TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 41, 4 November 1871, Page 14

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Auckland, October 28. A large meeting of farmers condemned the Diseased Sheep Bill, and adopted a petition to the Assembly against it. A stormy discussion took place in the Diocesan Synod on the report of the Trust and Endowments Committee ; the report was shelved. A motion to permit the use of hymns, ancient and modern, when desired by the church, in place of the New Zealand Hymnal, was thrown out by a large majority. The Beth Shan'has sailed for London with a cargo valued at £20,289. The Alexandra correspondent of the * Cross” states that the messengers rom Te Kooti have arrived at Tokangamutu with letters. They state that Te Kooti is hard pressed, and in great distress for food, and with few followers. He requests men to escort him to Te Kuiti, the residence of the King. Bewi, the principal chief of the Ngatimaniapoto tribe, has written to the Government, asking them to cease the pursuit of Te Kooti.

A great number of Taranaki natives are at Tokangamutu, to take part in the forthcoming meeting. The City of Adelaide, steamer, has arrived from Melbourne and Sydney, in order to take up the service between the Southern ports of New Zealand and Sydney, on behalf of the Australian Steam Navigation Company. She leaves for the South on Monday next. Caledonians are quoted at £122 10s ; Thames, £24; Albumins, £8 2s fid; Nonpareil, £5 12s 6d; All Nations, £5 6s; Moanatairis, £3 15s; Shotover, 14s 6d. LATER TELEGRAM. The ITotea block in the North has been thrown open for free settlement under the Auckland Homestead Law. A petition, numerously signed, is circulating in Auckland, requesting the Government to place the Albert Barracks Reserve under the control of the City Council instead of .the Domain Board.

Latest Sydney news reports that the Nevada’s stern has been injured by the collison with a vessel off the New Zealand coast, and that it is now almost certain that the other vessel has foundered. Arrived—Janet Grey, from Nelson ; Alice, barque, from Lyttelton; Bella Mary, from Hobart Town. Long woolled sheep and ewes in low condition, and with lambs at side, have been sold at 255; merino ewes and lambs, 8s 6d per couple ; merino hoggets, 6s 9d to 8s 6d ;. shorn sheep, 4cl per lb; fat lambs, 9s 6d to 14s 6d. October 31.

The mission schooner, Southern Cross, has just arrived ; she is supposed to have Bishop Patteson on board. She has been absent six months, cruising among the islands. The share market opened quiet. Caledonians declining. A little enquiry for All Nations at £5 10s. Tauranga, November 2. Major Mair and Mr Hamlin are here. They have heard nothing of the reported attack by Te Kooti. Napier, November 2. Captain Preece when last heard of was cutting his way from Ahikereru towards Tarawera. No report of any engagement has reached here. Yesterday and to-day have been observed as general holidays, being the anniversary of the province. Pic-nics have been the order of the day. There is no news of Te Kooti. Wanganui, October 28. Mr 11. S. Low reports having sold during the past week yearlings at 30s ; two-year-old steers, in good condition, at 48s ; and a mixed lot of cows, steers, and heifers, three years old, at £4. Good milk cows have been also sold at £4 10s to £5 10s. Light unbroken horses, three years old, £7 to £9 ; light draught horses, £l2 to £ls. No sheep have been offered during the week. Westport, October 30. The Alpine Quartz Crushing Company, at Lyell, from a crushing of 33 tons, obtained 82 ounces of melted gold. The Maid of Erin, which left Sydney on the 21st instant, reports that the injury to the Nevada from her collision with a vessel on the New Zealand coast is of so serious a nature as to heighten the belief that the barque,

name unknown, has foundered. . She is believed to be a vessel coal-laden from Newcastle to New Zealand. Nelson, November 2.

An advertisement appears in the Melbourne “Argus,” signed M‘Meckan and Blackwood, to the following effect; —“ Additional service. The undersigned will despatch one of their steamers every fortnight for Auckland, alternately by the "East and West Coasts of New Zealand. The Albion, or other steamer, will proceed to Auckland, calling at Lyttelton, Wellington, and Napier. The Tararua, or other steamer, via Hokitika, will proceed to Auckland, calling at Grey mouth and Taranaki.’ A large and enthusiastic meeting was held in the Provincial Hall last night, in favor of the Fox Hill railway. .Mr Adams occupied the chair. Mr Luckie (“Colonist”) proposed, “ That a railway to Fox Hill, constructed on a plan so economical as to admit of future extension to the West Coast, will be highly beneficial to the province and to the colony, and could be carried out with financial success.” He referred to the state of the province now and nine years ago, showing that the western districts and interior, which were formerly uninhabited, had now a growing and prosperous population He also alluded to the good workings at Matakitaki, at the Central and Upper Bullor, and Inangahua and elsewhere, and he cited numerous figures, and entered into calculations based on the present and probable traffic, to show that, while under-estimating the future returns, this line would meet working expenses and prove a vast and indirect benefit, by turning the present unprofitable labor on road carriages into reproductive works.

Mr Greenfield seconded the motion. Mr J. C. Biclimond supported the resolution, which was adopted with acclamation, and without a dissentient voice. Mr Thomas Mackay proposed, “ That this meeting, being impressed with the necessity of securing the first instalment of a most useful public work, do instruct the Chairman to communicate the foregoing resolution to the Nelson members of the General Assembly, and to request their cordial support to the proposal.” Mr Elliott seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. • A considerable number of country people were present. A public meeting will be held at Wakefield on Saturday night. Greymouth, November 2.

At auction, on the wharf, the following prices were' realised : —Cheese, 6d ; hams and bacon, 9d ; Canterbury flour, £ls 10s to £l6; oats, 4s to 4s 3d ; wheat, 3s 9d; barley, 3s 9d. Hokitika, November 1. At the sale of cattle held to-day, 118 head sold at £8 15s; 60 head at £9 3s 6d— the average price being 32s 6d per lOOlbs; 500 sheep sold at !2s. Christchurch, October 30. The body of Martha Howroyd, wife of Jesse Ilowroycl, who is at present working in Wellington, was found in the River Avon this morning. November 1. • A- public meeting was held at the Malvern Hills last night, and passed resolutions in favor of the Brogden contracts ; also, a vote of thanks to Messrs G. Brown and Reeves, for their action in connection with the Canterbury Waste Lands Bill.

The races on the 7th, Bth, and 10th promise to be the best ever held in Canterbury. Dunedin, October 28. The Dock Trust has agreed to Mr Carruthers’s recommendation to offer the contractors £7144 without prejudice, the Trust foregoing the claim of damages arising out of the leakage if the offer be accepted. Mr Bastings, the Mayor of Lawrence, will proceed to Wellington with petitions against the sale of the waste land block to Mr Clarke, of Melbourne.

Wheat is quiet at 5s to 5s 3d ; millers stocks are low. Oats are dull of sale at 2s to 2s 2d ; flour is in better demand at £l3 to £l3 10s ; bran is overstocked, but may be quoted at £2 15s ; potatoes are scarce at £6. November 1. The Southern escort brought down 4430 ounces; Tuapeka sends down 2548 ounces. Another Maori prisoner died yesterday.

Melbourne, Oct. 21. ■Mr Fox, the editor of the “ Irish Harp,” has been dismissed the presidency of the Roman Catholic Association. The news by the Californian mail gives the market an upward tendency. Sales of wheat have been made at 4s 5d to 4s 6d. Earl Belmore has returned from Tasmania. The Permissive Bill has virtually passed. Quin is convicted of the murder of a Chinaman. At Beechworth a petition is being signed to spare his life on the ground that it is not right to hang a white man for killing a Chinaman. Dr Mingay Syderr is dead. In connection with the movement to get up an expedition to witness the solar eclipse in Queensland, it has been moved that the Colonial Government co-operate and send scientific observers. Toookey’s were £36 10s till the last New Zealand news of the flooding of the Caledonian was received, when they fell to £25 10s to £26. Flour, £l2 to £l2 12s 6d. New Zealand wheat, 4s 7d to ss. Oats 3s 2d to 3s 6a. October 26. The Ministry are obtaining suppliesjin the House. The Legislative Council have rejected the tariff by a large majority. It will probably be reconsidered. Parliament will be prorogued on the 2nd November. The Sir F. Murphy pension question is postponed till to-day to give an opportunity of testing public opinion on the matter. Edward Cohen has given notice of his intention to introduce a bill rendering captains and owners of vessels responsible for bringing destitute persons from other colonies. Mr Duffy’s health is improved,

The Government proposes to subsidise the Eclipse expedition. A number of private individuals are going. It is determined to lengthen the Alfred Graving Dock. Sidney, Oct. 21. A public meeting has been held to express sympathy with the Rabbi Davis for the unfounded charge against him for assault on a female. The Nevada collided a vessel on the New Zealand coast. The damages are unknown. She will be docked at Sydney. ' The Marine Insurance have declared a dividend of ten per cent. A new Land Bill will be introduced next session. The Australian Steam Navigation Company intend to establish next month monthly communication with Nelson, Wellington, Lyttelton Dunedin, and Hokitika. October 26. The captain and crew of the A. H. Badger, arrived by the Alice Cameron, having been run down by the s.s. Nevada. The Nevada bore away without rendering any assistance, the water gaining. The Alice heaving in sight she left. The Badger was fully insured in Syd - ney offices. An Admiralty suit has been instituted. Bennett, captain of Aurora, is charged with flogging a seaman. The opera troupe sailed for Auckland by ihe Nevada. Efforts are being made to procure an inquiry into the running down of the Badger by the Nevada. Newcastle, Oct. 21. Arrived Tien Esser from Auckland. Adelaide, Oct. 21. A private, gold searching expedition is starting for Twofold Bay. October 25. Strong satisfaction expressed at the favorable nature of the English commercial news. Babbage, defaulting secretary of a building society, is believed to have escaped to India by the ship Coolie. Telegraph stations are opened 176 miles towards Carpentaria. Lady Ferguson is dangerously ill. Hobart Town, Q6th October. Matthias Bloch is remanded, and is unwell. Launceston, Oct. 26. Gold has been struck at a depth of 154 feet in the Excelsior Company’s claim, nine miles from the Springs.