YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 897, 10 May 1877, Page 2

YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS

EUROPEAN. [Per City of Sydney, via Auckland.] London, May 1

The Privy Council have reversed the decision of the Supreme Court of Victoria, which allowed 10 per coni , probate duty on the will of Major John Hell, of Geelong.

The wool merchants’ committee have decided to restrict the next wool sales to 300,00 q bales, exclusive of 40,000 held over from the previous sale. The brokers concur in the arrangement. The quantity arrived since the last sales amounts to 30,270 bales.

The telegraph companies will have to limit the number of words to each newspaper during war to fifty-three.

AUSTRALIAN. [Per City of Sydney, via Auckland.]

Melbourne, May 8. The report of the National Bank declared a dividend of 121- per cent. The Melbourne Ice Company has declared a dividend of 10 per cent. An Anti-Patronage Society has -been formed to secure the appointment of Civil Servants by competitive examination. The turret-ship Cerberus is fully manned, and fitted with more efficient steering apparatus, ready for immediate action. Adelaide, May 8

During the passage of flic ship Alnwick Castle the crew mutinied and stabbed the master.

There is a strong feeling among the working classes against free immigration.

Tasmania, May 8. An income-tax of 21 per cent has been proposed, only exempting incomes under ;C2OO.

Sydney, May 8,

The New South Wales Government have proposed to the contractors for the San Francisco mail service, on their own behalf and that of New Zealand, to commence the modified service with the outgoing steamer, the contractors to be relieved from calling at Kandavau, and the New Zealand Government undertaking the coastal service at the reduced subsidy of £72,500, to be payable—£4o,ooo by New South Wales, and £32,500 by Now Zealand. Tin's proposal was made with the distinct reservation that it was only as a temporary measure, and, should the New South Wales Parliament refuse to ratify the arrangement, the contractors must fall back upon the original contract, and carry out the service as originally tendered for. The contractors (through their agents) have accepted these terms, and the outgoing steamer commences the temporary arrangement. The half-yearly meeting of the Bank of New South Wales was held on April 30th. A dividend was declared at the rate of 15 per cent, per annum, with a bonus of 2) per cent. The reserve fund now amounts to £130,000. INTE E PE O VINCIAL. [PER PRESS AGENCY.] Auckland, May 9. Thirteen bakers met last night and determined to maintain the price of the 21b. loaf at (ivepeuce. Arrived —City of Sydney. She has eight saloon passengers for Auckland, and thirtythree for San Francisco, and forty-live in the steerage. She brings dates from Sydney to the 4th inst. New Plymouth, May 9. The Kaiuma was off the Waitara bar last night with her mainmast gone. A terrific gale was blowing. She made northward. The wires are down this morning.

Goldfield Returns

Wellington, May 9. The Goldfields Wardens, lately assembled here, have submitted to the Government rules and regulations intended for general application to the goldfields of the Middle Island. With this object they have, to a certain extent, incorporated the various advantages of the present rules, and recommend the withdrawal, as far as possible, of restrictions on the miner by dispensing with unnecessary surveys, and the necessity for renewals of regulations, except in the case of the reduction of the regulation fee from £2 10s to £l. They have framed a series of regulations, enabling miners to take up special water-race licenses lor periods not exceeding fifteen years. The object of this is to promote the settlement of miners, and to put them in a position to obtain capital to cany out extensive waterwork schemes, &c. They have adopted a lien clause from the Westland rules, and with some slight modification of the gold mining lease regulations now in force in Otago. They recommend that these gold-mining leases be reduced to £1 per acre; that miners’ rights be valid in any part of the Middle Island, no matter where originally issued ; that miners’ rights be issued in certain eases for a term of years, and that there be consolidated miners’ rights to embody the interests of a number of persons in one document. They recommend the introduction of a measure for the temporary occupation of land (where doubts exist as to its being auriferous) for agricultural purposes by short leases or licenses without the right of purchase. They suggest the assimilation of the mode of enforcing judgments in civil cases in “Wardens’ Courts to that under the Resident. Magistrates’Act. To prevent a deviation of auriferous or other mineral lands they recommend that the several wardens of the Middle Island should (as is the practice in Otago) be the medium of communication with the Waste Lands Boards for the reception of applications for land within their respective districts. They suggest that, the whole of the goldfields iu (lie Middle Island should be proclaimed ns one goldfield district, and that the survey charge upon agricultural leases should be assimilated to the present Otago scale. BalClutha, May 9.

The Town Council have resolved to commence planting avenues of trees along the foot paths. The Kaitangata colliers arc still on strike. The Company are procuring other men.

The Auckland Islands

Bluff, May 9,

The s.s. Gazelle has arrived from the Auckland Islands all well. Captain Giles reports having found the supposed wreck of the General Grant, after severe exertions and risk, in twelve fathoms water. Diving operations are not yet begun. Mr Stevens and one man remained by the wreck. The steamer returned for coals and provisions. The capi feels confident of getting gold on his return. He reports that the Gazelle behaved admirably in the gale he experienced since leaving the Auckland Islands.