LAST NIGHT'S TELEGRAMS

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1559, 17 February 1879, Page 3

LAST NIGHT'S TELEGRAMS

[BY SUBMARINE CABLE.] ENGLISH AND FOREIGN[BELTER'S TELEGRAMS TO THE PHES9 AGENCY.] London, February 13. At a meeting of the London committee for the Sydney Exhibition to-day, it was stated that tire British Admiralty will lend its valuable scientific apparatus for exhibition. It was further announced that France requires 6000 metres of space. It is stated here that South Australia intends checking immigration. AUSTRALIA. Sydney, February 15. Governor Robinson leaves Sydney for New Zealand on March 15th in her Majesty’s ship Emerald, Ho will be accompanied by Commodore Wilson, in her 'Majesty’s ship Wolverine. [special to the globe.] Sydney, February 15. There is hot pursuit of the Kelly gang. The Government will send an invitation to the Prince of Wales to bo present at the Exhibition, Pour acres have been granted for the Paris balloon. [Via Bluff.] Melbourne, Undated. The intense heat of the weather and numerous bush fires have been the principal topic during the week. At Colac a bnsh fire occurred which caused the death of six persons, and seventeen are not expected to recover. During one of the hottest days a settler sot fire to some scrub on his propeity, and the long grass and trees were at once set alight. One child was ki'led by a falling tree. The others were literally burned. The whole place has been on fire, and the city is filled with smoke. The selectors have found the season very disastrous. Yesterday a deputation interviewed the Minister of Lands, with the view of obtaining permi-sion for the rents to stand over for twelve months, owing to the failure of their crops and the destructive season. It was pointed out that not only was the past season bad, but the last three seasons had been unfavorable. If payments were insisted on this ye-;r the result vrould simply be rnin. The Minister pointed out that he had no power under the Act to remit the rents, but promised not to claim forfeit for non-payments. He mentioned as an instance that all rentals would not be insisted on, that selectors’ arrears reached the large sum of £3134,000 for the past six months, while £364,000 was owing for the preceding six months. The Governor has opened the Horsham railway. The speeches on the occasion were not of a political character. The Governor mentioned that now over a thousand miles of railway were o’>en iu the colony, and that at the present time there were over 125 miles in course of construction, and that the Government would shortly enter into contracts for 1121 additional miles. The steam collier Kerangio was wrecked at Cape Everard during a fog on Friday night, bnt the crew were saved. The vessel has become a total wreck. She was insured in various offices for .£23,000. A most disgraceful distui’bance occurred on Saturday dun . g the return match. The Sydney men had to follow their innings, having only scored 177 in the first innings against 267. Murdoch, who went in first, was given “ run out” by the umpire. The mob expressed dissatisfaction, and rushed the ground. Lord Harris and Coulthard, the umpire, were botli assaulted, and Hornby seize'i one of the assailants and dragged him into the pavilion. Play was stopped for the day. The Cricket Association and cricketers have expressed to 7,,0rd Harris, their deep sense of humilia. tion at the occurrence, and Lord Harris has acquitted the cricketers of all blame. The only political event just now is the West Bourkc election, for which there are _ four candid;it'>3 nominated, including the inevitable Willi..in Gaunson. Alfred Deakin, a colonial burn tor, is the Eeform League and Government candidate.

At a meeting of the City Council yesterday, an address to Sir George Bowen on his departure was submitted, end opposed by many members on account of Black Wednesday’s proceedings. Eventually the address was agreed to, the majority of the Councillors leaving the chamber. At the half-yearly meeting of the Bank of Victoria, some £1115,000 was transferred from the reserve fund to the special account, to meet all claims in connection with some recent mercantile failures. The expenditure of the bank has been reduced by £3 10,000 a year. The commercial depression was referred to. Patrick McDonald, of Geelong wine merchant, failed. His liabilities are between thirty and forty thousand. Information reached Melbourne early this morning that the Kelly gang made a raid upon Berildirie town-diip, in New South Wales, stuck up the telegraph office, nude the manager disconnect the wires, and then marched him and his assistant to the lock-up, where he was incarcerated with two policemen. The gang then went to the Bank of New South Wales, collected the officials, and marched them to the Roysl Hotel They afterwards bailed up the manager in a bath in this house, took .£2OOO, and burnt a number of deeds and securities, when they departed. They left the prisoners locked up, but tney were soon released. This is a more audacious outrage than the Euroacase. Every thing was managed with groat judgment. There was no secrecy. They openly stated that they intended to rob the bank, and when the robbery was completed they visited the hotels freely, standing drinks. While one policeman was locked up, the othor was taken round the town by Ned Kelly, to avoid suspicion, the Kellys being dressed out in police uniform. When they reached the hotel Kelly was formally introduced to the landlord by Coustable Richards, and said ho wanted rooms, that he intended to rob the bank. The police were entirely at fault, and had been completely thrown off the scent. NEW ZEALAND, [PER PEB93 AGENCY.] New Plymouth, February 15. The Harbor Board met this mormag, Major Atkinson was appointsd Chairman. Mr Irvine was reappointed engineer, and instructed to survey a line of railway from New Plymouth to the Sugar Loaves, pending the arrival of Sir John Goode’s report. Wanganui, February 15. The preliminary inquiry into the charg-r against Geo'ge Buckland Worgan for uttering a forged cheque for .£75, purporting to be < drawn by James Mackay, closed to-day. Worgan is committed for trial. [from our own correspondent.] Balclutha, February 15. John McNeil’s house of twelve rooms, adjoining the township, built six months ago, was destroyed by fire this morning. The him.-e was magnificently furnished, and the whole of the fnauituro was also consumed, with the exception of a piano, six chairs, and a little hedging. The fire occurred at half past three o’clock, whe n Mrs McNeill smelt tire and awakened her husband. He came downstairs, found the kitchen in flames, and the whole of the buildir gs were I spe dily destroyed. The origin of tt e tire is I quite unaccountable. The estimated loss is i upwards of =£2090. No part was insured, j The inhabitants and land owners in Kaitangata district are subscribing funds to employ an engineer to report upon the state of the river in f that quarter.

[lVess Special Wire.] Auckland, February IT). A “Free Press” runner was knocked down in Queen street by a cart, and Li leg was severely injured. The commission on higher education is taking evidence re the establishment of schools of agriculture. February 16. The mile race in connection whh the recent athletic sports was run over again on Saturday, in accordance with the decision of the committee on a protest received. Thirteen started, and the race resulted McCarthy, 1; J. Eago, 2 ; Jas. Hendry, 3. Time, smin. ssec. Wellington, February 15. The resolution come to some time ago to wind up the N Z S.S. Co. was to-day confirmed at a meeting of shareholders. An anti-Chinese petition, to be submitted to Parliament next session, is in course of signature. and has already 2500 signatures. After the levee and presentation of address by the City Council, another address was presented to his Excellency by members of the Wellington Working Men’s Club. He repl ed saying he had always taken great interest in such institutions, as he thought they had done much good, and were calculated to raise the tone and c araeter of working men. He trusted esprit do corps would bo fostered. There w<s no part of the world in whn-h the working < lasses were so weil off as in New Zealand, and no one who could not by thrift and industry soon raise himself to the position of an employer of labor. Ho hoped they would make the club self-sup-porting. Geiytown, February 15. At a meet ; ng of the stewards of the Wairarapa Jockey Club, which was held on the course at Tankeriankau after the second day’s races, it was unanimously decided to disqualify Philip Murtagh from running any horse, at any of the club’s meetings for a period of three years, owing to gross insolence to the stewards. Blenheim, February 15. H, R. Gundy, hotel keeper at Blenheim, has filed a dec'aration of his inability to meet his engagements with his creditors. Westport, February 15. Constable Marshall, who gave evidence before the Commissioners iu the enquiry into the “ habitual intemperance ” of the Magistrate is suspended. Some indignation is expressed. He was a new hand he'e but well liked and respected. The evidence has not been made public yet. The whole affair will probably form the subject of a petition to Parliament. Oamaru, February 15. A waggoner named Jacob Jenkins, employed by Allan and Stumbles carting material from Dnntroon railway station for a new bridge over the;Maerewhenua Elver, was killed last night through a waggon passing over him. When he left Dnntroon he was sober, but he took a bottle of whisky with him. A settler at Maerewhena, named Pryde, bad his house burned down yesterday. He and about twenty men were engaged harvesting some distance from the house, the only occupant of which at the time of the fire was the cook. The flames got such a hold that little or nothing was saved. The house was not insured. The cause of trie fire has not transpired. E. Devine’s greyhounds, Tasman, Ophelia, and Eose, were sold by auction to-day. The first named realised 10 guineas, but the two sluts only fetched .£5 each.