BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 4095, 11 April 1876, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Auckland, April 10. The report and balance-sheet of the South British Insurance Company have been agreed to. The dividend will be payable tomorrow. The balance of L 16,783 includes L 7,252 brought forward after making the last dividend. The invested capital of the Company is now L 91,264, and the total assets L 113,409. The largest portion of the marine losses has been on first-class ships, such as the Strathmore, Strathnaver, and Cora Linn. Mr Boardman, the. manager, gave an account at the meeting of his visits to the agencies, and reported that the agents 'are well qualified for the duties, and that the books are well kept. The verdict of the jury, in the case of Singleton, the diver, was that he died from inflammation of the heart, and not from any fault of the apparatus or want of assistance. Robert Egan, a professional man, received two sentences of three months each, for indecency in the Domain.

April 11. The Chairman of the Harbor Board has received a telegram stating that the Governor will be advised to approve of the new dock flans.

A heavy thunderstorm, accompanied by hail and tain, broke over Auckland at about one o’clock this morning, startling every sleeper. Invercargill, April 10. In the District Court to-day, William Forrester was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for stating, at the Post-office Savings Bank, Invercargill, that he had at the Dunedin Office the sum of LlO 5s to his credit, and for presenting a pass-book with alteration of L 7 from debit to credit, there being only L3ss to his credit. The defence Was that the alteration had been made by Mrs Forrester, she believing that the clerk had made an error. Westport, April 10. There is a twenty-four hours’ gale from north-west, with continuous rain and heavy flood. Little damage done. The flood in the Orawaiti River carried away the newlyerected powder magazine and its contents. Communication with Reef ton is stopped. There is a heavy flood at Brighton, and it is reported that the residents have been driven from their homes. Grevmouth, April 10. Yesterday’s excessive rain caused the heaviest flood ever experienced in Greymouth. At ten o’clock at night, threefourths of the town was under water. People were rescued by boats ; no lives were*' lost. The damage to goods in stores is heavy. The Brunner Railway is slightly damaged. Christchurch, April 11. Owing to the heavy rains several portions of the railway lines in the northern and southern parts of the Province were damaged, and yesterday, in two instances, traffic was stopped. The salmon ova looks well up to the present.

(From our own Correspondents.)

Wellington, April 10. Taiaroa, M.H.R., who arrived here from Otago a few days ago to interview the Government re the Maori land claims in the Middle Island, has, in conjunction with Mr Patterson, the former member for the Maori Middle Island district, been engaged during their stay here in actively pressing the claims on Ministers, and the result is that the question is to be referred to a Royal Commission, of which Judge Fenton and the Hon. Mr Mantell are to be members.

Large areas of Native lands are being acquired in this Province, between Waikane and the Manawatu River, Mr Booth having recently been bringing his land purchase negotiations towards a close. Negotiations for blocks in other districts within the Province are going on. During next week a large number of cases of Native titles to blocks will be adjudicated upon by the Native Lands Court at Otaki, under Judge Symons. Mr Creighton, editor of the ‘N. Z. Times,’ on Saturday received formal notice that his services were not further required. It is undecided whether he continues during the term of three months’ notice or takes three months’ salary and leaves at once. He will probably go to Auckland. Mr Perrier succeeds him as editor. Mr M'Kenzie, the former proprietor of the * Independent,’ is reappointed manager. A heavy north-west gale has been experienced here since Friday night. It was very severe on Sunday night. Rain set in at noon yesterday, and has fallen heavily for twenty-seven hours. No flood up country is reported as yet, nor any damage to the shipping in harbor. The wind is now light from the southward, but it threatens a gale. The ‘Post’ strongly advocates the Wellington Athenseum opening on Sundays, as in Dunedin and Invercargill, Cases of immoral conduct in the Botanical Gardens still continue in spite of the severe sentence on the couple last convicted. The gardens are practically closed to respectable women.

Oamaru, April 11. A severe shock of earthquake was felt at 11.50 this morning. It is said to be the most severe yet felt. Though the damage done *is not, so serious as the celebrated one on the 26th February, several chimneys have been badly shaken and the walls of buildings, including the Telegraph Office, cracked. There was a general stampede for the street. The direction was N.E. to S.W. The shock lasted several seconds.

Christchurch, April 11. The following is the latest betting on the Great Autumn Handicap :—3 to 1 against Templeton, 5 to 1 Cloth of Gold and Ariel, 6 to 1 Guy Fawkes, 7 to 1 Pungawerewere, 8 to 1 any other.