BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH

Evening Star, Issue 3818, 20 May 1875, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH

Christchurch, May 20. Sixty-seven boys and thirty-one girls have entered for the competition for the Provincial Scholarship. The examination commences on J une 2.

At the meeting of the promoters of a Veteran Rifle Corns last night it was resolved to form a corps of old Volunteers, under the title of the Reserve Corps. A. prominent Christchurch estate agent named Main waring Johnson has been arrested on a charge of fraudulently altering titles of land.

Wellington, May 19. The Government have received a telegram from Mr Vogel corroborating the information given by the Press Agency an to the state of his health and his detention in England. The petition of Mr H. Smithies for re-ad-mission as a banister and solicitor of the Supreme Court is to be heard by the Judges on Friday next. It is said that Mr Smythies, duimg his visit to England, obtained documentary evidence of his complete innocenoe of the crime for which he was formerly convicted there.

The following telegram has been received from the Agent-General, dated London, May P" * The following ships were desoatched in April: Lammerlaw and Col'i.ngwooa, with 709 emigrants for Wellington and Taranaki: Star of China, with 224 for Lj Itelton ; Fleming and A 'dergrove, with 667 for Otago ; 2,0£0 tons of rails, 10 locomotives, turntables, six cranes, 11 wheels, and 400 tons of lighthouse material.

Auckland, May 19. An excursion train ran to Mercer to-day, with about forty guests of Messrs Brogden It accomplished the distance, foity mi’es, in one hour and fifty minutes. The news of the ScbiUer calamity created great excitement, Abner Jones Turner, mate of the barque Marathon, was brought up charged with a violent assault on Charles Brown, a sailor, on the high seas, by hitting him on the head with a marling spike. Prisoner was remanded. A special meeting of the Education struck the rates for the current year the same as last, and expressed an opinion that the rates will nob raise sufficient funds to cairy on till August 31. The Secretary presented a general report m education in the Province. This was adopted, and it was resolved to present it to the F uperintendent.

Nelson, May 18. A n ew morning paper, entitled the ‘ Nelson 1 ’ ml? ™ ,meß j appeared this morning. The Provincial Treasurer made his financial statement last night. He complained that Mr Curtis had misrepresented the state of the ordinary revenue in stating that it had fallen i whereas it had actually shown an increase of L 3,700.

Hokitika, May 20. Ihe reudent agent at Jackson’s Bay special settlement reports that an extensive deposit of limestone exists half a mile from the town, says the quantity is unlimited, and forwards samples to the Superintendent. He also picked up pieces of coal shale and observed patches of fire clay. The Government survey party came across a fine continuous belt of timber. {From our own Correspondent.) ttt ,„ ~ , Wellington, May 20. Mr Wakefield, M.H.R., was fined again today for drunkenness and for using obscene language. It is reported that the General Government will not allow the Provincial Government to repay advances to Provinces under the Act as resolved on by the Council. .... _ Oamabu, May 20. At the sitting ©f the District Court to-day Patrick Moore pleaded guilty to stealing LH 2s 6d from H. B. Thorpe, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment. Judge Ward remarked that the prosecutor bad done some unusual act in taking the numbers of the notes. 1* ut for this probably the prisoner would have escaped punishment. He had known of several cases of miscairiage of justice owing to this precaution not having been taken. James Gilchnst pleaded guilty to stealing a cheque for L 6. He produced three witnesses as to his former good character. The theft was committed when he was drunk. He was sentenced to four months imprisonment.