LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 697, 21 December 1878, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[press agency.]

Balclutha, December 20.

The last rail in Proudfoot's contract — Balclutha to Clinton—was laid this afternoon. An engine with one carriage from Clinton arrived at Balclutha station at four o'clock. Of course ballast and fittings are required before the line is ready for traffic. Reefton, December 20. There was great excitement at the County Council to-day. The following are the number of votes polled :—Brennan, 218; M'Gaffin, 214; Davis, 211. Brennan and M'Gaffin are therefore returned. Auckland, December 20. The Hannah Mokau, on her way to Auckland from Mokau, used four tons of Mokau River coal. She loaded at the bank of the river in deep water from an outcrop in the bank. The engineer states that it is good coal, has good steaming qualities, with little sulphur, and burnsv to a fine ash, with no clinkers. It is equal to the best Waikato coal. The early closing movement is making progress. The consent of 56 drapers and clothiers has been secured to open on Friday night and close at two p.m. on Saturday's. A deputation to the G. M. Railway will request that the late train on Saturday night be altered to Friday night, also that the buss proprietors run late busses on Friday nights. The general public will be asked to co-operate. A Canterbury capitalist is investing I £20,000 in Waikato. | At the Police Court to-day, Thomas 1 Russel was again brought up charged with ! the murder of Charles Moller on 7th I October, at Butaritari. Mr Brookfield, i Crown Prosecutor, argued that the Court j had power to take preliminary evidence under the Pacific Islands Act. MrHesketh, for prisoner, contended that the offence, ■ not being committud within the limits of Fiji, the Court had no power to take evidence. The Court ruled, and said the Act intended to apply to all persons in the Pacitio Islands, and it would therefore ta'ce evidence. At the conclusion of the e t-idence, Mr Hosketh argued the Court

had no potter to commit the prisoner under the powers delegated under the Foreign Offenders Act, 1863. The Bench ruled that according to the interpretation of the Act, the limits meant longitude and latitude, including all small islands, and committed prisoner to gaol to await the Governors pleasure in sending him to Levuka.

The Hinenioa, with the Premier, arrived at 1.15 to-day. The Mayor of Auckland and Councillors, and a large number of ladies and gentlemen, were n> vited to accompany the Premier. to the • Thames to be. present at the turning of the first sod of the railway. The Hinemoa leaves Auckland at four o'clock to-morrow morning. Mr Macandrew is expected from Waikato by a late train. It is not Bettled whether he will accompany the Premier to the Thames. Several deputations are awaiting his return to.interview him tomorrow respecting the re-opening of the Kaipara Railway. The Hinemoa returns to Auckland on Monday, where the expected Ministers will confer prior to visiting Waikato to arrange with Rewi the preliminaries of the native meeting. Wellington, December 20. . The Corporation expenditure in connection with the Queen's Wharf and kerosene store for the past year is £17543 ; waterworks, £17825 ; drainage, £2068 ; soavengering, £IO9B ; street lighting,. £1532 . street watering, £545 ; general works on streets, £24230; authorised on "streets, £5745.

A complimentary address has been presented by the passengers of the ship Hermoine to the Captain, officers, Surgeon and Matron for their kindness and attention during the voyage. The ship Jessie Readman which left last evening got into difficulties beating out of the Heads, and had to anchor. While in no danger now she would be in a dangerous position if a southerly gale were to spring up. It has been found that the extension of the hours of labor in connection with the Custom-house has not been taken advantage of to any great extent, and it is not considered necessary. The Post says it not improbable that the Government will-return to the old hours before long. An attempt ia to be made next week to get the Hyderabad off Horowhneua beachj all her cargo except about 300 tons having been landed. H.H. Sappho is expected here from Sydney early next week.

LATEST UNPUBLISHED;

Westport, December 21. : •''• - The men employed on the Government work cutting the new channel in the Buller river are paid Is 6d per hour, working ten hours daily, the Engineer *'. • f. t ■ being anxious to get the work expedited. '■ '■- When the channel is finished, small steamers will be able to get up the river:,' :: several mile 3 further than is now possible.. Wellington, December 21: '■''■■■"' ( - ' The Government wrote on the 14tK ; •; inst. to the Government of New South '> "» Wales to enquire what space weiild be 5 ••■ i available for New'ZeaFand at the forthcoming Exhibition to be held ; in Syditey.•■<• No reply has yet been received. The Chamber of Commerce have hd(\ -a' ' ; ; ' A communication from the Board 'of Trade * of the Dominion of Canada, suggesting that delegates from the Chambers of Commerce in all the British Colonies .should .. meet in London in the course of next" I i year. .' , **~ All the patients on the Quarantine Island are progressing favorably with the* exception of two, and of these there is': u. "■) little hope.