LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1460, 2 June 1881, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[new ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.!

Wellington-, May 31, The meeting of the delegates from the County Councils in the various parts of the Colony, meet here to-mor-row to consider several questions relating to the working of governing bodies. June 1. The captain of the steamer Wakatu, which arrived from Wanganui this afternoon, reports that a saloon passenger named Miss Amy Cochrane was lost overboard last night. She left the bridge last night, as the captain thought, to go to the ladies’ cabin. When the steward went to call her this morning, she was missing. Telegrams from the Inspector of Police at Wanganui state her body was picked up in that I'iver at noon to-day. It is not known how she got in the water. Complaints are made of delay in tendering the San Francisco mail steamer at New Plymouth last night, she having been detained eleven and a-half hours.

Nelson, May 31. Mr H. Levestam addressed a crowded meeting last night. He favored liberal and secular education, bnt said the administration of the Education Act was too extravagant. He opposed the Property and Beer Taxes, advocating an Income and Land Tax on a sliding scale. He applauded Grey’s liberal measures, but censured him for certain actions. He said the present Government were not Liberals, and did not deserve the credit for economy which was given them. He charged them with dishonesty regarding the District Railways Bill. He opposed the re-dis-tribution of seats on a population basis. A vote of thanks was carried ; also, a motion that he was a fit and proper person to represent the constituency, Auckland, May 31. John Woodhouse, an old identity, is dead. He was formerly manager of the Bank of New South VValig Auckland, resigned through ill-health. Among the passengers for Fiji by the Southern Gross weie John Ewart Gladstone, nephew of the British Premier, and Marsham, a relative of Lord Exmouth.

News has been received, via Fiji, that a terrible massacre has occurred at the Line Inlands. The London Missionary Society had established a station there under a Sandwich Islander named Kabu. The natives at the southern part of the island became dissatisfied with the missionary’s demand for copra, and apostatised; Kabu preached a crusade against the heretics, and, aiming llis followers, attacked the defenceless people. The carnage was almost incrediLle, 3000 women and children being ruthlessly massacred. Atrocities were committed on the bodies, which were then piled on the beach and combustible material plac-d over them, which Kabu fired with his own hand. Kabu has since been taken to Honolulu to answer for his conduct. Timaru, May 31. M. W. Bcswick, late Acting Chief Postmaster here, was presented to-day, on the eve ot his departure for Westport, with a purse of 50 sovs., as a mark of esteem on the part of the citizens.