LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1053, 14 February 1880, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[united press association.] / J . Nelson, February 12. A very handsome sword was presented to Major Pitt last night, by the battery of Artillery. The Bishop of Nelson, chaplain of the corps, made the presentation in a suitable speech, and there were a large number of people present. The cable was joined last night, and the Kangaroo went on to Nelson. She left again for Wellington at six o’clock this morning. Dunedin, February 12. The current sessions of the Free Thought Association was opened in the hall of the Athenaeum last night. Mr South, president, delivered an address on “ Inspiration.” Over 200 persons were present. The body of the man found floating

in Ihewater near Grants Brae’s yesterday has been identified as that of Walter Rice, believed to be a recent arrival from Tasmania. There were several slight punctured wounds on the left side of the neck, and a handkerchief was tied round the throat as though, after attempting to cut his thr >at, he had repented of the deed for a time, and then determined to drown himself, He must have died by drowning, as the cuts on his neck were slight. At the Harbor Board meeting to-day the bank book laid on the table showed a credit balance of £25,296 3s Bd. Auckland, February 12. Another batch of Dempsey’s men got judgments to-day for wages. Mr Riccardi, the First Lord ot the Admiralty in “ H.M.S. Pinafore,” did not get away from Auckland in peace, being sued in the R.M. Court yesterday for three pounds, under the following circumstances. Plaintiff in this case is a lodginghouse-keeper, and defendant is a gentleman of distinction on the operatic stage, and one Karl Richley, a musician, applied to the plaintiff for board and lodging. Plaintiff would not give it without a guarantee for payment, and Mr Riccardi guaranteed that. Richley did not pay, as he said he would. Nothing more was heard of the matter until the bailiff presented himself on the outgoing steamers with a summons warrant. Mr . Riccardi paid £6 into Court as security for the defendant, and costs. Judgment was given for plaintiff, with costs, Christchurch, February 11. His Excellency and Lady Robinson arrived and. went south immediately. There was no demonstration of any kind. , Henry Marks was summoned to-day for Sunday trading under, the wellknown Act of Charles 11. The defence was that the Act did not apply to modern times, and especially to the colonies, any more than others equally old, and which were also nnrepealed, by which scolding wives were to be publicly ducked. The R. M. took time to consider his judgment. At the inquest on the man M'Millan, evidence showed that he died not from the wound in his throat, but from'a severe attack of dysentery. About four o’clock to-day, as some children were playing about on the river bank terrace, two of them fell into the river. A man from .H.M.S. Cormorant, now in port, was passing at the time, and pluckily jumped in and rescued them. WAIRARAPA RACES. Wellington,, February 12. MAIDEN PLATE. Pourere ... ... ... 1 Papawai... ... ... 2 Merino ... 3 February 13. At the second day’s races, there was glorious weather; but the attendance was much smaller than yesterday. HURDLE HANDICAP. ■ Tamati (Murray’s) ... 1 Pourere (Murray’s) ... 2 Te Whetu (Butler’s) ... 3 THE CHESSrIiANPICAP TOUR. namenT.- ♦ The chess handicap tournament is showing signs of its near completion, Mr Ball having come up with a rash lately, winning 11 games in succession since we last published the totals. His progress to first position was checked, somewhat unexpectedly, last night, when Mr Moss, to whom he had to concede rook' and: two moves, defeated him after a three hoars’ contest. This youthful player exhibited excellent skill during the game, playing equal to a third-class competitor, and never making a mistake throughout. We append the totals of the three probable winners of the three prizes, who are all in the second class : Competitors. Won, Lost. No. class il to play. Scott ... 194 4* 4 Ball 22* 4* 1 Petrie ... 23 4 1 It will be seen that the scores of these three competitors are so close as to make the result excessively .interesting. Messrs Ball and Petrie have only one game to play—that between themselves, and the result is looked forward to with much interest \ they have arranged to play it on Monday evening next, should Mr Petrie win, he will take first prize. Mr Ball and the Rev. Mr Scott are at present a tie, but the former can only lose one game now, whilst the latter gentleman baa four games yet to play, and could by losing the four be defeated by . several other players. Should Mr Ball win with Mr Petrie, M.r Scott would then again have a chance of first place, as he ties Mr Ball. We purpose publishing the full score of the tournament in tabular form as soon as the result is positively known.'