LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 257, 1 August 1877, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[PEESS, AGENCY.] ... Westpoet, July 31. The election for lihe vacancy for the Saramea ridings Buller County, was contested by Mr E. J. O’Conor, director of the settlement, and Mr Edward Ings, editor of the "Westport Times, with the following result—Karamea; Ings, 27; O’Conor, -22. Mokihinui: Ings, 8: O’Conor, 3.

Christchurch, , J uly 31. The case of Dr Campbell v. the executors of the late Mr Mackay, was resumed this morning. The evidence for the defence was to the effect that Mackay was always a very hard man, and not at all likely to make presents of large sums of money; that prior to his death he was more than once wandering in his mind; that old friends were refused permission by Campbell to see Mackay; and that while in bed he had seveial times said he had lost confidence in Campbell, and would like another doctor. After the conclusion of the evidence, the counsel for defence asked for delay to enable him to amend the issues. On resuming, the counsel for Campbell said, after what had transpired, he would ask the Court to enter a nonsuit against his client, which, after some discusssbn, was done. The land sales during the month of June have realised j 6175,000. August 1. Messrs Lightband, Allan, and Co,, write to the Times, this morning, denying that they locked out the hands with a view to effecting a reduction in wages. They also say, “having had four years’ experience of their Trade “ Union” we have found not the slightest disposition on the part of the men to fall in with any idea whatever, that meant a change in the system of forking, even when such- change did nbt affect their interest in the smallest degree. We recently imported from England and America, some new machinery and a few weeks ago put on two or three hands bn> weekly wages, with the idea of ascertaining its capabilities, and intended eventually to fix prices for piece-work in connection with the machinery. We do not at all object to the piece-work system. The “Union” drove under “threat,” [l] andj from that time, we have thoroughly made up our minds not to recognise their “ society” any longer.” The letter further says, that it was intended to adopt a system by which the men could earn better wages than elsewhere, and that the men were not locked out for a fortnight, but, so far as the old mode of working was concerned, for ever.

The Acclimatisation Society has sent to San Francisco for Prairie hens. An application from Melbourne for song birds was refused by the society. ■ WELLINGTON*. August 1. Twenty thousand shares, in the new Union Fire and Marine Insuraace Co., have been applied for. in? Wellington. . The Conference of representatives from the several Municipalities in the Colony open here to-day. Dunedin, August 1.

At yesterday’s meeting the City Council resolved unanimously that the Corporation should come under the new Act, As a result of this another election for Mayor will require to take place in November.

The number of births deaths and marriages for July are :—139 births, 59 deaths, and 42 marriages.