LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1780, 15 June 1882, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[new ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, June 13. At the Oxford inquest one of tbe witnesses said a sudden change had been remarked in Grenfell’s conduct during tbe last few days, which none of his mates could explain. The verdict was insanity on Grenfell’s part. Nothing else now was elicited. At the Supreme Court today true hills were found in every case. Chailes Heatley, a Ud of 16, pleaded guilty of larceny; Thomas Christie pleaded guilty to forgery and uttering. Sentences were deferred. John Sullivan, aged 13, pleaded guilty to placing stones on the railway line. He was sentenced to seven days. Mark Bishop, assault with intent, was sentenced to 12 months. JoVn Thomas Healey was found guilty on one charge of n taring, and not guilty on a second charge. The prisoner pleaded to uttering only on the third count. Three other charges against him yet to be heard. Timauu, June 13. A tug will be here from Lyttelton to-morrow morning to tow off the ship City of Perth. Wellington, Jane 14 The steamship Wes r port, which left Timaru last night for Lyttelton with grain, ran ashore during the fog at 2 o’clock this morning in Horse-shoe Bay, six miles south of Akaroa light. At low water she was very dry forward, with seven fathoms astern. The lower part of the stern was twisted and broken. She has also a bole in the fore tank, and a leak in the forehold. Assistance was at once sent for to Lyttelton, and the crew set to work to jettison cargo, to enable them to g-t at the leak. During the afternoon she floated off, and proceeded to Akaroa. The full extent of the injuries is not yet ascertained. SUGGESTED GOLDFIELDS REFORMS. Wellington, June 13. The Sub-Committee of the goldfields members have made their report as to the reforms they deem desirable in goldfields legislation. The following suggestions are made by Messrs Sheehan and Wesron for the amendment of gold-, fields laws and regulations, and the codification of mining laws so as to make them universal throughout the colony:— In consolidating the existing laws, the following are to receive special consideration Protection of bona fide mining enterprise for a Reasonable period for prospecting and erection of machinery, and for perfecting arrangements for the successful working of claims ; fees and charges under the act and regulations to be uniform • procedure of both administrative and judicial departments of Warden’s office to be simplified and shortened; and to enable that to be done, additional Wardens to be appointed ; provision to be made for draining through adjoining claims and leases, and for tunneling through the claim or lead ; the condition of mining leases to be less stringent at the commencement than at the period of the holding. The provision in the Mines Act in regard to mining and agricultural leases should be analogous to those of the Waste Lands Act ; prospecting licenses alone to be granted until the ground has been tested, so as to prevent the locking up of country ; the cancellation of leases to be in all ordinary cases effected upon breach of covenant, and the procedure in regard to such cancellations to be simplified, such cancellation to he so announced as to give all the public an equal chance of taking up the ground. The scale of fees to be revised, and mineis rights, business licenses, and other duties to be lowered. The Government to purchase sites for tailings when they deem it prudent. No agricultural land adjacent to mining claims to be leased or sold. When machinery has to he erected on alknial claims, the fee to he in the discretion ot the Warden increased to 20 acivs.