LAST NIGHT'S TELEGRAMS

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1512, 20 December 1878, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S TELEGRAMS

BY SUBMARINE CABLE. AUSTRALIAN. [eeutkr’s telegrams to tue tress] AGENCY, Sydney, December 19. Mediations concerning the strike have been renewed. Sailed—Easby. Melbourne, December 19. The Underwriters’ Association, under date London, 18th, report the arrival of the Columbus and Duke of Argyle from Lyttelton. NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS. [ter press agency.] Auckland, December 19. At the installation banquet of the Masonic Lodge at the Manukau, several members expressed a strong hope that all lodges in the Australasian colonies would shortly be united under one Grand Lodge. Vigorous canvassing is proceeding for the erection of a Masonic Hall in Auckland. N a tier, December 19. Nominations for the Napier Handicap at the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club races close on Saturday evening. Wellington, December 19. Complaint is made of the scarcity of labor. The “Chronicle” says Mr G. M. Reed is engaged for two years, at a salary of £6OO per year, subject to six mouths’ notice at the end of that period. The Queen has sent the following telegram to the Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand: —“ The Queen thanks the citizens of Wellington sincerely for their kind sympathy.—R. Ponkonby, Windsor.”

The “ to-night notiiles the incorporation of the Wellington Choral Society under the Voluntary Associations Incorporation Act, 1872.

Fifty-two new by-laws on the New Zealand railways, in substitution of previous by-laws, are also published. Blenheim, December 19. The low level tunnel at the D’Urville Island copper mine is now 156 ft in, and is being extended to intersect Manton’s lode 5011. ahead. Timabu, December 19. The Supreme Court concluded its sitting this evening. Charles Stirling was fond Guilty of tie manslaughter of his wife at Waimute, and sentenced to $ ig years, hdvvard Ball was found «< Guilty” of a' criminal libel, and ordered to be imprisoned until .» i»ue of was paid. I he fine w is at once Lauded in, Croft and Alfred Watkins, for larceny from the person, was sentenced to six and e ghteeu months rospectively. [from the correspondents of the press.] Auckland, December 19. The first sod of tho Thames and Waikato railway is to be turned on Saturday. The n uckland' Mayqjc and Councillors are invited to be present. ' Messri Maclean and Co., ot Waikato, Lava on

the ■way from home a number of fine Clydesdale horses, and the grand horse Musket has just been purchased by them and shipped in the Kent for Melbourne. Musket was bred by Lord Glasgow. There are a large number of competitors for the scholarships of the Auckland Grammar School and common school examinations now taking place. An inquiry [took place yesterday, before Dr. Philson, coroner, into the origin of the fire in the buildings of the Theatre Royal ou the 13th iust. Mr Hosketh, solicitor, appeared for the Manchester Fire Insurance Company: Mr Cooper for the occupier of the premises, Henry Hoag, fruit and cigar dealer. Hoag deposed that his stock was worth .£250, and that he insured it in the Manchester Company on the 4th inst. for J 6200. He claimed .£2OO through his solicitor. Ho had no idea how the fire originated, but estimated his loss at ,£230. He did not]notice any escape of gas, and had nothing ignitable on the premises but a gross of matches. Ho fire was lit ou the 13th. After other evidence, the jury returned an open verdict. Mr Macandrew is in Waikato examining the country at the present termination of the Waikato railway. Ho leaves Auckland by the first southern boat, calling at Tauranga, and proceeds overland to Napier and Wellington. Some splendid specimens of the Mokau coal are being exhibited here. The engineer of the Mokau, who tested two tons, is highly satisfied with the coal. Hewi has given his consent to the working of the seam. In the R.M. Court C. B.DcThierry sued E.C. Thomas for .£9B for translating his celebrated Native pamphlet on the Maori land question. The Rev. Dr. Mansell and T. H. Smith, formerly Judge of the Native Lands Court, gave evidence favorable to plaintiff’s translation on its literary merits. The defence was that the charge was to be 355. Judgment for defendant with costs. Akakoa, December 19. The half-yearly meeting of the Lyttelton District, M.U., 0.0. F., was held in the new Oddfellows’ Hall here to-day. The representatives present were —G.M., Harpley, Exley ; D.D.M., Wm. Leggct; P.C.S., Clarke. Delegates ; City of Norwich Lodge, P.G. Arnold and P.G. Toomer; Good Intent Lodge, P.G. Osborn and P.G. Johnson ; Timarn, P.P.G.M. Padgct and V.G. Garaudie ; Arowhenna Lodge, P.G. Harris ; Heart of Friendship Lodge, P.G. Whitfield : Hand and Heart Lodge, P.G. Priest; Dawn of Hope Lodge, Bro. Gresson; Hand-in-Hand Lodge, V.G. Ashton, Warden Bro. Leßeau. A large amount of general business was done. The nomination of officers for the next half-year resulted in the choice of D.G.M. Lepget as G.M., P.G. Whitfield as D.G.M., and C.S. Clarke re-elected. Timaeu, December 19. It was Drs. Hayes and Raynor who complained at the Temuka Court yesterday re the discharges from Christchurch Lunatic Asylum, not Servant Burtenshaw.

The “ Evening Telegraph” has made its appearance under the most favorable circumstances, and is receiving general support. Dunedin, December 19.

A case of sunstroke is reported from Lawrence. The patient is now progressing favorably. A good deal of interest is taken in the case Stanford v Gillies, now being heard before Judge Williams and a special jury. The Attorney-General and Mr Haggitt appear for the plaintiff ; Messrs Smith and Dennistou for the defendants. Mr Stout, in his opening speech, said, next to Mr Murison, Mr Stanford was the largest shareholders in the late “ Otago Daily Times” and “Witness” Company. He was also one of the largest contributors of articles to those papers. His contributions were of considerable value to him—in fact, from the year 1872 he had received from <£loo to £2OO a year up to £SOO as his share of contributions. There was some rumor spread about early in the year that the directors had received an offer for the purchase of the papers. After some consideration, it was agreed that if £75 per share was offered they would be prepared to submit to the shareholders a proposal to sell. At this time the amount paid upon shares was £45. The price in the market for shares at this time was £SO to £55. Ultimately it was agreed that Mr Fliott should represent Messrs Stanford and Murison, and should confer with Mr Driver on behalf of the new proprietors of the papers, iu order to get them compensation for the loss of sendee, and ii was agreed that Mr Stanford should receive £llOO as compensation. Mr Murison, it was arranged, should also receive a sum as compensation, in addition to which he was to receive from the new proprietors, a five years’ engagement at the same salary ns he had been receiving. When the defendants, who were toe liquidators, came to wind up the company’s affairs, they stated that Mr Stanford’s action was in the shape of a secret bargain, and that he had obtained undue advantage over the other shareholders. Mr Stanford being a clergman, and consequently to a certain extent having his hands tied, agreed to place the money in the hands of the liquidators for the purpose of having the matter inquired into. The liquidators declined to have the matter referred to arbitration, and Mr Stanford had consequently to bring it into Court. The question at issue was who owned the £llOO. Mr Murison received his compensation money also, and the liquidators had never taken any steps to get the money paid to him refunded, but as Mr Stanford had been foolish enough to allow his money to be placed in the hands of the liquidators, they had kept it and would not allow the matter to be adjudicated upon. In his cross-examination, Mr Stanford said he could not recollect many of the conversations re the sale of the paper. He was a party to it, but would not have consented to the sale if there had not been an understanding that he was to be compensated for his loss of employment. The understanding with Mr Murison was that he was to edit the “Witness.” When negotiations were going on for the sale, Mr Driver as much as promised him the editorship, but he regarded that as a bait to agree to the sale. In giving judgment in |a case in which a husband was sued for clothing supplied to a drunken wife, whom he had turned out of doors, Mr. Bathgate said —“ I may take the opportunity of stating that this painful case, and, it is to be feared, others of g similar kind, point to the urgent necessity for the establishment of proper institutions for the reception and care of inebriates, the existing law being imperfect and unworkable. Much domestic misery might thereby be avoided, and young families kept from being demoralised 'by the bad example of an infatuated drunken parent.”