LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 465, 23 March 1878, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[press agency. I

Hokitika, Marcfc 20. Hamer’s trial commenced to-day. He has been : committed tb the Supreme Court. Mr Button appeared for the bank, and Mr Purkiss for the prisoner. On the first case of £54, a fixed deposit receipt granted to Mr Furkett,; on sth of March, 1877, for twelve months and not entered in the books of the bank ; the prisoner reserved, his defence. The second case, £l3O, on 3rd October from Thomas Goughian, a fixed deposit for six months, there was no entry anywhere to correspond.’ The third ease, £lll 2s fid, on Bth and 11th December; entries in Stuart Ogilvie’s pass-book; though entered aud initialed by Hamer in the pass-book, there was no entry in the bank cashbook, or ledger. Six other charges are going on. The total amount of defalcations yet discovered is a little oyer a thousand pounds. Out of the nine informations against Hamer there were eight committals. Bail was allowed in two surities of £SOO each, and the prisoner in £IOOO. There is said to be other defalcation*, but the amounts are not stated.

Wellington, March 22 It is stated that the Government has diiecred the Agent-General to make large reductions iu his department, and that should he resign, in consequence of such instructions, his place will .be filled by Mr Reader Wood. - Dunedin, March 21. In the £3upr£me Court last Tuesday, James Smith, on behalf of George Clark, of Clyde, applied to Judge Williams for a rule nisi calling on the Rev. Joseph Larkin, Roman Catholic priest of Lawrence, tp show cause why a writ habea corpus should not be issued calling on him £p produce the body of Alice Maud Mary Clark before the Judge iu Chambers, and why he should hotjj p,n the rule being absolute, deliver her' tb" George Clark. The rule was granted, returnable ou Friday week.

March 22.

Professor Ulrich, of Melbourne, has accepted the office of ProfessoV of Miheralogy and Metallurgy in connection with the School of Mines.

Auckland, Merch 22. Arrived—ll.M.S, Nympho, with the Governor, from the Thames. The Governor, Lady Normanby, and Colonel Whitmore go to Waikaito on Monday, aud visit Hamilton,. Cambridge, and probably Alexandra.

Mr Maekay, land agent, has assigned

his estate, which will probably pay 7s 6d in the £.

Westport, March 22. A tremendous squall from the S.W. struck the upper part of the town last night, completely demolishing Stewart’s brewery, besides other damages.

Christchurch, March 22. On the Premier arriving at. Akaroa on Wednesday the Town Council presented an address. Subsequently the Premier addressed an open-air meeting. A resolution expressing confidence in him was moved by Mr Watckerle and seconded by ; the Rev. W. Alyiner. Mr Montgomery; M. H. R, for the district, supported the resolution, and said that a cry had been raised that Sir George was in favour of class legislation, but he (Mr Montgomery) had seen nothing tending in that direction; should he do so the Government whom he now supported would have no more uncompromising opponent than himself. The fact was New Zealand politicans were dividing into two great parties Conservatives and Liberals, the former desiring to see the laws maintained which were erainentiently satisfactory to the few, but the Liberal party led by Sir George Grey wished to see justice done to the whole people of New Zealand. The resolution was unanimously carried. The Premier was afterwards entertained at dinner, and attended a Presbyterian soiree, making a speech at each. Sir George and party left in the Hinemoa for Wellington at 11.30 p.m.

The Haldon Station, South Canterbury, comprising 59,000 acres, with 20,000 sheep, was sold yesterday :to Mr Pringle, of Timaru, for £22,500. The Hoard of Education received a letter stating, in reply to a question, that the Government had no intention of making provision for the education of deaf, dumb, and blind children.

It is said the'Premier’s idea respecting the future’use of the old Provincial Council Chambers is that they shpuld be set apart for a public library,. - and reading room.’ a

CYCLONE T& THE SOUTH SEAS. Auckland, March 22. The schooner Blanche brings news from Rorotonga of a dreadful hurribane at Paumato. 'Five' bundled.lives were lost, and many vessels wrecked. A correspondent} writing from Rorotonga. March 5, says“ One of the Society’s vessels arrived from Tahiti, reports thaji one. of the Paumato Lagoon Is;lands, named, .Anau, hao been completely swept by li hurricane or tidal :!Wa y^ - } trees, Atores, a&d inhabitants dll gone, Mr'Boosie, trading agent, for Messis Brauders, Tahiti, escaped witliia few others. The greater portion, of the group is devastated. Between 400' and 500 lives were lost, besides several vessels. ’’

An eye witness at Papete write*:— “ The sea rose oyer the land sweeping away everything. We retreated to the highest point about twenty fefit above the sea, level. Fortunately the cyclone abated when the water was within 2ft of us. The Tahiti Governmeni sent a man-of-war to the isiand of Kankora, which suffered most, losing 117 people and all boats. Brandera lost three schooners, one cutter, and-twelve small boats, besides the.whole establishment at Anan. The cyclone continued from the ,7th Fehuary to [lie Bth.” L ATEST UNPUBLISHED. Wellington, March 23. Arrived the ship Lanarkshire from London, 103 days passage, with a full cargo. Christchurch, March 23. The Lyttelton Harbor Board have unanimously decided, not to undertake to pay a pro-rata share of the expense of Sir John Coodes visit to New Zealand as suggested by the Government. The Board do not think it necessary to consult Coode, respecting the Harbor works.

Port Chalmers, March 23. The ship Piako has sailed for Loudon with a cargo valued at £131,934 ; and besides the usual colonial produce of wool, tallow, etc., there are 200 tons of manganese ore, and a case of ambergris on board. NAPIER RACES. Napier, March 23. Handicap Hurdle Race.—'The Agent, 1; Express, 2 ; Shan rock, 3. 2. A protest was made against Mufti for crossing. It was allowed and the stakes given to Lara.

Hawke’s.Bty Plate.—Mufti, 1; Lara, Provincial Produce Stakes. Lady Elizabeth, 1; Day and Martin, 2. Tradesmens Handicap, of 100 sovs. Lunna, I ; Foam, 2; twelve started. There was a splendid race, the first six horses passing the post in a cluster. Won by half a neck.

TIMARU RACES. Timaru. March 23

Gup Handicap, of 175 sovs., 2J miles.— Montana, 1; Bide-a-wee, 2 ;

Hippocampus, 3. Time 4 mins. 9 secs. Handicap Hurdle Race of 80 sovs. 2£ miles,—-Shillelagh, 1: Theodore, 2. Time 6 mins. Tradesmen’s Plate.—Templeton, 1: Ariel, 2. v >. > A private match between Ravenchell’s Bake, and Nilsan’s Moose for £25, was won by Moose. Consolation Stakes. Luna, 1 ; Titania, 2.