TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 29, 12 August 1871, Page 7

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

AUCKLAND, August 3. The Caledonian directors met to-day, and declared a dividend of £ls. The Thames dividend is £2 ss. The Caledonian has about two tons of specimens ready' for the next crushing. A heavy snow storm passed over the city yesterday. The Alice Cameron arrived from Sydney yesterday, after a rapid passage of seven days, There is a great scarcity of coal and blasting powder at the Thames, and it is feared that a number of the companies will have to stop work next week in consequence. The City of Melbourne arrived at Sydney from Honolulu on the 24th, but without bringing any mails. The blame is attributed to the action of the New Zealand Government. NAPIER, August 7. Ropata arrived here on Saturday evening. He has had one or two of his men frozen to-death. He left again for Poverty Bay to bring his men to Wairoa, whence he will strike inland for YVaikaremoana. He is sanguine of catching Te Kooti. A writ has been issued in the Supreme Court against the proprietors of the “ Herald” at the suit of Mr Purvis Russell, of Waipukurau, sheep farmer. The damages are laid at £IOOO, and the alleged libel was contained in an article published on May 18th, under the head of “ Native land frauds prevention.” August 8. Captains Preece and Mair, with the Arawa contingent, reached Waikaremoana on the 3rd. They had suffered greatly. Great anxiety had been felt lest they were snowed up in the Hipiarau ranges. WANGANUI, August 7. The arson-murder case is over. M‘Donald has been committed for trial, and Eliott discharged. M‘Donald was the only witness against him, and lie contradicted himself repeatedly under cross-examination. NELSON, August 10. At the Supreme Court to-day the special jury case, Pike versus Travers, was decided in favor of plaintiff; Travers being adjudged to pay £2537 10s, being amount of Promissory note endorsed by

him for £ISOO, and interest added since 1803. The weather is bad ; a rain storm has set in, and the rivers are rising. CHRISTO BURCH, August 4. The Provincial Council last night confirmed and adopted the report of the Select Committee on the. Bank of New Zealand's claims. There was a heavy storm of snow and hail last night. August 9. The Provincial Council has passed a resolution in favor of separating the offices of Manager of Railway's and Provincial Treasurer. It has also resolved that for the future the Provincial Treasurer and the Provincial Solicitor must occupy seats in both the Executive and Provincial Council. The sum of £2OOO has been voted for the t rection of-a school of arts and sciences. The Council has been prorogued until 30th September. DUNEDIN, August 4. A man named Edward M'Culloch threw himself into the Molyneux, at Alexandra, on Tuesday. Markets—Flour is slightly easier, and is saleable at £l4 10s. Wheat is firm at 5s 9d, none offering Oats, 2s 3d to 2s sd. Malting barley, 3s 9d. August 0. The City Solicitor has given an opinion to the effect that the late Mayoralty election is voidable as there was no polling booth in one of the wards. August 7. In consequence of the circulation of a requisition, inviting him to resign, Mr Bathgate is to address his constituents to-night, when a most stormy meeting is expected. During the year the Province has exported 40,292 bales of wool, of an estimated value of £523,000. This is an increase of 4,000 bales over last year. At a special meeting of the City Council on Saturday, the Mayor offered to resign, but the act does not permit of this being done. Pie must, therefore, retain office until the Supreme Court can be moved in the matter. In the Bankruptcy Court today Judge Chapman recommended the circulation of colonial acts of importance prior to their passing, in order that the profession might be enabled to suggest improvements in them. August 8. Mr Driver has, for private reasons, resigned his seat in the Assembly, but offers himself for re-election. Thirteen tenders have been received for the construction of the fourth section of the Clutha railway. Several of them are below the engineer’s estimate. It is not yet known which has been accepted. August 9. At a special meeting of the University Council held yesterday it was resolved to admit lady students. Resolutions were also adopted declaring that the principles of the Otago educational scheme are well adapted to promote a sound and liberal education, and that while the Bible should be read in schools the teaching of any creed distinctive of the tenets of any particular denomination ought to be strictly forbidden. A memorial to the Assembly praying that the University should participate in the Colonial endowments in proportion to the population of the province was adopted. Steps are being taken for the purpose of testing the legality of the late Mayoralty election. Mr Bathgate’s meeting was a very stormy one ; but a vote of confidence in him was passed. August 10. The Scott Centenary celebration passed off successfully. At the dinner a proposition was made to establish a Scott scholarship. Fifty-four guineas were subscribed in the room. Cutten and M‘Glashan are candidates for Rosivn. PORT CHALMERS, August 5. Arrived—Aug. 4, 11.40 a.m, Phoebe, from Lyttelton. Afternoon, Golden Sea, ship, from Hongkong, with 478 Chinese. One death occurred during the passage. The town was lighted with gas for the first time last night. August 10. D Sailed—4.4s p.m., Phoebe, for the North, with five members of the Legislative Council, and fifteen members of the House of Representatives.