TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 38, 14 October 1871, Page 14

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Auckland, October 7.

The Auckland journals comment favorably on the public works budget, and it seems generally popular. The returns from the Thames for September amount to 18,085 ozs. from 7,569 tons of stone, showing a falling off of 1Q,569 oz., due. entirely to the decrease of the Caledonian yield. The returns from the other claims are generally improved: The Rev. Mr McKenzie, sent out by the Rev. Mr Bruce, arrived in the Countess of Kintore, and has been inducted to the Presbyterian church, North Shore.

A Presbyterian magazine is about to be started. It will be tbe organ of the United Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. It is approved by the Auckland Presbytery. H. I reports: —Caledonians, £lls, rising; Thames,£23; Tookey’s, £2B; All Nations, £6 ; Central Italy, £2los ; Otago, £3 15s, declining; Non- . pareil, £5 10s; Alburnia, £5 10s; ~ Shotover, lls. , Charles Glutt has been murdered by the natives at Tanna, New Hebrides. They refuse to allow any white man to live on the island, and the notorious Ross Lewin is the only European there.

Commercial —Flour very dull, market overstocked; Auckland and Adelaide, £l4 to £ls per ton ; oats, 3s to 3s 9d ; provisions dull; Canterbury bacon, 6d to 8d per lb, Cattle sales on Saturday were fairly supplied ; fat cattle, 26s to per lOOlbs; sheep, 4d per lb;

lambs,,l4s to 22s each; heifer calves, 30s to 355.

The insinuation made against the “ Cross” mining reporter of being in league with a broker, was made by an anonymous correspondent of the “ Herald,” and not editorially.

October 9. Tamati Pieweti, the leading chief of Ngatiwbatua, is dead. The Nebraska sailed with a lavge cargo from Sydney, and numerous passengers. A man at the Thames was attacked by a bullock, and had his leg broken. Samuel Atkinson, whilst waiting at Onehunga to proceed to Wanganui in the St. Kilda, attempted to commit suicide in a fit of delirium tremens by discharging a gun in his side, causing a serious wound. He used ten one pound notes for wadding. The man who was wounded by the bursting of Dinwell’s boiler is dead. The share market is dull. Caledonians £115; Thames, £23; Tookej's, £2B; Shotover, 11s.; Alburnia, £0; Otago, £3 10s; Moanatairi, £4 ss; All Nations, £5 15s. . Napier, October 7. Major Mair met Te Kooti yesterday, proceeding towards the Taupo Plains. He engaged and chased him five miles towards Urewera, but night coming on, lost the track. He is now following it up. Wanganui, October 7. Store cattle are unchanged in value since last week. 193 head have been sold at 64s 6d, the ages being from two to three years, of mixed sexes, and in good condition. Good milk cows are’ improving in value, being quoted at £5 to £7. Old cows are unsaleable. Fat cattle, 20s per lOOlbs. Good fat wethers, half-bred, 12s to 14s ; inferior, 7s to 10s. Good draught horses fetch high prices. Hacks, 30s to £lO, in good supply. New Plymouth, October 7. The natives say that the final decision come to at the Pariaka meeting was, “No roads, no telegraphs, through their lands.” Hokitika, October 9. The champion athletic sports took place on Saturday. 100 yards race— Hewitt, 1 ; D. Twohill, 2; Rankin, 3. 200 yards race —Pentecost, 1; Rankin, 2 ; P. Twohill, 3 ; ten started. 440 yards hurdle race—-P. Twohill, 1 ; Harris, 2 ; Howe, 3. Mile race —Hewitt, 1 ; Hearne, 2. The ladies’ rifle prize was won by Volunteer Skene, with a score of 145 out of a possible 180 ; Ensign Forsyth, 139 ; Corporal Learmont, 138. A man named George Pett, alias Smith, has been committed for trial for stabbing his horse in 16 places. His defence was that he had been stuck up. October 11. Sports were held here on the 9th, and resulted as follows :

Westland District Handicap, 200yds —Hewitt 1, Harris 2 ; both started at scratch ; and D. Toohill, 3, received 20yds. Six ran. Second race, 440yds—Hewitt and Harris at scratch, and D. Toohill receiving 36yds, Hewitt 1, Harris 2, Toohill, 3. Third race, 880yds—Rankin 45yds, P. Toohill 45yds, D. Toohill 45yds start. Five ran, the result being— Hewitt 1, Harris 2, D. Toohill 3. In the three mile race, walking in petticoats, Walsh stopped at the fifth lap. Steeple Chase, 540yds, with two water jumps—P. Toohill received 30yds, D. Toohill, 40yds, 1, and Harris, scratch, 2. \

On the first day, 722 spectators were present, and 900 on the second.

(from our own correspondent.) The following resolution was unanimously carried at a large meeting held at Stafford last night:—“ That this meeting views with alarm the action of the Government in proposing to annex a portion of the county of Westland to the province of Nelson, and protests against the dismemberment of the county. —G. S. Smith, Chairman.” The following resolutions were unanimously carried at a crowded meeting held in the Town ‘Hall last night “ 1. That this meeting strongly objects to the General Go /ernment proposing any alteration in any constitutionally established form of government without

giving due notice in time to the inhabitants of that portion of the colony affected to express an opinion thereon, and that the inhabitants of the Grey district be asked to co-operate in giving effect to this resolution." “2. That the inhabitants of the County of Westland deeply regret that the Colonial Treasurer should have deemed it expedient to announce that it was the intention of the Government to annex a portion of the County of Westland to the Nelson province, and that the inhabitants of the county request the Government to stay all proceedings with regard to the dismemberment of the county until the public have given an opinion as to its desirability.” “ 3. Tbatthismeetingwould earnestly press upon the General Government the urgent necessity for at once proceeding with the Ross road as at present proposed, viz, a dray road, and that the construction of this road take precedence of any side road.” “ 4'., That this meeting would urge upon the General Government the necessity uf extending the proposed railway from the coal mine to the Grey down to Hokitika.”

The County Secretary was requested by the General. Committee to forward these resolutions upon the above subject, and to refer also to resolutions passed by the County Council, affirming the desirability of annexing Nelson South-west goldfield to the County, forwarded on 30th August last. October 12. The following resolutions were unanimously carried at a meeting held at Ross on Monday evening : “1. That this meeting has heard with deep regret of the proposed dimunition of area of the county of Westland, but will strongly recommend the extension of the boundary northwards as far as the Mokinui, thus forming one large goldfields country. “ 2. That this meeting is of opinion that an ordinary road between Ross and Hokitika will meet the wants of the district much better than a railway.” Christchurch, October 7. A public meeting was held last night, against the Brogden contracts. It was attended by a little over two hundred people. The speakers were Messrs Sawtell, Wynn Williams, Huddleston (a Nelson surveyor), Kennaway, Hawkes, and Michael Hart. The following resolutions were passed: — Ist. That this meeting is of opinion that the contracts proposed by Mr Vogel for the construction of railways in New Zealand by Messrs Brogden (whether No. 1 or No. 2) would greatly disadvantage the colony, and it deprecates the acceptance of either by the Government.

2nd. That this meeting is further of opinion that the railway works proposed to be carried on will be most advantageously constructed, as far as this province is concerned, as well as throughout the colony, on the following system, viz:—The money to be raised by loan, and sections of moderate length to be let by public tender, the works to be paid for in cash. The chairman was instructed to send a circular to the members for the province, requesting them to advocate the views indicated in the above resolutions. Timaru, October 12.

A burglary was committed last night, on the premises of Mr White, lawyer. The premises were entered by the back door. The door of the Building Society’s Office and Beswick’s (commission agent) was burst open. Fortunately only a few shillings were taken. No clue has been obtained as to the robbers. Dunedin, October 6. Mr MTlroy, proprietor of the Gridiron Hotel, was found dead at the rear of the Golden Age this morning. It is supposed that he fell down the steps and broke his neck. The people of Tuapeka are petitioning the Government to commence works immediately. The people of Lawrence offer to set apart a commonage of 95,000 acres, yielding £3OOO annually, as a guarantee that the works will pay expenses. Invercargill, October 7. A meeting of the settlers of the Eastern district w&s held yesterday about the state of the roads. Resolutions were passed calling the at-

tention of the Provincial Government to it., and a committee was appointed to urge on the construction of the Mataura railway as far as Wbodlands, so as to at once relieve the road of th© heavy traffic. The erection of the new Meat Preserving Company’s works is to be commenced next week. October 11. A tremendous fire broke out here at three o’clock this morning, destroying the premises of the Bank of Otago and ten other buildings. Full particulars are expected this afternoon. 1.22 p.m. It has been ascertained that the fire occurred at the Bank of Otago at 3.15 this morning. The insurances are:— Liverpool and London, £1,350 ; Northern, £6,050; Royal, £400; Victoria, £6OO ; Alliance, £4OO. 6.20 p.m. Doubts are expressed as to where the fire originated. It was first seen in a small space between the Bank of Otago and Hunter and Hawkshaw’s premises. The Bank of New Zealand was only saved after extraordinary exertions. The side of the building presents a scorched appearance. The following premises were totally destroyed :—Bank of Otago, loss, 2500 Z; Hunter and Hawkshaw, grocers, 1500 Z ; Balwig, cabinet maker, 300 Z; Broad, watchmaker, 900 Z ; Hatch, chemist, 1700 Z; Garrick Club Hotel, 150 Z; Coutts, tailor, 250 Z; Mitchell, boot maker, 300 Z; Moffit, cordial manufacturer, 70 OZ. The fire was discovered at 3.15 p.m. The Agricultural and Pastoral Association Show of entires was held here to-day. There were nine entries, and the premium of £4O offered by the Society was awarded to Lord Raglan, the property of Gow, of Taieri. Six others exhibited. A well-attended public meeting was held last night to consider the question of railway extension. Resolutions were passed affirming the public necessity of a railway from Invercargill to Mataura, and that the line as far as Woodland is the only hope of maintaining communication next winter. ' Other resolutions were unanimously passed, deprecating the proposed substitution of a railway from Longford to Kingston, instead of from Winton to Kingston. AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS. Melbourne, Sept. 30. Mr Purnell, barrister, arrived by the Nubia, seeking more witnesses in the great Tichborne case. A coiner named William Wright, alias Walter Hill, has been apprehended for making half-crowns. Clara Novello, actress, has horsewhipped an impertinent attorney’s clerk at Geelong. " Sydney, Sept. 29. The Shipowners Association held an inaugural banquet, at which the policy of Victoria was commented on as likely to form a protective character and to encourage trade. The master, mate, cook, and two seamen of the Jason are in custody on a charge of kidnapping in the Melanesian Islands. Captain Stafford, of the whaler Metaris, was dragged overboard by a whale line, while fast to a fish, and was drowned. An omnibus company on a large scale is being formed in opp'osition to Mr Hoyt’s proposed scheme. H.M.S. Clio remains here till the Malacca arrives. The Tasso takes 22 racehorses to Mauritius, including Rawden, Gem, Sir John, and Waiwick. The Government of New Caledonia has been informed that 1500 houses have been shipped for Noumea by the French Government. These are supposed to be for the Communist convicts. Adelaide, Sept. 29. It is believed bv good judges that the yield of wheat will be less than last harvest. Sankey’s report is not favorable as to the irrigation of Adelaide Plains. The news from the Northern Territory is very positive as to there being a payable goldfield in that district, about 109 miles from Southport, on the overland telegraph line. Bray, clerk in the Bank of New South Wales, Auckland, has been apprehended on a charge of forging a cheque for one hundred pounds.