 1. Captain Holt has addressed a letter to each of the morning papers in consequence of the remarks made en the working of the Press Telegraph Agency by Mr Hassalat the last meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. He says Every reasonable man must know that with every possible care and attention, minHreg. though apparently well founded information, will sometimes be circulated.” He also says, m reply to the gentleman who said at the meeting that he did not know if agents were under Government control, and to another who believed it was entirely in the hands of Messrs Brogden, that neither Government nor Messrs Brogden have the slightest control over the Agency. In confirmation of this he asks if anyone can point out a single telegram sent by the Agency having the slightest tinge of bias Either for or against the Government or Messrs Brogden. Some fine long-woolled sheep, viz., twenty Lincoln and nine Leiccsters, from the best flocks of England, arrived yesterday per the barque Charmian. , 'U*®* 6 is R great deal of fever about this year m Christchurch, there being no less than thirty cases in the Hospital at present, besides numerous other cases m private families. nr ttt r -r, Auckland, March! Mr W. L. Rees, barrister, writes to the Herald protesting against the location of Mr Gunes as Judge in . Auckland, where he has, during several years’ practice, formed strong friendships and animosities, which the writer will prevent the possibility of confidence being placed in his decisions. • r ,P ar ? ai^e has issued an address announcing lus determination to go to the poll in the anti-Provincial interest. A singular and serious accident oocured at the Phoenix Foundry to-day. . Two workmen placed an old iron quicksilver bottle on the furnace, intending to make a lead spoon out of xt, but neglected to remove the stopper. The expansion „of water on the remains of quicksilver inside caused the bottle to burst, seriously injuring the faces of both men. It is feared that the eyesight of one is completely destroyed. A large committee has been appointed to obtain signatures to the requisition to Sir George Grey to stand for the A deputation will then proceed to Kawau and invite Sir George to give a declaration of his views. The Government have proclaimed the boundaries of a sheep district under the Act of the last Provincial Council, and fixed a fee of twopence per head for inspection on all anim.fc imported. Extensive bush fires have occurred in various parts of the Province, especially at Coromandel, where two residences were saved with difficulty. At Wamku L2OO worth of fencing and a bridge were destroyed. Seven hundred people left Grahamstown for Ohinemuri to-day. ARRIVAL OF THE OTAGO AT THE BLUFF. mi . Bluff, March 2. The Otago left Melbourne on the 24th, arrived at the Bluff on the 2nd, and brings thirtyeight saloon and forty steerage passengers, besides 400 tons of cargo for all ports. She sails for Dunedin at 4 pan. to-day. Passengers: Saloen Messrs Sutherland, Hall, Cutts, Guthrie, Hanckie, Harper, Louvinir, Noble. Wischer, Berghoff, the Sisters Duvalli, Mrs Sutherland, Miss Weelioke, Mrs and Miss Guthrie, Mrs and Miss Brown, Capt. Volum; 22 in the steerage, and 220 tons of cargo. LATEST CABLEGRAMS. London, February 19. Dr Kenealy entered Parliament uniutrodneed, when the Speaker intimated that two sponsors were required, to which Dr Kenealy objected. In the House of Commons a motion moved by Mr Disraeli, declaring John Mitchell disqualified from taking a seat, was adopted and a new writ ordered to be issued for Tipperary. In consequence of the tardiness of Spain to afford satisfaction in the Gustave affair, Germany is preparing a naval expedition against Carlism. February 20. Honeymoon won the Waterloo Cup, beating Corby Castle, Hawthorne, and Luoetta. Mr Frank Gardiner, the Coursing judged liw left for Melbourne by the mail steamer.