LATEST TELEGRAMS

Kumara Times, Issue 688, 11 December 1878, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS

[press agency.] Nklson, December 10. In reply to a letter from the Mayor, the Public Works Department state that plans and specifications for the extention of the main trunk x’ailway from Foxhill will be ready for tenders to be invited in February, The Good Templar Lodge has been engaged all the afternoon in disscussing the reports of officers. Wellington, December 10. The Chronicle is informed that the Government do not contemplate holding the next session of Parliament at Christchurch. No vote having been taken, they decline taking the responsibility of the expenditure on their shoulders. It also says it is, rumoured that Government intends taking active measures to prevent the influx of Chinese to the Colony, and it is probable the Government will bring in a Bill next session imposing a poll-tax upon them of £2O per head. Mr Stout, who goes South to-day, to address his constituents, will verj probably make some statement in reference to the matter. Judgment was given this morning in the Southminster inquiry. The Court held the loss of the ship was attributable to the set of a flood tide on the coast, of which the master had no knowledge, and regarding which appears a note on the Admiralty chart stating there is no tide. It is thought the ship might have been saved if the anchor had been let go in 25 fathoms ; hut with the offing the ship had, and the wind, the master was justified by keeping his course, which would have carried him clear but for adverse circumstances ; and the Court thought all precaution and diligence was exercised by the master, who was on deck nearly tbe whole time from Lyttelton. Under the circumstances, the Court did not consider the certificates of the master and his officers should be retained. The Court directed the attention of the Government to the incorrect information (according to Captain Fraser’s evidence) in the charts published by the Admiralty in 1857 and 1870, and now in use. Auckland, December 10. A nine-roomed house, occupied by Frederick King, Symonds street, was totally destroyed by fire. Very Ibtle furniture was saved. The house, which was insured for £2OO, was owned by Mr Guthrie. At a meeting of grocers’ assistants in favor of early closing, the report showed that 69 masters had signed in favor of a Saturday half holiday, after 2 o’clock. # Father Hennebery has closed his mission. He collected £llOO for church purposes. The mail steamer Australia arrived from Sydney with the outward mails for San Francisco, after a passage of four days and eight hours. r Dunedin, December 10. The Public Works Department are about to commence the survey of a branch line of railway to Catlin’s River; and will also shortly cull for tenders for the first section of the Otago Central Railway. LATEST UNPUBLISHED. Auckland, December 11. The Hinemoa went to Kawan vesterda}', to convey Sir George Grey to the Thames.