TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 19, 3 June 1871, Page 14

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

WANGANUI, June 1. The last rivet in the Wanganui bridge was driven to-day by Mr W. H. Watt, M.P.G. The ceremony was followed by a luncheon.

The amateur burlesque performance last night was a great success. AUCKLAND, May 31. The share market shows a decline. Caledonians are quoted at £180; paid a dividend to-day of £25. Thames are quoted at £35, and paid a dividend of £4 ; Alburnia, £l2. A boat capsized at the Thames, and J. Daniels and A. Leon were drowned. G. Green clung to the boat for several hours, when he was rescued; but he died yesterday. By the census the population of the province is 62,300. Wheat, firm ; flour, £l4 10s ; southern £l4:. TAURANGA, May 26. Intimation has been received to-day that the Government are bringing influence to bear on the Hauhaus, Te Hira having permitted the mail service to commence. Great rejoicings here in consequence. The Caledonian claim is expected to yield another 20,000 ounces this week, and a dividend of £4O. There is tremendous excitement in the share market, and scrip of all kinds has risen. The Alburnia claim has struck a rich reef, and taken out splendid specimens. The Nevada has sailed with ninety passengers. Mitchell, M.P.C.. has been convicted of selling grog without a license, and fined £lO. T. Russell's protected shares in the Central Italy claim (lately jumped) have been restored. June 1. A new rifle volunteer corps paraded yesterday, under Captain Morris; it is composed principally of veteran soldiers and militia, and is a great success. The telegraph extension line is proceeding satisfactorily. Commissioner Clark and Mr Hamlin, R.M, proceeded inland yesterday on very important business. Douglass, M.P.C., has addressed his constituents, and a unanimous vote of confidence was passed. The Lord Ashley arrived at the heads at 9 a.m., and landed the mail and passengers. She steamed off immediately for Napier and Southern ports. The mail was put on board the cutter Whitby at the heads. NAPIER, May 26. Mr M'Kenna, the Wairoa mailman, was drowned in the Mohaka river on Wednesday. Mr M'Lean held a meeting of the natives at Pakowhai, on the Queen's Birthday. ' CHRISTCHURCH, May 26. The "Lyttelton Times" quotes fine samples wheat 5s to 5s 3d. holders looking for higher rates. Flour £ls net cash, good demand. Potato oats, 2s 4d to 2s 4£d. Tartarian, 2s 2d. Barley, 2s 9d to 3s 9d. Butter, 6§d to 7d; stock reducing. Cheese, 4|d. Hams and bacon readily quitted at 8-|d to 9d. CHARLESTON, May 29. Thomas M'Grath, miner, Four Mile, met with a serious accident on Saturday. A truck tipped up, throwing him off a tramway, falling a depth of sixteen feet, injuring him severely in the stomach, through coming in contact with a stump. He died this morning at 1 o'clock, at the Charleston Hospital, and an inquest will be held to-day. DUNEDIN, May 27. The unemployed at a meeting to-day adopted a petition to the Council. John M'Laren, late of Wellington, heads the movement. The Heart of Oak, crushing for the week yielded 150 ozs to fifty tons of stone. A child named Goodall was severely burnt on Thursday ; and is not likely to recover. A servant girl named Bridget Gee, murdered her newly born infant. The inquest is adjourned to allow of her being present. May 30. John Stark, a fireman at the Graving Dock, when returning to work on Saturday night, tumbled from the top to the bottom of the dock, and died yesterday.

Arrived —Helenslee, from Glasgow, yesterday. In the Council, Mr Reid moved an amendment on the address in reply, to the effect that no Ministry would be satisfactory to the country, or command the confidence of the Council, which did not at once take steps to repeal the Hundreds Regulation Act. Mr Cargill moved the adjournment of the debate, treating it as a Government question. The House refused to adjourn until it passed the amendment, which was carried by 26 to 15. Reid, Cutten, Bathgate, Bradshaw, or Mervyn, are reported as likely members of the new Government. The Tairoa has been wrecked on the Molyneux bar. The crew and cargo were saved.

The Mining Commission recommended the enactment by the General Assembly of a law preventing the influx of Chinese.

Rennie, the informant in the Clyde gold robbery case has received a free pardon. May 31.

In the new Government, Reid is Secretary; Cutten, Treasurer; Bastings, Goldfields Secretary ; Bathgate, Solicitor, and Dr. Menzies without office. It is reported that the insurance on the steamer Wairoa is vitiated through her crossing the Molyneux bar in the night. The balance sheet shows an indebtedness of the province of over £90,000, double what was owed at the end of the last financial year. June 1.

Considerable discontent has arisen amongst Reid's supporters, who are squabbling about office. At yesterday's meeting it was understood that a ministry was to be formed to-day, and had asked for an adjournment till Monday. The criminal calendar is very ligbt. The five cases are all trivial, with the exception of M'Leod's. The University Council is resolved to invite the Otago Council to a conference, with a view to amalgamation. The tenders for section ■ three of the Clutha line have been opened. Twenty were sent in, but none have yet been ac cepted. All are below the estimate. AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY. BLUFF, May 26. The Omeo left Melbourne on Saturday, the 20th, and passed the Alhambra off Swan Island at 5.45 p.m. on the 2Lst. She arrived at the Bluff at 1.30 a.m. on the 26th. Melbourne, 20th May. The Victorian budget proposes a 2£ per cent property tax increase. The tariff is generally in the direction of protection to colonial manufactures, a slight increase being placed on grain in order to meet the deficiency of £300,000 between estimated revenue and the expenditure. It is proposed to reduce the postage on town delivery letters Id, newspapers to ij-d ; intercolonial uniform to 3d. The proposal was unsatisfactory to the protectionists, and opposition was offered. The debate is unconcluded. The recent large and mysterious robberies of opium and kerosene from the bonded store have been traced to Talor, a locker, who has been committed for trial. Hugh Glass, after a long illness, died from an overdose of chlorodyne, administered to produce sleep. Flour is firm at £ls ; wheat, Victorian, 7s 3d ; Adelaide, 7s Bd. The census returns are approximate to 130,000. May 25. The Birthday levee yesterday was poorly attended. There was no accommodation for ladies and none were present. The review was the finest ever seen here, three thousand volunteers parading. The Governor was present, and there was a very large attendance of the public. A man named Alexander, belonging to the Engineer Corps, was blown to atoms through the explosion of a mine. The horrible death of Alexander caused a great sensation. His body was seen to ascend when the explosion took place. Thousands were present. The Somersetshire has arrived, fiftyfive days out. Four cases of small-pox broke out on the voyage, and she was put into quarantine.

The markets are firm, flour £l7; wheat, South Australian, 7s 8d ; New Zealand, 6s 8d ; oats, 3s 4d to 3s 7d. There have been numerous deputations to the Government against the altered tariff, principally composed of working people. They allege that it will give less encouragement to local industries. The debate on the Budget was very lengthy. Sydney, 19th May. The Assembly have passed a resolution granting £15,000 of an annual subsidy to the Californian mail service for five years. The steamer Platypus has been successfully raised. A smart shock of earthquake was felt at Mudgee on the 15th inst. May 24. The Assembly is debating the estimates. It is reported that the Russian frigate Nitray is on an exploring voyage to New Guinea. A vessel from the South Seas reported that a white woman was seen on the beach at New Britain. The birthday review and ball were successful. Dr Abeckett, brother of the first chief justice of Victoria, has died of apoplexy. The Wonga reports passing a large mast and a quantity of tanks about a hundred miles from the coast. The mate and five hands who left the wreck of the Emma Patterson in a whale boat never reached shore. The boat was found waterlogged. The census of the population of Sydney gives seventy-five thousand. Adelaide, 19th May. The Hon. Mr Parkes, of Sydney, interviewed the Government relative to Californian mail route. The press is advocating a favorable consideration of his views. A mail is to be made up for that .route on the Ist of June, Hall promising to take it gratuitously. A sericultural company is inaugurated. Bismuth is being exported. By the tariff alterations all over five per cent ad valorem duties are abolished; some unimportant articles are i» future to go free; others are promoted 10 per cent. Beer (bottled) from 6d to 9d per gallon ; an additional 6d on unmanufactured tobacco ; coffee, chocolate, cocoa, from 2d to 3d ; on grain and pulse, from 9d per hundredweight to same for cental; malt, 6d to Is ; ground or prepared grain, Is per cental; woollen piece goods, 7i per cent; slops (apparel), 12| per cent. Postal cards at a penny are to be issued.

The census is 400,000 males and 327,000 females. The estimates are strongly opposed to the protectionist party. Petitions have been presented against it from millers, distilleries, and some other manufactures. Mining business has revived in Ballarat. A proposition is spoken of for the formation of a canal company, to construct a canal, to extend from Goulburn River five hundred miles through the Murray Plains into the South Australian Lakes, the capital to be three millions. It is only in embryo at present. The subject of legislation for banking institutions has been incidentally brought before the Assembly, and the question of a national bank of issue was mooted. The proposed Californian mail route is much discussed in commercial circles. Sugars are firm at last rates. ° May 24. Tn the Government interview with Mr Parkes they urged upon him the necessity of obtaining from Sydney some concessions as regards the Suez route before coming to any decision. Wheat is firm, but there is little offering. The market is quiet. Mr Parkes interviewed the Chamber of Commerce as well as the Government with reference to the Californian mail service. Nothing decisive was done, and Parkes- left by the Coorong for Melbourne. Apprehensions are entertained regarding the safety of the clipper Columbus, 114 days out. The Queen's birthday was kept a close holiday, and a levee held, Wheat held firm at 6s Id.