LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1719, 3 April 1882, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[new ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.! Christchurch, March 31. Joubert and Twopenny write to the Star as follows :—“ Sir, —we always pay our debts more readily and cheerfully, of course, when they are debts of gratitude to our architect or contractor, and more particularly to the workmen engaged in the building we are having erected in Hagley Park. We wish to tender our thanks to their zeal and co-operation. It is indeed a fact worth making known that the main transept of the Exhibition building, a structure 333 feet long, 94 feet wide, and 26 feet high to wall plates, has been substantially and exceedingly well put up in a marvellous short space of time, viz., 48 working hours. Many of our friends who visited the Exhibition building on Saturday last will remember the gap between the New Zealand and foreign courts. In the time above mentioned the transept has been put up, and is now being painted preparatory to hanging the pictures. Arrangements have been made for using the electric light at the Exhibition, The art gallery will be so lighted amongst other portions. Mr Fletcher, in whose charge pictures for the gallery are, has just received a letter from Sir Herbert Sandford, the British representative at the Melbourne Exhibition, stating that a number of English artists, to mark their appreciation of the services he had tendered; have subscribed to present him with an honorarium of 200 guineas. He has also been presented with a bronze medal by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.” Wellington, April 2. The Customs revenue for the Colony for the year ending 31st March, is £1,471.576 3s sd. The Colonial Treasurer’s estimate was £1,345,000, so that the receipts were £126,575 3s 5d in excess of the estimate. The complete returns for the other depai tments are not yet received, but the approximate totals are Postil, £153,200, 0r£3200 in excess of the estimates; Telegraph, £73,000 or £3OOO under the estimate ; stam s department, £174.000 or £2400 above the estimate. The colonial beer duty was estimated to yield for the year £60.000; the receipts have been £58,467 5s 7d, or £1532 14s 5d below the estimate. The largest receipts for any month were £6598 15s lid for December last, the smallest were in July, £3675 14s sd. Dunedin, April 2. The Customs revenue for the year at Dunedin shows an increase of £41,148 2s over the previous year. The steamer Antrim had a very narrow escape from foundering on Wakatipu Lake. She sprang a leak, and had to return 10 miles to Queenstown. 100 sacks of grain had to be thrown overboard, and the other 300 on board were gratly damaged. The water rose within a few inches of the furnace. Another steamer went to her assistance, and brought her to the jetty at 11 p.ro. The grain was uninsured. Napier, April 2. W; H. Clayton, for obtaining L 5 by passing a valueless cheque, was sentenced irl the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday to two months’ hard labor and for paying for a pair of boots with another valueless L 5 cheque he was sentenced td four months—sentences to be cumulative. Wellington, April 2. A woman named Thornton and three of her children were takdrl ill after tea last night, and medical aid being .sought it was afcertained that they \Vete suffering from poisoning. After treatment, the doctor pronounced the patients oilt of danger. It is not yet known how they were poisoned, but the police are making inquiries into the matter. Sixty-five thousand five hundred shares have been applied for in the West Coast (North Island Railway) This is 500 above the number to be issued at present. Auckland, March 31. The Hons. Atkinson and Bryce suddenly left Matamata at 5 o’clock this morning to catch the Waikato down train, and reached Auckland to-night. It is supposed that an urgent telegram recalled them, and their mysterious movements caused considerable comment. It is stated that Atkinson’s promised trip to the northern districts will be abandoned, and both Ministers will by steamer on Monday for Wellington. * AUCKLAND ATHLETIC SPORTS. Auckland, April 1. At the athletic sports in the Domain, under the auspices of the Australian champions, 1500 were present. Two miles’ handicap walk—O’Connor 1 ; Goodman 2. Half-mile handicap race—Huxstep, 1 ; Stewart 2 ; O’Brien (scratch) 3,

1 lie 120 yards’ handicap Was won by Two hundred and 'twenty yardV race—Freeman I ; Pickering 2. One mile handicap race—O’Brien 1 > 0 Connor* 2. Time, 4min. 24sec. Ofirien raH 'ten miles m an Wr less Imin. 30aec. O’Connor offered t 6 back him to do 10J miles in the hour next week for LSO. Pickets rad splendidly k\l through.