LAST NIGHT'S TELEGRAMS

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1495, 30 November 1878, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S TELEGRAMS

BY SUBMARINE CABLE.

[neuter’s telegrams to press agency.]

“London, November2B

A letter from the Duke of Argyll states that the Q-ladstone Government refused the proposals of the Ameer of Afghanistan because he asked for an offensive and defensive alliance against internal and external foes.

[SPECIAL TO THE “ GLOBE.]

London, November 28,

Russia threatens to intervene between England and Afghanistan because Quettah is occupied. The British advance is unchecked.

AUSTRALIA.

[special to “globe.”] Sydney, November 29.

Tho Assam arrived at the Sound last night. Passengers for Sydney Monsignor Lamb. Passengers for New Zealand—Bishop of Christchurch, Captain Davy, Messrs Clcaee, Langa, Mr Boel, wife and daughter, Mr War and daughter. New Zealand wheat, 4s Gd to arrive; oats, ss. Other quotations are unchanged. A unanimous vote of confidence was passed in the directors of the Australian Steam Navigation Company. In the match Australian Eleven v Fifteen of Now South Wales, the latter in their first innings have ten wickets down for 260. Bailey broke his arm in picking up the ball. Dummett replaced him. Melbourne, November 29. Holt and McCarthy have been appointed Reuter’s agents for the whole of New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

[PEE PEESS AGENCY.]

Auckland, November 29. The Te Kopuru Saw Mill was pur bused by Brown, Campbell and Co., for >£35,000. The wing of the Lunatic Asylum is estimated to cost <£17,000. At a review at Waikato to-day IGO cavalry were present. It was decided last night to have a Waikato Derby of 150 sovs in 1881. I ho volunteers have agreed to defray the expenses of their representatives to ts elson. Taukanqa, November 29.

The Taranaki has been totally wrecked on the Karewa Island. The passengers are nil sale on the island '1 ho Staff a has gone to fetch them. No cargo will be saved The cargo per Taranaki for Lyttelton was 9 cases, 4 packages. Latest.

The news of the wreck was brought by part of the crew, headed by the mate and purser, who rowed up in a ship's boat. T he following is a verbatim account of the disaster:—“l am a fireman on the Taranaki. We left Auckland at 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon with about 80 passengers. The weather _ was very thick, and at midnight the ship came to acchor somewhere near Hole in the Wall. About 4 am. the weather cleared and we proceeded ; but. later, it thickened again. I was on duty from 4 to 8 a.m., at which time I turned in. I had been asleep about an hour and a half when I heard some one shout out “ Stop her ” and then “ Full speed astern.” Almost immo-

diately afterwards the steamer struck. There was no great shock. '1 he engines were then turned on ahead for a minute or two. When I went on deck there seemed to be no confusion ; everyone kept quiet, and the passengers behaved remarkably well. Captain Malcolm told us to lower the boats directly. In a few minutes this was done, and wo then proceeded to land the passengers on the island. At eleven o’clock all the passengers were landed and a portion of the port watch under the mate dis patched to Tauranga for assistance. The Taranaki lies on her beam ends, only a small portion of her nose being out of the water. The hatches areof course battened down, and, being nnderthe water, it will be impossible to save any portion of the cargo.” No further particulars are as yet obtainable respecting the wreck of the Taranaki. A dense fog has prevailed for the last three days. Karewa Island is five miles outside Tauranga Heads, in a N;N.E. direction. The rock is very rugged, about 3fio feet high, and is in very deep water, about three miles from the mainland. Napieb, November 29.

Mr Rees has issued a writ in a libel action against the “Napier Telegraph” for alleged continued defamation of him. Damages arc laid at <£3ooo.

Wellington, November 29

The Divorce Court to day delivered judgment on the question as to whether it had jurisdiction in the case of Ryley vby ley. Both parties had left New Zealand, but the evidence showed that each had an idea of coming hack to New Zealand. Judge Gillies held that both parties had abandoned their domicile in New Zealand, but the other Judge held that the Conrt had jurisdiction, and granted the decree nisi for a dissolution of the marriage. The case of Wood, charged with a breach of the Lunatics Act, occupied the R.M. Court all day. Defendant was merely charged with detaining his sister three months contrary to the 30th section of the Act. Several respe table settlers gave evidence to having an intimate acquaintance with the family, and all testified to the uniform good treatment the lunatic girl received. tsir W. Fitzherbert testified to knowing the girl for the last twenty years. He did not consider her a lunatic, but thought th t if she had been taken from home associations and placed in a Lunatic A sylum it would h.ve made her a confirmed lunatic. The evidence of Dr. Diver showed that, when the patient was examined, no marks of violence were traceable. Mr Stratford, Assistant Law Officer of the Crown, said the main object of the Government in prosecuting was to give as much publicity to the 30th section of the Act, under which proceedings were taken, as possible, to let people ki ow that lunatics must not be detained beyond a certain time in private houses. The defendant was discharged, the Government thinking that the publicity already given to the matter would satisfy the ends of justice. 100,000 worth of the Tbomdtm reclamation will shorty be sold by the Government. The following educational statistics are published in the “ Gazette ” :

Average attendance of scholars in the schools of the following educational districts for the quarter ended September 30th last: Auckland 8,680 Hawke’s Bay 1,530 Taranaki 670 Wanganui 1,874 Wellington 3,445 Marlborough ... 751 Nelson ... ... 2,709 Westland 2,064 Canterbury North 8 933 Canterbury South 1,745 Otago ... ... ... ... 12,566 Southland 2,894 Total 47,864 The total attendance for the same quarter was 47,606. The number of teachers in all Canterbury was 392, with 127 schools : Auckland, 362 teachers, 172 schools; Otago. 312 teachers, 133 schools; Nelson, 79 teachers, 69 schools ; Wellington, 103 teachers, 36 schools ; Hawke’s Bay, 53 teachers, 31 schools; Taranaki, 25 teachers, 25 schools ; Wanganui, 67 teachers, 42 schools; Marlborough, 25 teachers, 15 schools; Westland, 77 teachers, 35 schools; Southland, 66 teachers 45 schools. The vacancy for the Gladstone constituency is Gazetted.

Mr Ball is appointed Assistant Controller and Auditor.

On account of suspicious circumstances attending a fire recently in a small dwelling in Ingestre street, an inquest was In Id this evening. The evidence given pointed strongly to incendiarism, and a verdict was returned that the place was wilfully set fire to by a person or persons unknown, and a rider added that the police should take steps in the matter. The owner is a person named McElwain 'The insurance on the building was only £ 150, but on the block owned by him there was .£BSO.

The Oxford recreation ground has been brought under the Public Domains Act, 1860. The land is described as 216 acres in section numbered 165 L (in red), bound d towards the west by section numbered 25 509 for a distance of 48 chains 64 links; towards the south by Eyre road south for a distance of 34 chains 88 links ; and towards the east by section numbered 24130, and also by a line in continuation of its western boundary, a distance altogether of 51 chains 55 links, as the same is delineated on the official map in the provincial district survey offi e, Christchurch. The director of geological surveys, Dr. Hector, wh ’ is one of Mr bheehan’s party, will, if possible, work his way through to the Waikato in order to gather information as to the geology of that comparatively unexplored part of the country. _ Wood, who was charged with keeping his lunatic sister under restraint so many years, was brought up at the Resident Magistrates Court this morning. The case will occupy some considerable time.

The Government have invited the Wellington Benevolentlnstitut on to take overcharge of all charitable institutions in the city, but the committee decided not to entertain the proposal. Dunedin, November 29.

A deputation from the Peninsula and Ocean Beach Railway Company waited on Mr Ma > andrew this afternoon in reference to establishing tramway communication with Portobello instead of forming a railway line to that district as was first intended. Mr Macanorew said that the Government, in the public interest would offer the company every facility. Invercargill, November 29.

At the banquet given here last night to tho Southland representatives in the House, there was only a moderate attendance, about sixty being present. Mr Shanks, County Chairman, occupied the chair, and speeches were delivered by Messrs Feldwick, Joyce, Hodgkmson, and Wood A splendid dinner was provided by Kingsland and Son. Intoxicants were totally absent, the banquet being conducted on strictly temperance principles. Mr Wood M.H.R., has held meetings at Wyndham.Mataura, and Invercargill, which were well attended. Votes of confidence were pa-sed unanimously at each. A banquet is to be given here to the Southland members, Messrs Wood, Joyce, Hodgkinson, and Feldwick to-night. It promises to be a great success.

[from the correspondents ok the press.] Auckland, November 29. The inquest on the body of Dora Austin showed death resulted from serous apoplexy. A man named J ohn Manes was picked up in Mills’ lane apparently dying, and removed to the hospital. The Waste Lands Board have received an application by Messrs Adams and Co., from a number of settlers at Canterbury, stating tbeir intention to settle on land at i e Hoa block, and asking for an extension of time from application to settlement on land, beyond the three months provided by the rules of the Board, in order that they might get their next harvest in before leaving Canterbury. An extension of time has been granted to the applicants, who require about ten thousand acres of land.

Tiiiaku, November 29. Copious rain has been falling all day, but has now ceased.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day an old offender, named Noon, was committed for trial on two charges of forgery and uttering. He was also remanded to Christchurch on a third similar charge.

Dunedin, November 29. Sub-Inspector Smith is to be transferred from Oamaru to Marlborough. The “Star” states that the Taranaki was valued at .£IO,OOO. She is partly insured at home, and the following companies have risks upon her:—South British, £2500, mostly reinsured ; Colonial, £760; Union, £750; National, £750; IN ow Zealand, £750.