LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 691, 14 December 1878, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[press agency.] I 1 Wellington, December 13. j It is said the General Government ' will alhnv their officers from Christmas ! day to the following Monday morning ad a holiday. A deputation; consisting of Captains Crowe, Best, and Thompsou representing the New Zealand Rifle Association, waited upon the Defence Minister to- j day to ascertain what portion of the two i thousand pounds voted by Parliament would be given to the Association; Colone'l Whitniore, in reply, said that whatever tbS Association subscribed the Government would givepodnd for pound and that any ofncerrf the.y might choose to send id Nelson WoUld have their passages ptlid. Th£ Association have to uiake their (iwn range. The deputation consider the result of the interview very satisfactory. . Grahahsto'wn, DVceniber 13. A Thames deputation, headed by Sir Geoige Grey, waited upon the Minister for Public Works to-day respecting the Thames Railway. He agreed that the work will be comnienced at both ends without unnecessary delay ■ the £30,000 voted is to be expended before Parliament meets. A suggestion has been made to Ministers that the.first sod may be turned by Sir George Grey, who will be at the Thames oft Saturday, December 31, to address' his constituents. The Hon. Mr Macahdrew and Mr Blackett ■will accompany the Premier. Wellington, December 13. By to-day's mWil his' Excellency the Governor was advised that Sir George Boweu would leave Melbourne for Mauritius by the February mail, and received instructions to be in Melbourne as soou after as' possible to replace hi in, which will probably be the end of February, not January, as was previously thought. The following is understood to be proposed at the forthcoming meeting on the Chinese question : •' That the citizens of Wellington, in public meeting assembled, desire to place on record their determination to oppose the introduction of Chinese laiior into the Colony. j "2.—That this meeting adopt to the

fullest extent the policy of anti-Chi- j nese petitions. i '" 3.—That all towns and districts in j New Zealand will he heartily welcomed to co-operate with. Wellington in the cause. LATEST UNPUBLISHED. WEiititfGTON, December 14. j The New Zealand Times referring ta statements that the office of Speaker of the Upper House would be offered to to Sir W. Fitzherbert says, its staW merita should be not assumed to be authoritative, and that in this particular matter its conjecture was premature ; and that not only has no such offer been in contemplation, but the Government have not yet considered the most fitting successor to the late speaker. ..„,,.. ( It is M'r S\heeliHn will on|y stay an hour or two in- Wellington, after arriving frqrn the West Coast, but will ptpceed to Auckland with the utmost despatch to coufer with the Premier.. ~ InvErcargill, December 14. Welsh pleaded not guilty to murdering hid wife, and the trial occupied the Court all day. move witnesses for the prosecution are to be examined and the case is likely to. last another day. ■ . Deveraaux stable, store, and saddler's shop, at Winton, have been, burnt tlbwii. j Dunedin, December 14. At the annual breaking op of the Christian Brothers School, Bishop Moran stated that the Catholics had, within the last year, in Dunedin expended £160,000 on education, exclusive of school fees ; and, v .thut the Dunedin Catholic Schools -Were now attended by nearly 800 children. , He complained of injustice of the Government towards the Catholic school, and said the Catholics would never a j ase to agitate until they got their rights at the hands of the Government.