LAST NIGHTS TELEGRAMS

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1400, 10 August 1878, Page 2

LAST NIGHTS TELEGRAMS

BY SUBMARINE CABLE.

[beuter’s special telegrams to the press AGENCY.] London, August 8. Mr O’G-orman apologised to the Speaker to-day. Twenty-three thousand pounds were voted towards the administration of Cyprus. The Under-Secretary to the Foreign office, Mr Drummond,Wolff, has been appointed the British member of the Commission re East Roumelia. The Australians played one day’s match with eighteen of Burnley, who made 102. In the first innings the Australians had nine out for 46. [special to the press agency.] Replying to a memorial from the Colonial Institute, the Government said they intend to consult Sir A. Gordon on his arrival in England relative to New Guinea. In the meantime they had instructed the Commodore to despatch a war ship to Port Moresby, to watch British interests. AUSTRALIA. Melbourne, August 9. There was an animated debate in the House last night on the Constitution Reform Bill. It is not yet concluded. Sailed —Alhambra. The tender of Topham, Angus and Smith, of New Zealand, has been declared the lowest for the Queenscliffo railway, the amount being £59,000. It is not yet accepted. Messrs Burns, Morgan, and Berry meet on Tuesday finally to settle details of the Cable contract. Ameetingof the Hobson’s Bay Railway Company to-day decided to sell the property to the Government. A Bill will bo passed through Parliament at once. The railway is now considered to belong to the Government. Sydney, August 9. Kerosene, Is 9d to Is lOd ; rice, £26 to £27 ; New Zealand wheat, 4s 9d to ss; New Zealand oats, 4s 6d to 4s 8d; other quotations unchanged. Adelaide, August 9. Flour, £ll lls to £ll 15s ; wheat, 5s 2d to 5s 3d. NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS. [per press agency ] Auckland, August 9. The Licensed Victuallers, at a meeting today, discussed the action of the brewers in raising the price of beer a half penny more than the tax. Members present said that they could not subdivide the now impost, there being no farthings, and if they put on a halfpenny people would call them dishonest brewers. The action was generally condemned, but another meeting is called to discuss the whole subject. New Plymouth, August 9. A fire broke out at one this morning in the back room of the Temperance Billiard-room, over; a shop near the town bridge, but was discovered before the fire had hold on the premises, and extinguished. The block of buildings was saved through one of the New Zealand Co.’s hand engines being brought quickly into play. Wellington, August 9. A communication has been received by the Chamber of Commerce, from Monckton Synnot, of Melbourne, requesting, in the name of the Japanese Royal Commissioners, that samples of New Zealand wool may be sent to him to the extent of a few pounds weight, as he considered the coarser New Zealand wools would be more suited to Japanese requirements, namely, manufacture of army clothing, than the fine Australian merino. The Japanese Commissioners have chartered a vessel to take sheep and wool to Japan, having arranged through the Oriental Bank for their purchase. Synnot suggests this as a good opportunity of sending New Zealand woollen yarns to the commissioners, who promise to do everything possible to encourage the introduction of Australian and New Zealand wool amongst their countrymen. The Own Correspondent of the Press Agency at Hioja Kobe, Japan, writes that telegraph lines are being extended in all directions, and the Native traffic is considerable. Many stations are forwarding 400 to 500 messages daily. The main lines consist of—Four wires, 920 miles ; two wires, 700 miles ; branch lines, 2500 miles ; and above 1200 miles in course of construction.

The County Council Conference to-day resolved that power to issue miners’ rights should be granted to counties ; also, that the Government should give grants-in-aid to all arterial roads of colonial importance; that where any part of the colony is not benefited by expenditure on railways it should have a claim upon the colonial funds for construction of main roads; also, that where native lands or waste lands of the Crown are exempt from taxation Government should grant a subsidy equal to the rates which would otherwise be collected. The question of fencing was referred to a committee. Hokitika, August 9. The Christchurch coach due on Saturday night only reached town yesterday evening. The road is in an almost impassable condition. Avalanches of snow have fallen over portions of the road, and filled the lower gullies. Cassidy,driving from this end, got nearly to the middle peg betweonWeslland and Canterbury, when the coach and horses got bogged in the snow. He sent the horses back, and shouldered the mails, attempting to get through on foot. He managed to get five miles, wading through waist high in places, keeping the road by means of the telegraph poles. The snow then became too deep, and he was obliged to return, mails and all, to the Otira Hotel for shelter. Four additional roadmen were obtained next day, and worked at clearing the snow from Sunday till Wednesday, when a track for horses was opened. Those who can ride can go through now easily enough, but vehicle communication is entirely cut off. Numbers of sheep died last weelj: while trying to get through, and others were so famished and footsore that they had to be lifted out of the way to allow horses to pass. Sheep and cattle on the way have had no food for six days. The mails started again this morning. The weather has improved. Lawrence, August 9. At Tuapeka County Council meeting today a petition against the employment of Chinese labor on county works was tabled. The Council resolved to inform members for the district that in their opinion steps should be taken to put a stop to Chinese immigration. The petition boro the signatures of 300 bona fide ratepayers. Dunedin, August 9.

The “Tablet’’ says that some Jesuit Fathers will arrive in Dunedin next month, and open a college, if sufficient inducement offers. A fire broke out in Kempthorne and Prosser’s warehouse last night, and another in Royse, Stead and Co.’s mill to-day. Hardly any damage was done in either case. [yxioil THE COBEESFONDENT OF THE FBEBB.] Tijiabtj, August 9. The Chamber of Commerce to day resolved to urge on the Borough Council that a telegraphic congratulatory message should be sent to Earl Beacon-field. The meeting subsequently adjourned for a week to receive and consider the report of the sub-committee on the railway tariff. Dunedin, August 9. At the brewers’ meeting it was stated that the proposed tax would, in an ordinary brewery, 1 amount to £1,9,09 to £ISOO yearly. The brewers would not have oomplahjed if the tax had been placed on malt. One brewer said the Collector of Customs could not see how the tax could be enforced, as there were so many ways of evading it. James Wilson said they had Mr Stout to blame for this, and when they got the chance of returning their wethers, they ought to bo »or«

careful in choosing representatives. Other speakers contended that the tax was really 10 per cent., as the Treasurer’s calculations were wrong. Mr Marshall, of Marshall Copeland, said the only effect of the tax would be to make brewers go to California for their barley, and he defied Mr Ballance to instance any brewery since the discovery of the colony that netted £30,000. Another speaker expressed the opinion that in the Ministry there were rabid teetotallers who, finding that they could not carry their Local Option Bill, were now trying to smother the production of beer in this country. James Smith’s property of 150 acres, facing the Ocean Beach, was sold privately to-day for £25,000. It adjoins Forbury Park. Walton and Buckingham became joint lessees of the Princess.

Accounts from country districts report the losses of stock very severe. At Tapanui the snow is over the fence tops, and it is impossible to get at the stock there.