TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 52, 20 January 1872, Page 8

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

GrREYTOWN, January 10. Yesterday the south side of the Moroa Plain was on fire, and for some time threatened the destruction of Battersea farm and homestead. On the eastern side of the plain four thousand acres have been burned and two miles of fencing deslroyed. Auckland, January 11. Dysentery and diarrhoea are very prevalent here now. The Supreme Court was compelled to adjourn yesterday, owing to several of the counsel engaged in it suffering from these complaints. Shine has been sentenced to four years, and Stevens to three years imprisonment for larceny. The Waikato railway has been commenced by Mr Brogden, who has now gone with Mr Ormond to inspect the proposed Kawa Kawa coal line. The house of Mr James Miller, at Maungakaramea, has been burned down, his little son losing his life in the fire. George William Richards has been drowned while bathing in a creek at the Thames. His parents reside at Hokitika. The share market is dull. Caledonians, £SO ; Thames, £l3 12s ; Tookey’s offering at £l-7-January 10. Caledonian, £SO ; Thames, £l3 ; Tookeys, £l7 ; Alburnias, £4. Great drought prevails. The Hon Mr Ormond and Mr Brogden have visited Kawakawa to survey the railway line, the direction of which has now been fixed. The Waikato railway works have been commenced. The Laetitia has arrived from-Fiji. A portion of the Neva murderers have been captured; one again escaped. The natives of Ba Rakiraki threaten to murder the settlers. Napier, January 12. A match between the Napier Rifle Club and the Wanganui Rifle Association was fired to-day. Napier, witli ten men, scored 300 against Wanganui, with twelve men, 450. January 15. Information has been received that Mr Dolbell, on arriving at his outstation at Maungaliaruru, found it sacked, also some wool had been burnt -—report says by Han Haus. No person had been seen near the place for several days. January 18. A few friendly natives and four Europeans have left Mohaka for the purpose of ascertaining the facts connected with the burning of Dolbell’s woolshed. Some of the armed constabulary are now scouting in the same district. It is rumored here that the cause was a bush fire. No one had lived on the station for three weeks. The country is dried up for want of rain. Wanganui, January 13. Mr R. S. Low reports that fat oxen are worth £B. Sheep are scarce and command a high price. The Malay has been towed alongside the Government wharf, and will commence discharging immediately. A full cargo of wool is waiting for her. January 16. Reliable information states that Titokowaru, with thirty-two men and about the same number of women and children, has come out of the bush to Omatarangi, which is a settlement on the coast, about thirty miles north of Patea. He says he wants to settle down peaceably if the Government will allow him to do so. Nelson, January 15. A fire occurred last night in the stable of Mr Warren, butcher, corner of Trafalgar and Bridge street. The straw in the loft of the stable was destroyed. There was a rapid blaze in a dangerous locality, but owing to the splendid water supply the fire was extinguished in fifteen minutes. No fire can spread here. New Plymouth, January 14. The report of Mr Rattenbury’s death was incorrect. Pie is recovering. Mr Thomas Kelly addressed his constituents on Wednesday, and received a vote of confidence. Westport, January 13. Dr Hector lias returned from the Inangahua, and he reports most favorably regarding them. There are now arriving at the reefs at the rate of 50 a day. The Alpine Company, at the Lyell,

Buller, have had fourteen days’ crushing. They crushed 40 tons of stone, and have obtained 2130zs 13dwt retorted gold from the quicksilver ripples only. Greymouth, January 14. The protective works on the river bank have broken down, and if a flood comes there is great danger of half the toivn being washed into the sea. Dr Hector is now exploring the Inangahua reefs, and says he is much impressed with their richness, and the value of the resources of the district. Christchurch, January 13. There are conflicting accounts regarding the prospects of the wheat crop. A reduced yield is anticipated. Quotations are unaltered. Hour has fallen to £l2. New oats are quoted at Is 9d. There are a few transactions in old oats at from 2s 3d to 2s 4|d. English advices quote Canterbury butter at from 50s to 68s. There is a steady demand for the West Coast, and rates are unaltered. Cheese and bacon are also unaltered, but the stocks of the former are falling low. January 16. In the Provincial Council yesterday, Mr Buckley’s motion, to confer on the Superintenclenl power to dismiss his Executive, was negatived. The Superintendent has been requested to inform the General Government that the Council considers the wholesale destruction of fisli which takes place during the spawning season to be detrimental to the interests of the colony. It was also resolved to request the General Government to, if possible, have the five branch railways constructed simultaneously. A motion to the effect that the reduction in the pay of the police should not apply to the members at present in the force was negatived. In consequence of this, the whole of the Christchurch police constables and sergeants resigned yesterday. It is expected the men stationed in the country will follow their example. The police this afternoon refused to do duty, and on the Commissioner reporting the matter to the Government the latter agreed to continue the old rates of pay. The Provincial Council has set aside one hundred thousand acres of land as an endowment for a school of technical science or other educational purpose, contemplated by the Canterbury Museum and Library Ordinance, 1870. Mr Wynn Williams has moved his resolutions in favor of simplifying the form of provincial institutions. He proposed that all the paid officers of the Government should be permauent and non-political; that the Superintendent should discharge the duties of Provincial Secretary and Secretary of Public Works, and should bo ox officio a member of the Council. After a shoit debate, the resolutions were withdrawn until next session. The various Christchurch boating clubs are amalgamating to select one crew to compete in the interprovincial race. January 17. There was an error about the police yesterday. The Executive did not promise to continue the old rate of pay permanently, but said they would give one month’s notice of the commencement of the reduction. The men misunderstood this when they promised to return to duty, and they now express their determination to resign as soon as ever the notice of reduction is given. The Provincial Council was prorogued last night. C. Whittington stabbed W. Parish yesterday, and has been committed for trial. Parish is not in any serious danger. A rifle match has been arranged between Canterbury and Otago • fifteen men a side. The Opera Company leaves for Otago to-night. Dunedin, January 13. Richard Howorth, a brick maker, has been drowned by accidentally falling into the Molyneaux. Hardened parcels of flour are not to be obtained for less than £l3 for best brands. Bran is very slack at 3s. Wheat is firmer at 5s to 5s 3d, but there is nothing doing owing to its scarcity. Oats are dull at 2s to 2s 2d. January 16. At a special meeting of the Waste Land Board yesterday, the Moa Flat sale to Clarke was agreed to, excepting only 1950 acres. Mr Clarke intimated

that he would not accept an acre less than the area surveyed. The Scottish Company beat the Greymouth Rifles in a match by fifteen points. January 17. After two days’ consideration ot the dispute between the minister of the First Church and his kirk, session, and congregation, the Presbyterian Synod, by 19 to 17, passed a resolution calling on the E,ev George Sutherland to resign his charge, and severely censuring his conduct. January 18. The first shipment of girders for the Waitaki bridge, made out of the Clutha railway plant, has been despatched. In the Southland arbitration case an award of £27,000 has been made in favor of the contractors. The Government has to pay all the legal costs. The original demand was £36,000. Port Chalmers, January 13. The Graving Dock was to-day handed over to the Dock Trust by the contractors. The Luna and Wanganui are expected shortly to go into it, when the Superintendent, the Trust, and others will open it formally. January 18. Sailed Garrick Castle, ship, for London, with full cargo. Blufe, January 14. A model of Captain Thomson’s new patent anchor was tried here to-day in the presence of Captain John M'Lean, Captain Lawrence, and a number of other nautical men. The new anchor was unanimously declared to be superior to all others. Melbourne, January 11. Mr Vale, Commissioner of Customs, has published a regulation for a drawback of the Custom duties on dutiable goods reshipped. The following is the rate : —Boots, shoes, musical instruments, stationery, machinery, brushes, earthenware, 10 per cent; carpets, hoisery, hardware, gloves, B-f percent; watches, oilman’s stores, fancy goods, toys, piece goods, 5 per cent; apparel and slops, 4 per cent; sugar and confectionery, 3s per cwt; tea, 3d per lb. The tariff is generally liberal with other miscellaneous articles. The wreck and cargo of the Sussex were auctioned at £6BOO. Captain Collard’s certificate has been suspended for six months. The German war ship Nymph has arrived at Port Phillip. The officers were feted. Anthony Trollope is visiting Tasmania. The race between Penticost and Bedford resulted in favor of the latter easily. David Masterton and Co have failed. Liabilities £45,000. Sydney, January 11. The University cricket match was won by Sydney -by nine wickets. The Prince of Wales’ Theatre, two hotels, and other buildings have been burned. The estimated loss is £40,000. The falling walls injured several people, three fatally. Fitzgerald’s carriage factory is burned. It is reported that Webb’s steamers will not return. Bond, a laborer, stabbed himself and cut his own throat. Mauritius sugars have been sold at a decline of £l. There is a division of opinion amongst the Anglican clergy as to the adoption of the new lectionary recently sanctioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Adelaide. January 11. The Government propose sending horses north for the purpose of running an express over the unfinished portion. The overland telegraph line is already extended a thousand miles north of Adelaide. The hot weather is impeding business. A correspondent at Marton sends us the following with relation to the permission given by the Justices to sell grog on the racecourse -.—Your correspondent G., who is evidently a Justice of the Peace, is ignorant of the laws under which he acts. The Licensing Act, 1867, was disallowed by the Governor, and, of course, is not law. How will the publicans be affected if informations are laid ? The Chillicothe (Ohio) “Register" contains a “ notice to the wives of intemperate men,’’ asking them to leave the names of their husbands with the Secretary of the Liquor Dealers’ Association, and promising that no liquor shall be sold to those so reported. The dealers take this method to protect themselves from prosecution under the State law giving damages to the wives of men who buy liquor.