The Globe. THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1875. TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 298, 27 May 1875, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1875. TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(Press Telegraph Agency,') Auckland, May 26. In the Council last night, relative to the transfer of the railway to provincial control, the Treasurer said Ihe Superintendent had received a telegram from the General Go▼ernment, in which he was informed that tb»7 considered tbit it was very incou-

venient to hand over any portion of the line until the whole should have been completed. From this the Superintendent understands that they will be unable to take over any of these lines during the time that they remain incomplete. It was not the intention of the Superintendent to take over these lines of railway in opposition to the views of the General Government. Perhaps before the Council should urge the Superintendent in this matter, it would be as well that they should ascertain the exact position of affairs in that particular, and see whether the lines paid or not. On a former occasion he (Mr Wood) stated, from information he had receivedriot official information, but information he fully believed—that the Onehunga line did not pay working expenses and maintenance by three per cent, and the Treasury at Wellington had to be drawn on to that extent. Last month there was something about 50 per cent which had to be thus drawn, so that it would be well for the Council fully to inform itself before it urged the Superintendent on the subject. The adjournment of the debate, on the motion for an incometax of 1 per cent on all incomes over £3OO, to be devoted to education, will result in the carrying of an amendment by Mr Oarleton — « That in the opinion of the Council, direct taxation, as distinguished from rates, ought to be equally distributed over all parts of the colony.” Napier, May 23. The corporation have agreed to adopt a water works scheme on the plan of the engineer, somewhat modified, to have two artesian wells on the flat, and have a reservoir to contain 150,000 gallons to supply the lower level of the town. The cost will be about £7,000. The plan is capable of extension to the Spit if required. The Mayor said he did not think the scheme good ox likely to be permanent, but as all the Council but himself were in favor of it, he would do all he could to assist them in carrying it out, but he did not think they should borrow money for such a scheme. He was in favor of the gravitation scheme, estimated to cost £30,000. Councillor Newton and others said if the corporation could not find the money private enterprise would. A motion was agreed to for the adoption of earth closet system in the borough. Councillor Swan brought forward a motion to bring under the notice of the General Government the manner in which immigrants were landed directly they arrived, and sent up country to spread disea°e amongst the settlers and their families, and advocated sending the immigrants to quarantine for a week to wash their clothes, &c. The motion was agreed to, Invercargill, May 26. A blacksmith’s shop in Tory street, occupied by Brown, Anderson and Finlay was destroyed by fire this morning. There was no insurance. A lad, named Finnerty, fell through the trap of a ballasting waggon and was so badly mutilated by several waggons passing over him that he died in the hospital, after one of his legs being amputated. An inquest was held yesterday, and again to-day. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughster against John Tibbetts, the man who drew the catch or fastening while the train was in motion. The jury added a rider that the contractors on railway lines should be compelled to have copies of rules and regulations conspicuously posted for the guidance of workmen.

THIS DAY’S TELEGRAMS. Wellington, May 27. Arrived—The barque Kingdom of Italy, from London ; 137 days out. She had to put back twice to Portland through stress of weather, and was three weeks in the Channel. She brings a general cargo, but no passengers. The Colonial Bank are opening a branch in London. Yesterday a branch of the Colonial Bank was opened at Palmerston, under the charge of Mr Wm. Burton. Auckland, May 27. The Provincial Council j esterday passed a motion that it is against the interests of the province that the General Government should allow private individuals to make, to the exclusion of others, direct purchases of native lands proclaimed under the Immigration and Public Works Act of 1870. Dunedin, May 27. At a meeting of the Colonial Bank shareholders yesterday, it was resolved to place 50,000 of the remaining 200,000 shares in the London market. The City Council at a meeting last night resolved to advise its solicitors _ to refrain from paying any awards to the Princes street residents. Mr Steward’s vote of want of confidence in the new Executive was allowed to lapse on the advice of several members of the Council. (FROM OUR DUNEDIN CORRESPONDENT.) Dunedin, May 26. The Guardian strongly opposes the formation of a penal establishment on Resolution Island, and says that if Taranaki is objectionable, Oamaru or Greymouth greatly require harbor works, on which prison labor might be advantageously employed. All the papers condemn Steward’s hastiness. The Guardian is very severe, charging him with audacity begotten of ignorance, and asks why should the province have confidence in Steward who is only known as one of those vultures who, with Creighton, Shepherd, and others, “ sat upon a rail ” during the Parliamentary crisis, and only pronounced opinions when they were assured of their future. Yesterday, afternoon there was a fatal accident on the Awamoko railway to a laborer named John Kelly, a native of Dublin, who was employed in ballasting operations. He was in an empty truck, the “ trap” of which had not been closed, and somehow fell through, becoming entangled in the wheels. The engine was stopped at once, when the poor fellow was found in a frightfully mutilated state—one leg and an arm being severed from his body. His skull was fractured, and he was otherwise mutilated. He was brought to Oamaru by rail late in the evening, and taken to the hospital, when it was found that life was extinct. A verdict of “ Accidental death” was recorded. Major Palmer’s report on the surveys was discussed at the Otago Institute last night. Messrs Gillies, McKerrow (chief surveyor), and Arthur (provincial engineer), and J. T. Thomson, taking part. The latter supported the rapid galvanic signal in preference to the slow-going system of primary triangulation, because it subordinated itself to the wants of the people by its rapidity and economy, and oa the ground of its e<pal accuracy as ap-

plied to the whole colony. It was stated by several members that there was reason for supposing that the Victorian Government had lately decided upon adopting the system introduced into this province by Mr Thomson. An accident which resulted in the death of a' lad of sixteen, named Patrick Finnerty, has occurred on a section of the Winton and Kingston railway. By a circumstance as yet unexplained, he either fell or got thrown on to the line while the engine was in motion. A number of trucks passed over his body, which was fearfully crushed. On examination at Invercargill Hospital, it was found that the boy’s legs were completely smashed, being broken in several places, one up to the knee. The whole body was bruised and lacerated, and the right arm from the hand to the shoulder, was a mass of mutilation. The doctors administered chloroform, and proceeded to perform operations, but immediately after they had completed the amputation of the right leg, the lad expired. The Times this morning says that four weeks will see the Chain Hill Tunnel completed, as there is only a distance of 100 feet to go. The Star to-night says a week ought to see it through, but there is much speculation as to whether the two portions will meet. The Deborah Bay Tunnel contractors are five months ahead of the time. The whaling barque Chance has arrived at the Bluff. She brings 360 barrels of sperm oil, equal to thirty-six tuns, taken since her departure from the Bluff in February last. The total amount taken during the nine months’ cruise is eighty-three tuns, nearly half of which is sperm oil, and the rest sea elephant oil. From the Guardian's special telegrams we learn that at the Ararat election Mr Gaunson was returned by the Catholic votes. Strange rumors, which were started about Carroll, the late member for Ararat, accusing him of having committed a murder some years ago, proved to be unfounded, although they found their way into the newspapers. The Northumberland arrived on the 15th, fifty-one days out, with 265 passengers. The Argus and the Age have both strong leaders in favour of the annexation of New Guinea. On the day of the departure of the Suez mail, Colonel Anderson, in his evidence on the Volunteer Commission, stated that 4000 Englishmen, with sticks, would beat 2000 armed foreigners, say Frenchmen, He has been much ridiculed in consequence. Captain Bidlow, a Frenchman, left his card with the editor of the Argus , and wanted to fight Anderson.

The Francis B. Jay has arrived from Frederickstadt. She caught fire off Cape De Verde Islands, and it was put out with difficulty, The captain believed that the crew set her on fire. The ship was loaded with timber. A suspicious poisoning case has occurred at Carlton. A woman named Pryor died from strychnine, and she was overheard to tell her husband he did it. The Bank of New Zealand, through the Melbourne branch, have received a telegram that the New Zealand mails by the Schiller were all lost. The Victorian mails were saved. The steamer Tom Morton landed 569 Chinese at Cooktown. They pay large prices for land, for erecting a number of stores. No collision is expected with the Europeans. The Torres Straits mail steamer Brisbane arrixed at Townsville on the 18th, and landed 340 Chinese at Cooktown. Among the passengers was Sir A. Gordon, Governor of Fiji, also Narcisse Peltier de Stigilli, formerly a boy in the French ship St. Paul, which was wrecked at Rossel Island in 1858, with 300 Chinese on board, all of whom except seventeen were eaten by the natives. The master and crew started overland, and abandoned the boy. They were picked up by a vessel, and landed at New Caledonia. The boy was found by some natives, who treated him kindly, and he lived on the islands for seventeen years. He was discovered on the 11th April last by Captain Fraser, of the John Bell. He landed at Brisbane. It was reported that war is imminent in Burmah, in consequence of the murder of Prince Theig, Prime Minister. Sir John Halkett, Judge of Penang, goes temporarily to Fiji to organise a Court. In a discussion on Mr Daniel’s motion, requesting the Colonial Government to establish a training ship at Port Chalmers, Mr Reynolds said an application had been made to the Imperial Government for two frigates, one of which it was intended to place at Wellington, and the other at Port Chalmers.