BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3838, 12 June 1875, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Chbistchubch, June 11. At a conference between the City Council and the chairman of the Suburban Road Boards yesterday, resolutions were passed favorable to the establishment of a Board of Drainage Commissioners for the city and suburbs, with power to borrow money and levy rates.

The Provincial Council is expected to be prorogued on Wednesdaynoxt. A match between Young Delaney and Buchanan, of Dunedin, is on the tapis. Land sales this week have realised LIO,OOO, which is L 71500 more than the Government estimate. The receipts for the first ten weeks of the financial year have amounted to L 65,000, and the Government estimate for the whole year was only L 120,000.

_ June 12. Captain Charles North, one of the oldest settlers here, died last night from an axe-wound in the foot, accidentally received while watching one of his men cut down a tree. C. Bowley has challenged Jacobsen, the champion walker at the last Dunedin sports, to walk any distance from two to ten miles, for L2O a-side.

A farmer named Evans, residing near Longbeach, on the Ninety-mile Beach, reports having found some wrecked timber, bags of corn, and three dead bodies.

A public meeting has been called for Wedffiday next, to consider the new Education

In the Provincial Council, Mr Wynn Williams allowed his motion (for district contributions this year towards the cost of school buildings to be paid out of the Treasury) to lapse. Mr Bluett’s motion (for an endowment for Municipalities) was postponed.

Wellington, June 11 The Wellington Chamber of Commerce decided last night to decline to be represented at a conference of delegates from the various Chambers of Commerce in the Australian Colonies, as suggested by the Brisbane Chamber. The Chamber also discussed the question of harbor and port dues, and a committee was appointed to obtain information as to charges in other ports, and to bring these matters, and that of increased wharf accommodation, under tlm notice of the proper authorities. The chairman, in the course of remarks, characterised the chaiges of the port as disgraceful, and Captain M Intyre said they might as well be reduced one-half. Another speaker described the wharf accommodation as absurdly insufficient.

% „ Auckland, June 11. A writ for libel, LSCO damages, has been served on the ‘ Cross,’ at the suit of Cecilia Allen, a young girl, charged with arson, but acquitted. The case arises out of the suggested “chloroforming out of existence,” which caused some remarks in the various Colonial journals at that time.

Captain Casey has abandoned his threatened action against the ‘ Star,'

June 12. The Steam Packet Company declared a dividend of 12$ per cent., not 2, as previously reported.

_ „ Timaeu, June 11. The Supreme Court yesterday sat in the Mechanics Institute, amiserablewoodenshanty. It was freezing hard all day, and there were no fires; ' Judge Jchnston suffered much, and asked the Sheriff to find a better building

whither to adjouYu the Court. He was confident if he sat in the present room the next few days, 1m should cease to be able to discharge his public duties to the country. There if a strong feeling at the neglect of the Govorment to build a court house. The Grand Jury made a presentment on the subject in January last, but no steps were taken. Witnesses and others stand in the street all day, with the thermometer at 28deg. The cases disposed of are— Boucher, forgery, eleven months; Tucker, horse-stealing, four years, and escaping from custody, one month; Shannon, larceny, twelve months; James Wilson, larceny, nine months. The extraordinary case, in which Margaret Baxter Dodds, a governess, is charged with arson on two counts, is now proceeding.

Napier, June 12. The Provincial Council was opened yesterday and Mr Ormond re-elected Superintendent unopposed -Mr Adeane, Speaker; and Mr Fannin, Clerk. The Superintendent thanked the Council for his re-election, and accepted it on the understanding that he should be at liberty to resign before the expiration of the term for which the Council was elected. He went on to say that the receipts of the Paki Paki Railway per month are larger than those of any other line in the North Island. 2,457 immigrants had been introduced into the Province during the past twelve months. The ordinary i evenue had exceeded the estimate, but the territorial had fallen off. After providing for all expenditure there will be a balance in hand of L 13,000. The abolition of Piovinces throughout the Colony would lead to a more efficient and economical administration of local affairs. {From our own Correspondents.) Auckland, June 11. A remarkable case occurred in the Police Court to-day, A Maori was charged with burglariously entering the house of a settler at Mahurangi, and the evidence showed that the husband was away, and the wife sleeping alone with the family. In the night she heard a noise, and got up and saw the prisoner forcing open the window. She rushed forward and held it down, screaming all the while. He made use of expressions which evidently proved his intention was to commit a criminal offence on the woman. A neighboring settler heard the screams and came to her rescue. The Maori decamped, but afterwards came back and forced open the house, but the woman and children meanwhile had been removed to a neighbor’s house. The prisoner was committed for trial.

The inquiry instituted by the Racing Club into the scandal connected with the match between Maori Weed and Daybreak, proved clearly that the race was a sell, and that Maori Weed could have won it easily. It was shown that the owner of Maori Weed had nothing to do with it. The Club disqualified the trainer (Barron) and the jockey (Kelly), and called on the owner of Daybreak to give an explanation or retire from the Club. It is hoped that this vigorous proceeding will have a beneficial influence on the turf. Intelligence has been received in town that a man named Arthur had gone away into the bush from Low and Motion’s mill, and it was feared, from his eccentric behaviour, that he would do himself injury. The man referred to is not long in the Colony, and was addicted to drink. Yesterday he left his work, went iuto the bush, stayed there all night, and returned at six this morning in a dripping condition, having evidently fallen into a creek. He was in a most excited state, and said he was condemned to be shot at seven o’clock. Shortly before that time he went off again, and made for Titree. A man irode into town and informed the police, and a mounted constable has been sent out to search for the lunatic.

St. Batuans, June 12. An inquest as to the origin of the fire at Jones’s hotel and store at the Cambrian was held yesterday. Mr Wm. M'Connochie, the sub-agent, watched the proceedings for the New Zealand Insurance Company, aud Mr W. L, Bailey appeared for Jones. An open verdict was returned.