LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1461, 3 June 1881, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[new ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Jane 1, Mr Proudfoot now offers to sell his tramway to the County Council at the modest sum of £130,000. The offer was not entertained. Judgment in the Tararna inquiry will be positively given on Friday. Ross, the prisoner who escaped, was sentenced to six months for the offence. A cabman named Brennan was found drowned in Pelichet Bay to-day. It is believed to be a case of suicide owing to domestic disagreement. Christchurch, June 1. There are six competitors for the Agricultural Scholarship; three from Christchurch* two from Nelson, and one from Dunedin. June 2. A nnmbeT of gentlemen in Christchurch are now in Communication with the patentee of the Edison Electric Light, with a view to the formation of a company to supply Christchurch and New Zealand generally with the electric light. Auckland, June 1. A fire occurred in Graham street in a house occupied by Anderson, of the Metropolitan Hotel, and did serious damage to a four-roomed wooden cottage which is owned by Mrs Shepherd. The property is insured in the Victoria office for £3OO. Trustworthy information has been received that the detached squadron will visit Auckland, being due there on 28th June. The vessels will remain there at least five days and then go to Fiji. The Chinese by the Arawata were lodged in the shanties belonging to their countrymen in the city. Napier, June 1. The district school building at Kaikora has been totally destroyed by fire. It was insured for £4OO in the South British. The risk is divided between

fourteen offices forming the Napier Insurance Association, which has taken over all the Board schools in the district.

DISASTROUS FIRE AT TAURANGA. Tauranga, June 1. Shortly after eight o’clock last night an alarm of fire was raised, and it was immediately found that Lee’s store in the south end of the Strand was in flames. The door was broken in, and chain of buckets established from the sea to the building, and an attempt made to extinguish the flames, but without success. A large body of flames soon enveloped the whole front of the building, making it impossible to do anything to check the progress of the flames. The occupants of the adjoining premises proceeded at once to remove goods. <fec., but the fire spread so rapidly that little could be saved. Menzies’ Hotel was the next large building to catch, and immediately afterwards the Bay of Plenty Times Office was in flames’. Wrigley’s new store adjoining this building* although divided by strong brick wall, was soon one blazing mass, and the whole block with the exception of some stables, and a grain store was completely gutted; Some handsome buildings on the opposite side, Harrington street, occupied by R. C. Jordan* and a building belonging to Mr Chadwick, and the Mechanics* Institute, Were also destroyed, the heat being so great that no effort could be made to save them. Among other places destroyed are Rhode’s store and boot shop, M‘Kenny’s boarding house, Mr Banner’s and Mr Ellis’s boot shops, and Mr Burrow’s stationery depot; also several small dwelling houses. The Bay of Plenty Times has taken new offices, and will stop only one issue, publishing as usual on Saturday. Large numbers of Maoris were in town and rendered great assistance, and to the promptness of Mr Asher, fire inspector, may be attributed, in a great measure, the saving of Wrigley’s grain store. The origin of the tire is not yet known, but it is supposed a kerosene lamp was left lighted in the building and exploded, or set fire to goods hanging over it. The loss is estimated at over £30,000.