TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 5, 25 February 1871, Page 8

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

MAETON, February 24. In the District Prize Firing, 2nd set, Lieut. J. Scott, Royal Rangitikei Volunteers, 15 shots; 300 yards, 19; 400, 17 ; 500, 17 ; total, 53. AUCKLAND, February, 19. The returns for the Rodney election are—Farnell, 190 ; Shepherd, 115. The correct majority of McLeod over Carieton, at the Bay of Islands, was 68. The native recently wounded at Piron; gia was Tamati Tokiana, one of Armitage’s murderers, in 1863. Waata Taki has broken into the Mission House at Aotea, but allowed the removal of Rev. Mr Schnackenburg’s books. :V1 . An inquest on the fire of the City of Auckland has been held, and an open verdict returned. Considerable excitement still exists in the share market, hut it is scarcely warranted. . . February 21. * A man has just died from brain disease, caused by excitement occasioned by the rise in the Caledonian shares. The excitement in the share market is much calmed. s TAURANGA, February, 21. * The Caledonian for the week's crushing Had 80 tons, including 2 tons of specimens, yielding 7779 ounces. Bush fires are still very destructive. There has been immense damage.

Several thousand tons of firewood and mining timber have been burnt. There was a narrow escape of three crushingmills; one was destroyed by a tree which fell.

A man has been drowned in the Thames by rolling off the deck of a cutter while asleep. The body has not been recovered. In the share market there is a slight decline. , The King’s delegate to the Ohmemuri says the mail is decreed to be stopped.. The natives are indignant at the King’s interference. Commissioner Clarke and the contractor start to-day to support the friendlies. Great excite.ment is felt. February 22. The Caledonian yield for the week was over 7000 ounces. Shares are £55. There have been rich finds. Share quotations are—Belfasts, 255; Waitematas, 10s; Tookeys, £5. A destructive bush fire on the ranges, and several houses have been burnt. NAPIER, February, 20. A fire broke out at 4 a.m„ and destroyed a group of five shops in Shakespeare road, opposite Barry’s, blacksmith. An inquest will be held. „ • February 22. An inquest was held on the fire last night. An open verdict was found. The Rifle match came off to-day— Napier versus Wanganui—twelve members each. Ranges 400, 500, and 600 yards; five shots at each range. Wanganui, 476 ; Napier 462. Stubbs, a Napier volunteer, scored 48. CHRISTCHURCH Feb. 20. An inquest has been held on the body of a woman named M‘Leod, who was stabbed by her husband a few days ago. The evidence went to show that the husband was jealous. A verdict of “ wilful murder” was returned. DUNEDIN, February, 20. At the Mount Ida election Macassey polled 79; Pratt, 69 ; Mervyn, 217; Hertslett and Bremer retired in favor of Mervyn through the influence of Laughton. Bishop Moran was welcomed by the various congregations of the province, and was presented with addresses. He complains bitterly of the misrepresentation by the press of the Ecumenical Council.

The Synod closed on Saturday. The -next session will be held in Wellington. February, 21.

Superintendency election :—Macandrevv, 3001; Reid, 2812. Twenty returns have come in. February, 22. Macandrew’s present majority is 235. There are only two small returns yet to come in, and they cannot reduce it materially. The Banshee, 76 tons, owned by Guthrie and Asher, struck Danger Rock, off Waikouaiti, on Monday night, and is a total wreck. The captain escaped, but the crew of five were drowned, The vessel had a cargo of timber from Pelorus, and was fully insured. The captain arrived in town to-night. February. 23. Arrived—Ship Harvest Home, from Liverpool. Scarlet fever, imported by the passengers pier Robert Henderson, has broken out at Invercargill, Switzer’s, and Beaumont.

All the returns are in. Macandrew, 3270; Reid, 2958. In Regina v Barton, before Mr Strode, R.M., Mr Macassey objected to the case going on, pending argument in the Supreme Court, but the Magistrate declined to stop. There are some forty witnesses to be examined. To-day the examination was confined to Campbell, manager ; and Murison, the present editor, and a few unimportant witnesses.

The crew of the Banshee consisted of the master, Able Bent; mate; Walsh, cook; and two seamen, named Alexander and Murphy. When she struck the crew took to the boat, which capsized. The master and Murphy clung to the boat, until the latter sunk from exhaustion. The master was in the water for seventeen hours, and was cast ashore at Tumai. Mr Wallace visited the . wreck yesterday, and reports that she is fast breaking up. There were no signs of the men; and no doubt they perished. Otago University opens in June. Dr Black has been appointed to the Professorship of Natural Science. ; There were; twenty-three candidates.