LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 713, 11 January 1879, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, January 10. It is ascertained tliat the cause which led to the recommendation that Welsh’s sentence should be commuted to imprisonment for life was the mental condition of the prisoner when he committed the murder. The Customs revenue for the first financial half-year amounts to £682,084:, which shows an increase on the estimates of the Colonial Treasurer of about £45,000. The Ch-onicle says the Hon. Mr Sheehan had no intention of present at the Ngatimanipoto meeting, unless at the earnest solicitations of the Natives.

Great changes in the Land Transfer Department. The officers of I’eaistrar, Examiner, and Deputy of Stamps, are to be combined aii far as passible in Dunedin. Dunklin, Jammy 10. • At a meeting of ilia directors of. the Colonial Bank of New Zealand to-day, if, was decided to recommend . the proprietors at a meedns to .be held on the 39th instant, to declare a dividend of B;per cent., and add £6OOO to tin; reserve fund, making a total of £42.000. The breach of nromi.se case. liavf«r.l

v. Camithers, c ime before the Supreme| Court to-day. On argument of a rule nisi to set aside the Judge’s order fixing the trial for the January sitting of the Supreme Court in Dunedin, the Judge reserved his judgement.

The Blneskin Show was a great succes. R. B. Fergusson is a large prizetaker in shorthorns, Peter Orr in Ayrshirea, Colborotigh in draught entires, and Messrs Colin M‘Donald in dairy produce.

Sailed—Wanaka, for north ; Easby, for Sydney via Coast. Wheat, 3s and 9d to 4s ; fowls’ feed, 3s to 3s fid; oats, 4s; feed, 3s lOd; barley, 5s fid to Gs fid ; feud, 3s fid ; hay, £6 to £6 10s; chaff, £4 10s to £5 10s; straw, £2; bran, £5; best flour (large bags), £10; small, £lO 10. s; pearl barley, £26; onions, 14s; cheese, 6|d ; bacon Bd. At a meeting of the Education Board this morning, a resolution was passed expressive of deep regret at the death of Sir John Richardson. Sir John was an active member of the Board,

Invercargill, January 10. A. plebiscitum was taken to-day to decide the water question- By a large majority it was decided by the ratepayers to empower the Town Council to borrow a sum not exceeding £IOO,OOO with which to b ring in water from Dunstable Creek. It is understood the money will speedily be raised and the works prosecuted with the utmost vigor.

Christchurch, January 10. Mr Varley, preacher, is here addressing meetings nightly.

A number of Australian birds were liberated yesterday. They were brought by the Arawata. A spark from one of the American locomotives set tire to a grass paddock at Rangiora yesterday. The. Railway Employees’ Benefit Society, in consequence of the defalcations of the late secretary, has determined to have a paid secretary in future. The.maximum salary to be £2OO. At a public meeting last night, the Primate received the hearty congratulations of the clergy and laity on the attainment of his seventy-fifth birthday. In answering a resolution moved by Archdeacon Harper, he gave an account of the results of the Lambeth Conference, Auckland, January 10.

Taranaki team v Otabuhu—lst innings Tarranaki, 155; Otahuliu, Ist innings, 49 ; 2nd innings, 29. A man named Low died suddenly at Mangawhare of apoplexy. The Catholic cleigy have donated out of their maintenance funds £SOO for the erection of the new city schools. Dr Wood gives £IOO. The Thames Pumping Association has dismissed the manager, having no funds to carry on. Hesketh obtained a writ of habeas corpus to bring the body of Thos. Rennell, charged with the murder of Captain Moller, to test the legality of the Resident Magistrate’s commitment, returnable ou the 20th. LATEST UNPUBLISHED. Grey mouth, January 11. In the District Court to-day Reuben Toms was convicted of a common assault, and sentenced to twenty-eight days’ imprisonment in Hokitika Gaol, without hard labor.

Wellington, January 11, Air D. M. Luckie, present editor of the Post, has accepted the appointment of Commissioner of Annuities, at a salary of £BOO per annum.

New Plymouth, January 11. A bed of shelly limestone has been discovered near the coast, six miles from New Plymouth. This singular geological feature is that it crops up through tufa, and is part of an older formation. It will be valuable for mixing with the pozzuolana of the locality for making hydraulic cement.