LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 266, 11 August 1877, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[press agency.] Wellington, August 10. Government are calling for tenders for a four-weekly. steam service between Fiji and Port Chalmers, by way of Auckland, Wellington, and Lyttelton, for a period of two - years; service to commence about the sth of October next. Bishop Redwood writes to the Times, on behalf of the claims of Catholics, in the matter of education. He wants, by supplementary legislation, to give Catholics grants in aid of their schools on the principle of results and numbers. The last paragraph of the letter says ; “ But, it is argued, if we give Catholics whi*b they want, others will demand a similar arrangement. The answer is plain and obvious ; either the majority is in favor of the State system, or it is not. If the majority be in favor of it, then there is no fear of such a demand being made, and if it be not then the Education Bill does not reflect the wishes of the community at large, and ought to be modified.” August 11. The Public Works Statement was applauded at its conclusion. Mr Joyce expressed great surprise that no mention was made of a line between Riverton and Orepuke; and dwelt at considerable length on the terrible hardships miners suffered for want of a line, because ihe road was impassable in winter time. A line would become part of the main line and would open millions of acres of agricultural land. Mr Barff complained that np line was pro- j jected between Greymouth and Hoki-

tika, which, would pay as well as any in the Colony. The House adjourned at Tim* o’clock. Nelson, August 10, 3.30 p-.m. The cutter Brinser returned to port to-day, after being absent on a fishing expedition since Monday morning, Westrupp, the owner, reports that when fishing off Astrolabe Island, yesterday afternoon, he saw two boats, one apparently strongly manned; and the other full of people, enter Bark Bay. He knew nothing of the wreck at the time, but shortly afterwards met the steamer Lyttelton, and reported the circumstance ; she then stood for Bark Bay. The question , now is, if they were the missing boats; why has hot the Lyttelton returned, as she might easily have done 1 : : 7.40. No further news of the boats, and not likely to be for some hours, as the Lyttelton is not signalled yet. • r > 12.50 *jn. The Manawatu has just arrived At the outer anchorage, with the Captain Davies’s boat. She arrisS at Port Hardy at 2 pan., and found the Captain and crew. They report they left the wreck at $ p.m. on Tuesday, had fearful weather" during the night, and at dusk on Wednesday made Port Hardy. The water was. very rough, and the boat capsized on landing, drowning the carpenter and smashing the feet of Hillyard, a passenger. Two men went on the hills, and were missing. The whole of them were in'a very emaciated condition, having had nothing to eah since leaving ifie ship. Captain Davies thinks there .is...very little chance of finding the cutter with the women and children, it being impossible they could endure the privations the crew met with. Just after leaving Port Hardy the Manawatu was met by the Lyttelton, which ,-had searched the other side of the. :; ltey. She will look for the two miaaing men, and continue the search for-the. cutter, the finding of which appearsrinost improbable. ; ’ The Government have issued .instructions to the authorities at,Nelson to sent the Manawatu, or another stpamer to go at once in search of the men left on D’Urville's Island. ~. The Sappho left Wellington to-day, to assist in the search. Hokitika, August 11; Intellige'nce has just been received announcing the safe arrival at Cable Bay of the blissing boats, with' passenand crew of the ship Queen Bee. At the 'meeting pf the Education Board,' last eyehingan amefidthe&t, moved by Mr Reyell -to Mr Seddon’s resolution, was carried) to the effect that at the expiration■■■of ,all leases:,in the Kumara reserve, the Sections, together will all improvements/. becoWe thb absolute property pf the Board. Leases will be granted for t6rep,. fire, seven, fourteen or tyenty-one yeard without the option of renewal section [ holders to have the right to remove buildings during the currency of their leases. Greymouth August 11. Dr. Maunsell and others havAbeen found all safe in Elmslie Bay. Auckland,; August If). A meeting convened by- the; Trade and Labor Council passed resolutions in favor of, the Government getting material; for railways manufactured in the Colony. . ' , A public meeting, to consider the Education Bill, passed resolutions in its favor (the clauspsexpep- . ted).'* The meeting considered that State education should be stridtly secular, and that the portions of the Bill relating to Bible reading and prayer should th etaSed., Hl.