LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 601, 31 August 1878, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[press agency.]

Ohristohubch, August 30. A fire broke out in Manchester street at five o'clock this morning, nearly opposite the site of the fire the night before. .A strong wind was blowing at the time. Four shops were destroyed before the flames were extinguished. Insurance—South British, ~£lOsO on stock and furniture, £IOO on the pledges, of Alexander, the pawnbroker ; London and Lancashire, £3OO on the buildings; Victoria, £IOO on the stock of Green, the di-aper. The other two shops were occupied by Shannon, bookseller, and Hyams, a general dealer. The lire commenced at the pawnbroker's, who was absent at Timaru. EE» estimates his loss at £BOO over and above .the insurances. There is some suspicion of incendiarism.

vOhristcharch wheat market is very depressed; no ; business doing. Quotations nominal—Flour, £ll to £l2; bran and sharps, £5 5s and £6 6s respectively; hams and bacon, 7^l; butter, lid ; cheese, 6id ; potatoes, £4 los'to£s. "

• Wanganui, August 30. . - .The employees on the Manawatu and •Wanganui railway have agreed to form a Provident Society on the basis of the ..plan in operation in England on the great railway works. It is considered desirablt* that all the employees on the •North Island railways should combine in, .forming such a Society. A committee was appointed to communicate with the men on the other sections of the railway works. Invercargill,' August 30. The Southland Times, on the Public Works Statement, points out to-day how Parliament is hoodwinked by Ministerial promises in the expenditure of such an enormoiw sum in eight years, and that if such power be trusted to the Ministry it will be tantamount to making provisions for wholes-ale bribery of constituencies. It reccomends that thn progress of the contemplated works be defined by Act of Parliament, ho as to obviate- the possibility of corrupt pressure for priority of contraction. The Times asks how it is that the Otautau-Nightcap railway, already undertaken by a private company, should have be-n. included amongst other, public works.