LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 705, 2 January 1879, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[press agency.]

Auckland, December 31

The Grand Lodge; of the Independent Order of Good Teni piers holds its annual session in Waikato.

: Major Kemp, of Wanganui, and other j influential chiefs have gone to Waij kato to prepare for Sheehan's meeting j with the Kingites next month. | The friends of Sheehau at the j Thames propose giving him a banquet. j The County Council have raised the Mayor's salary from £l5O to £250.

A satisfactory trial of M'Cormick and Woods' reaper and binder machine took place to-day. The dead body, of a man was discovered this morning lying outside, a house in Rutland road. From enquiries made by the police, deceased was a single man named John Ke.nnelly. ; He was found directly under the door of the house where he lodged. In order to reach the door he. had to mount an embankment, and it is surmised he was drunk, and in attempting to reach the house he fell backwards? He had a severe gash on the back of the head, which bled freely. He had a latch key in his hand, and some silver. One Geor e saw him, aud spoke to deceased last night; saw nothing unusual in his manner. He was also seen drinking at 12.30 this morning, slightly intoxicated. The Taranaki cricketers arrived and received a warm recepii-m. Du.vedin, December 31. Three pounds of quartz from ihe. reef at lliudon, ou beiuu; crushed, have

yielded at the rate of 7ozs to the ton. M'Pheis >n, an engineer of experience in the Welsh qii irries, has reported favourably on the quarries of the Otago Slate Company. . It is stated that such is Ihe wear and tear on the Dunediu and Christchurch railway line that it will ;-joou hive to he re-laid with steel rails. There are numerous applications for the Vacancy in the Girls' High School. A proposal to purchase the Dunediu

! Peninsular and Ocean Beach Railway ! has been made by the prom >ters of the j Portohello Tiamway Company. The construction of the line cost £l-4.600, J and it is now valued at £17.000, A ; resolution has been parsed by the conv 1 piny expressing its willingness to S"ll in the event of the agreement not beirttf , arrived at by the company, it bein" intended to turn their line into a tram, the cba-ges m id-; by. the Government I for working it being unduly high. j The Education B >ard is making j vigorous eff»rts during the holi lays to provide as far as the funds at its' dis--1 posal will permit for the erection of a I new school in Dunediu and enlar"in" j the old one. Wellington, December 31. i It is understood that a deputation ! of members of the Wellington Press : will shortly wait upon the Minister of I Public Works with a view of urging j upon hi in the propriety of ; ing his or ler prohibiting the railway passes to the P-e s of ihe "olony. ; Mr Hiiny An lerso ■•, of the Chronicle, waited upo.i the Gov.-rnin.nt this morning io notify that a deputation ' would wait upon them shortly regard in" passes for the Press on railways. Mi.- (I .vernm ut promised to eon-

tii.ue for the next twelve months a sysj tem of allowing one free railway pass i to each newspaper. The Government estimate the expense of the laid i-a nation f., r the H'st : year will be b'tweeu ten and twelve < thousand pounds, but that, as subse- ; cpiont valuations will only be made I every third \ ear, the excuse will be 1 comparatively light.

[NEW ZEALAND PItKSS ASSOCIATION.] Kaiapoi, January 1. The New Year's Day was celebrated here by a general holiday, horse races, athletic sports, and fire brigade demonstration. The races were largely attended, and were **ery successful. The Fire Brigade torchlight procession and the fireworks, in the evening were also a success.

Christchurch, January 1. There was splendid weather for the holiday here.

The Christchurch Press newspaper appeared to-day at a penny. Railway communication on the Southern line is partly restored. It will .occupy a week to fully repair the flood damages.

Auckland, Jauuary 1 The New Year was ushered in by the shipping with a display of fireworks, in which the Hinetnoa was especially conspicuous. During the excitement a Mrs Brick wood fell off the wharf, but clutched a lifebuoy and was rescued. The day was observed as a close holiday, and the town emptied of people who have gone to Ellerclie races, and Taranaki cricket match.

At a meeting of footballers, re the proposed visit of an English team to the Colonies, it was agreed to endeavour to raise .£250 towards expense fund,