LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 859, 2 July 1879, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[press agency.] Wellington, July 1. It is understood that the Governor is opposed to all the chief items in the liueral programme, including manhood suffrage, triennial Parliaments, and payment of members. It is even said that Sir Hercules would like to see Ministers have absolute tenure for four years. July 2, 11.40 a.m. The s.s. Pa tea has just left with 25 Constabulary for Patea. Robert Sheaier was brought up this morning, charged with brutally assaulting his paramour, Rebecca Stewart. The woman was frightfully knocked about, and her injuries are so bad that she was unable to appear at Court. Shearer was remanded for a week.

the native difficulty. Wellington July 2, 2.7 p.m. There was a deal of excitement in town this morning by a report current that shooting had commenced at Hs wera. The report originated among the town Maoris, Government having no information. An urgent message sent to tfawera brought the followin'* reply;

ri “ Hawera. July 2, 10.4-3 a.m. “ Til me is no truth v liatever in the report ibat fighting has commenced. Ploughing has not been resumed. Te Wliiti says that ploughmen having uoi-n imprisoned, his prophecy is ended. This is taken to mean that the matter passes into other hands now. which is supposed to be Titokowarau’s,”

[NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.] THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY. New Plymouth, July 1, 6.25 p.m. The Native prisoners here are committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court, which will be held on the 17th July. Tito Kowaru says he intends ploughing land, but does not want to injure the settlers—his fight is with the Government. Noon. The Native ploughers were brought from gaol about 11 o’clock and marched through the town between a large escort of police to the Court House. The Crown Prosecutor is prosecuting them. The indictment is now being read to them. Hawera, July 1. The ploughing is again postponed another day. The Maoris seem to appreciate the fun of putting a pakeha in suspense. Mr Cameron, living a mile and ahalf from Hawera inland, was threatened and warned by a well-known bully named Tagorangi, of Kekehemtia, an adjacent small settlement. Cameron has sent letters to the authorities. 1 his man should be arrested at once ; he has lung been a source of anxiety to the settlers, and now in these anxious times his bounce is unbearable. It would save much future trouble if he were at once arrested. Great indignation at a reliable . report that the men are not to be employed upon railway works immediately between this and Kaitamaru. The Government promised definitely that the men should be at once employed. Our main chance for peace rests on putting on a bold front. If they keep up I have no anxiety. The Maoris will realise the hopelessness of an armed rebellion. More men to preserve peace, more men absolutely wanted in the event of war. The Tito Kawaru lot are very dark, but I don’t think they want to create alarm ; I don’t think they will come and plough ; if they come the end of suspense is at hand, and the dark chapter begins. The old situation is surrounded with mystery beyond ordinary reason. I am still inclined to favor the prospect of peace if Government w ould but push. GREAT STORM IN CANTERBURY, AND LOSS OF LIFE. Timaeu, June 29. South Canterbury was visited yesterday by one of the heaviest falls of rain that the oldest inhabitants remember. It commenced to rain at midnight on Friday, and continued to pour incessantly all day on Saturday, and to seven o’clock this morning doing great damage. A great deal of the railway line has been washed away, A goods train, which left Oamaru for Timaru at 11.30 last Saturday, was thrown off the line, a quarter of a mile south of Otaio, 15 miles Irom Timaru, where about 60 yards of the formation has been washed away. About 10 trucks were damaged, but no lives were lost. Mr Burnett, assistant engineer, who happened to be on the engine, the fireman, driver, and guard, had to jump off and swim. Mr Burnett, the driver, and guard left the fireman in charge, and came into Timaru on a trolly, reaching hei’3 at 7.30 a.in. During the day news was received that 400 yards of the line were washed away at Pareroa 10 chains to the south and 10 chains to the north of Pareroa. The formation on Albury is washed away in three different places. The Christchurch line is considerably damaged at Washdyke, Temuka, Selwyn., Linwald, Wakia, Chertsey, and Longbeach. An urgent telegram was received from Temuka this morning to send boats out to save life. The schooners Oceola, Annie Bow, and Seabird were also coming ashore when the wind changed, and enabled them to get well away to sea. June 30. To-day the bodies of Captain and Mrs Watt, and two of the seamen of the Akbar were recovered, but that of the fifth person lost, the ship’s boy, is still missing. They were all naked, and terribl}’- bruised. ■ The body of the sailor M £ Ewen, belonging to the Beautiful Star, who was drowned by a boat capsizing on Satuiday, was also recovered. 'i he schooner Pelican is still perfectly uninjured, but she will be abandoned to the underwriters. Tlie floods are tapidly abating. The damage lo the railway line, live stock, and property is immense. The r»wav traffic will he suspended several days. Messrs Blackett, Biair, and Lowe, engineers, arc here, and are making every CForL to restore communication. Weather again threatening to-night. July 1. The weacner is again beautifully calm and frosty, and the barqueutiue

Geo. Noble ami two brigantines, supposed to bo Oicola and Sea Bird, are returning to the roadstead. The iloods are rapidly subsiding, and mail communication with Chrßtchurch and OamarU is expected to lie re-opened tomonoW. Trains will not run fur a day or two, and communication with up County districts almost entirely suspended.