LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 410, 18 January 1878, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[press agency. I COMMUNICATION WITH EUROPE INTERRUPTED. Sls GEORGE GREY’S EXPECTED VISIT. Wellington, January 16. The Port Darwin line has been down since yesterday, near Alice Springs. This year’s assestnerit of city property for general purposes is £207,605, being an increase, of £30,000 over last year; city valuation for water purposes, £183,460, or an increase over last year of £33,966. ' In re E. T. Gillon v. M‘D6nald the special jury gave a verdict for plaintiff

thereby declaring Gillon to be still a partner in the Wellington Argus Company,, notwithstanding his alleged disposal of his shares in the company to M‘Kirdie, the jury being of opinion that such transfer was made by way of mortgage. The jury were unanimous, January 17. It is understood that Sir George Grey will visit Westport and other places on the West Coast, but the exact date is not yet fixed. The Government Gazette issued today notifies that the following will be the rates of pay and allowances of officers of Armed Constabulary:—lnspectors and first-class Superintendents. .£500 ; Inspectors and second-class Superintendents, .£4OO Inspectors, <£3oo ; Sub-Inspectors, • ,£2OO ; Surgeons, £250. Colonel Whitmore is gazetted Com missioner of the Armed Constabulary while he remains a member of the Executive, without being entitled to any salary or emolument whatever. Another notification contains the appointment of all Armed Constabulary officers as Inspectors Ist and 2nd class Inspectors and Surgeo s. Terms and conditions under which rewards will be paid for discovery of new goldfields, in pursuance of a resolution of the House of the 4th October. A list published in the Gazette gives a total Customs Revenue for 1877-8, £1,213,470 ; for previous year, £1,216,791. During the last few days several altercations occurred in the Supreme Court between Mr Barton, and the Chief Justice. Yesterday, in the case, Gillon v McDonald, the Chief Justice had occasion to say to Mr Barton that his.language was insolent, and that the best thing he could do would be to sit down. To-day there were other passages somewhat similar in character, and in one Mr Justice Richmond remarked, when taking exception to some of Mr Barton’s remarks, that he could not have these things going on. After some remarks from Mr Barton the Judge said : “Mr Barton, if you will make yourself a common nuisance in the Court I must take some means of putting you down.” Mr Barton : “ I don’t think your Honor can.” The Judge: “ I will try.”

A serious fire broke out this afternoon in a building just opposite the railway station, intended for an hotel, but which failed to obtain a licence. Owing to the water supply being limited in consequence of the water works not being completed, it is - usually turned off during the day. When the water was turned on at the reservoir it took about an hour before it reached the fire in force, in the meantime the hotel and two adjoining buildings were burned down. , The flames blowing across the street set fire to the Railway Station, which, along with the offices of the District Engineer and Traffic Manager, were very soon destroyed. None of the carriages or other rolling stock were injured. The Railway Station is valued at about £IOOO, other buildings £ISOO. The hotel was occupied Until yesterday, when nearly all the effects were removed. The hotel and bnildings are insured in the National for £ISOO, and New Zealand £l5O. The origin pf the fire is unknown. A few minutes after the alarm the building was all in flames. Had a proper supply of water been on the Railway Station would have been saved. Masterton, January 17. A fearful gale swept over Masterton and neighborhood yesterday morning. Nearly all the shop windows on the east side of Bridge street were broken. Many chimneys were blown down, and the roof of an unfinished building was carried several chains. Parts .of the neighboring bush look as if cut down by baud. Two houses were blown down, and two blown over, Lowes’s Hotel narrowly escaped, and all the furniture had been removed, when heavy rain commenced to fall. The crops still standing are much damaged,' especially oatg.; 1 No' gale equal in severity to this has been felt here before. Oasterton fared as badly as Masterton.

Christchurch, January 16. T. S. Sweet, cricketer and collector to a Jpint Stock Company, has levanted, and a warrant is now being- issued. He has embezzled moneys belonging to his empioyers, the Press Company, and is in debt all over Christchurch. In one case to the amount of £6OO. Sweet leaves a wife and one child. January 17. During Wednesday a horse was killed at Rangiora by lightning. During the past few days 20,000 salmon have been liberated in the rivers Waimakiriri and Eakaia. The harvest is expected to be a fair average one. A furious gale from the N. W. commenced early yesterday morning, heavy rain falling at intervals. Towards six o'clock the wind abated a little, and the rain ceased,. but boisterous wind |

still prevails. Considerable damage has been done in town, and the crops in the .country districts suffered; severely. Many places where the grain was ripe the wind- threshed it nearly all out. The- hurricane of Tuesday night did considerable damage to ripe crops in the rural districts. The Supreme Court has been ocupied in hearing a divorce case, Henry v. Henry, iu which the husband applied for a divorce on the ground of adultery. He is a middle-aged man, with several children by a former wife. He married respondent wheu quite a ; girl,. and the evidence already given proved the adulteryjbetween the respondent and the nephew of her husband; ‘ ' ,;i: Mr J. E. Fitzgerald,' CbminSsioner of Audit, J. Carruthers, Engineer-in-chief, and 0. O’Neil, G.E , are now here, for the purpose of enquiring into the alleged grievances of the Railway employees. The latter hold r a meeting to-night for the purpose of explaining their complaints. Timaru, January 16. The Timaru -Harbor Board, has in-’ structed its Engineer, to proceed with the preliminai’j work for a, breakwater on the site selected by the late. Mr; Balfour, and an urgent request is to be forwarded to the Government to allow the harbour works to be coranenced at once, and the Board to call for tenders for a solid wall 300 ft long. The Engineer has been instructed .to prepare specifications and call for tenders and provide for accommodation of vessels at as early a date as possible.

LATEST UNPUBLISHED,

THE MAUNGATAPU MURDERER. Dunedin, January 18. News has been received through a private letter from a .passenger who went home by the Loch Ryan from Melbourne that Sullivan, the murderer, was a second cabin passenger in the ship. He was discovered a month after the Loch Ryan left Melbourne. In the match Oarauru Twenty-two v. Australian Eleven, Oamaru got 70 in the first innings, and 43 in the second. Australians first innings 136, of which Barinerman scored 45. Christchurch,' January 18. A crowded meeting has been held at the Oddfellows Hall to consider the alleged grievances of the railway employees. A letter was read explaining several causes of dissalifaction amongst the - employees, the principal being a recent order requiring the men to work overtime without pay, and to work on Sundays when required. A resolution condemnatory of this arrangement was carried, also one requesting the Government to appoint a commission to enquire into the whole question of the grievances. Mr Montgomery, in addressing his constituents, said that when. Sir George Grey accepted office, he asked him to take the Colonial Treasurer ship, but he declined as he could not get from Sir George Grey a ffositive promise that the compact of 1856 would be respected. He opposed manhood .suffrage and miners right qualifications. A vote of thanks was unanimously carried by the meeting. Wellington, January 18. A disastrous fire has taken place at Newton near Auckland. It originated in the house of M‘ Alpine, a shoemaker, who, with his family, was rescued with difficulty. The fire, rapidly extended to the Rising Sun Hotel and other buildings. There was a high wind at the time and the houses on the other side of the street were much, (lamage$ V 4 following are the insurances—South British, £2325; Norwich Union, £1320; New Zealand, £770 ; Standard and Royal, £4OO each; National £7OO ; Imperial, £2OO ; Union, £2OO. Four; teen premises were wholly or partially* destroyed." •