LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 244, 17 July 1877, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[press agency.]

Wellington, July 17.

The City of Sydney left Frisco on Jcne 20th and arrived at Honolulu on 28th. Total time from Frisco to Auckland 566 hours. Mr Houston, representing the Pacific Mail Company is a passenger to,Sydney; he has full authority from the Company to conclude such modifications in the Mail Service as may be mutually agreed to by the New Zealand and Sydney Governments and himself; he says arrangements have been made to run a special Mail Train from New York to Frisco in five days and that, if the Company's Steamers were allowed to leave Frisco on the arrival of the mail, there would be *n average saving of about four days. On the present trip of the City of Sydney, the mail arrived at Frisco sixty-six hours before the date of sailing ; and when the special mail train is run, there would therefore be still greater los3 of time.

The Conference for the suppression of intemperance has concluded its sittings. A second draft petition to be submitted to the Legislature, was adopted, with the amendment that a clause should be added declaring the present constitution of licensing courts unsatisfactory. The members for the city were requested to take charge of the petition, and to support it to the utmost of their power. It was also resolved to establish a temperance society, and a committee ofgazetted ministers of religion, aR well as laymen, was oppointed to carry out the resolution.. A resolution was also carried, that the conference thinks it desirable thwt, no new publicans' licenses should be ißsuod un'il after the next Session of Parliament, and that this be conveyed to the licensing bench.

The first annual general meeting of the Wellington Coal Company was held to-day. The directors anticipated that the company's mine branch railway will be so far completed th«t coal will be delivered in Westport about the end of July. James Swinburne has been appointed mining manager, and the Board are satisfied with the manner in which he has performed his duties. The directors recommend that a balancesheet be made Tip to the 31st December, 1877, by which time it is expected the company will be working. The balance sheet shows—capital paid up, .£14,780; value of Company's property, £7,564; contingent liabilities and assets, £770, and £2,260 respectively. The Chairman stated that the echooner Julius Vogel is now loading with coal, and would arrive here shortly with the first shipment from the company's mine. The branch railway to the mine was completed, and the coke ovens are in course of erection. Samples of coal have been already received, and reported on favorably. The price of coal delivered on board at Westport was fixed at 12s per ton. Several leading shareholders are in treaty for the purchase of a suitable steamer to convey it to Wellington. It • is. ■ intended to balance accounts at the end of the current year, and hold a meeting in February, 1878.

Auckland July 16. The Mera, of Oanvmi, has been wrecked at Hokianga. Her cargo was of baulk timber, and was insured in the Batavia, National, and New Zealand, £SOO in each.

The Hero has arrived from Sydney. News unimportant. Dunedin, July 16. M'Laren was fined 40s in the Police Court to.day, for having on Saturday evening, in the course of an harangue in Prince. l ' street, commented in strong language on the Jury who acquitted Mrs Eeid.

Timaru, July 16. The next meeting of the Nen Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Club, will be held at Timaru, on August 22. It promises to be one of the beat yet held in the Colony.