LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 262, 7 August 1877, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[p&BSS AGENCY.] Christchurch, August CL The railway receipts for the quarter ending with June were £22,309, being £7200, less than for the quarter ending with A pril. Mr Jaa Smith, many years chief clerk in Cobb and Co’s office, was found in the rirer this morning. He is supto have committed suicide. At a meeting of the Operative Bootmaker’s Union it was announced that the hands emptied at Toomera* large factory had signified their intention ot joining, but subsequently finding that Messrs Toomers’ and Son disapproved of it, they withdrew. This action was warmly criticised and condemned by the meeting. A proposal was made to break up the Union but it was negatived by 22 to 6. It was resolved to -take measures to induce bootmakers from elsewhere, not to come to Christchurch for work. August 7. Another meeting of unemployed was held yesterday. There was a large attendance. Several men spoke in strong terms against the policy of the Government in bringing so many immigrants into the country, and a petition was drawn up, requesting Government iether to find employment for men, or to send them where they could obtain it. Over 200 signed the petition at tbe meeting, and tbe city is to be canvassed for further signatures. Another meeting is to be held to-day. At the meeting of licensed victuallers, held to consider Fox’s Local Option Bill, as affecting public-houses, tbe Bill was entirely condemned. Wellington, August 6. Mr John Conway, writing to a member of tbe New Zealand Times staff, respecting tbe contemplated visit of an Australian Cricket Team to New Zealand says:—“ You may calculate that we shall be in New Zealand, if negotiations end successfully, early in January. The Australian team will, you may rest assured, make heaps of friends in your Colony, by their good behaviour and good cricket playing. The matter is all in shape now, and nothing remains but to get leave of absence for three of the team for twelve months. I expect tbe articles will be signed in the course of a week; then I will send yon tbe names of the full team. The twelve, you may state, will be chosen from the following:—Bannerman, Blackham, D. Gregory, Allan, N. Thompson, Kendall, Horan, Boyle, Sleight, Garrett, Murdock, Kelly, Spofforth, Campbell, and G. H. (Bailey, (Tasmania). Ton can imagine what a team can be selected from the above. It has not yet been decided whether the start will be made from Sydney or from Melbourne.” Dunedin, August 6. The United Trades demonstration, held on Saturday night, was the largest public gathering ever held in Dunedin. Its object was to protest against the importation of rolling-stock for the colonial railways when 1 it could be manufactured in the colony. Abont 630 people, who are engaged in various classes of iron-work; with carpenters, tailors, bootmakers, bricklayers, plasterers, and members of the Typographical Association, formed themselves into a torchlight procession, and, marched through the principal streets of the city. The procession was a quarter of a mile long. After the procession a public, meeting was held in the Arcade, Guthrie and Larnach’s building. The Mayor presided, and there were about 3000 persons present; but a number of these were mere spectators, who had followed the procession. The speakers consisted of tradesmen chosen from the different trades represented. One of the ablest speeches was delivered by a smith named Chandler. In It* conclusion he said, that if the present ministry would not accede to the wishes of the working men, perhaps the working men of New Zealand would put in another ministry that would. It had been said by the Great Augustus, that he found Home a city of bricks and left

it one of marble. They would say to the statesmen of the colony “work up the resources you have, and then you will be able to Bay you found New Zealand a desert, and that yon leave it, not a great sheep run but, a large manufacturing and go-ahead country, possessing a happy and contented people, manufacturing their own works, and perhaps exporting to other colonies.” He contended that the movement was one which was needed in other largo', towns in the colony, whish would take up the same stand. Some speakers blamed the official heads of deport- . , ments rather than political heads, for the grievanoes of which they, .bomplained. The resolutions as previously telegraphed were carried unanimously. ’ Auckland, August 6. Among the resolutions passed by the nnemployed was one for the stoppage of > free immigration. The Trade and '■ Labor Council, composed of delegates , of various trade societies, have deter-' mined to hold a public meeting in support of the agitation of the Dunedin artisans in favor of materials required for railways being manufactured in the Colony. The City Council took on forty men 4 at day labor today. At the Municipal Conference today, . the following resolution, after very long discussion, was passed That *■ no deductions should be made. from • subsidies payable to local bodies in Provincial districts, as provided for in the ■ Financial .Arrangements Bill before : Parliament. . Provision should .be made: for maintenance of charitable inatitu- . tions throughout tbe Colony from the . Consolidated Fund, but felling that, by . a geneialrate to be fixed annually* by Parliament; and that all hospitals and charitable institutions be managed ihy; boards elected by tbe local governing bodies in the various districts where such institutions are established; hat where any district adopting the Charitable Institutions Bill shall be accurately defined, it shall be exempted from taxation for similar institutions.” After a long discussion a resolution—> “ That in the event of any deduction being made from subsidies due to local bodies for hospitals it should be on .the basis of the number of patients sent from each Municipality orj County,” was carried, ■ * ~ A ' deputation waited upon the Premier and Dr Pollen this afternoon, and was most favorably received. The Premier acknowledged that the present method of deducting from the subsidy was a mistake, and stated that the Government intended shortly to introduce a bill providing that where the Charitable Institutions Bill was adopted, the : deduction from tbe subsidy should be on the rateable value and not upon the rates actually raised.