TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 55, 10 February 1872, Page 8

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Greytown, February 6. A man named George Lawson was accidentally drowned in the Waiohine yesterday, having fallen from his horse. His body has not yet been found. He was a married man, but had no family. The rain has extinguished all the bush fires. Auckland, February 7. Mr John William Harris, a settler at Poverty Bay, has poisoned himself with morphia. He had been drinking heavily for some time past. Wanganui, February 3. Mr R. S. Low reports: Ihree-year old steers, £3 12s 6d ;18 months old, 36s to 40s ; yearlings, 17s od. Merino ewes, 3s 9d. Light draught horses, £lB. Blenheim, February 5. Eleven men have had a very narrow escape of being poisoned at Upcot station, Awatere. By some accident, a quantity of arsenic became mixed with the Hour, and all hands having eaten it, there was no one able to go for medical assistance. Ten of the men have now recovered, but one is still ill. Westpokt, February 6. An influential deputation waited on the Premier for the purpose of presenting a congratulatory address, of which the following is the text : " To the Hon. Wm. Fox, M.H.R. " St.k, —There being no Corporation or other recognised public body in our town whose duty it is to represent the inhabitants upon occasions of this kind, the pleasure of receiving and welcoming you to this part has been entrusted to our hands. In the name of the inhabitants of Westport we, therefore, desire to bid you a cordial welcome to the West Coast, and offer our most hearty congratulations upon this, your visit to this district. We have noticed with great satisfaction the prodigious, aud, at the same time, the well directed efforts which your Government have made, and are now making, to open up and develope the resources of the colony by public works and immigration. We trust that during your stay amongst us you will see so much of our resources as will justify your Government in devising and carrying out public works which will still further tend to the opening up of this part of the colony. Your visit as Premier of New Zealand to the West Coast at the present time is looked upon by us as a happy omen, and a hope is entertained that an expenditure of public money in reproductive works (in connection with the development of our quartz mines and other resources by private enterprise) may afford us subject for future congratulation between your Government and this section of the New Zealand nation." Another deputation, headed by Mr O'Connor, M.H.R., afterwards waited on Mr Fox to point out the wants of the district, urge the construction of a dray road between the Grey and Buller Valleys, and to protest against the expendture of £6OOO in the Waimea Dislrict, as recommended by Messrs Curtis and Harrison. Mr O'Connor characterised this proposal as a gross attempt to defraud the Grey and Buller districts. Other members of the deputation complained greatly of the neglect and apathy of the Nelson Government, urging the withdrawal of the delegated powers from the Superintendent, and the separation of the district as the only remedy.

Great preparations are being made to receive the Premier at Charleston and the Inangahua. Christchurch, February 3. New wheat is offering slowly, prime samples realising 3s 8d to 3s lOd. Oats are plentiful at Is 9d. Barley is scarce at 4s. Flour, £lO 10s to £ll ss. Provisions are unaltered. February 5. Several large grass fires have occurred in different parts of the province, and at Kaiapoi there has been a fire which destroyed £I2OO worth of property. February 6. Two thousand sheep have been destroyed on Mr G. Lee's run, Oxfoi'd, by a grass fire. The Union Club has imported a new boat, built by Salter, for the inter-pro-vincial race. DuiNedin, February 3. Flour is in good trade sale at £l3. Bran is scarce and worth £3. There is no new grain yet in the market. Old wheat is worth 5s to os 3d. Oats, 2s to 2s 2d. February 6. Signor Cagli was fined one farthing, without costs, for his assault on Mr Graham. The escort is 13,620 ounces, which is very good considering that the drought has almost stopped mining operations, especially at Mount Ida. February 8. The Lighting Committee has reported, recommending the City Council to immediately call for tenders for the erection of gas works. Mr Donavan, proprietor of the Shamrock Hotel, Lawrence, has died suddenly. The shooting for choice of representatives is now concluded. Dickson, Port Chalmers, 54; Blatch, West Taieri, 50 ; Key, Waikari, 50 ; Buchanan, West Taieri, 49; Brown, East Taieri,, 4(3; Wilson, No. 2 Scottish, 45 ; Henderson, Riverton, 44; Cowie, No. 2 Scottish, 44 ; Pieid, Artillery, 44 ; M'Laren, South district, 44. These are the representatives, but there are seven others qualified who intend to compete. The Otago Clubs' new outrigger was launched yesterday. The crew leave for Canterbury by the Beautiful Star on the 12th. The Waireka branch railway has been surveyed, and the local boards interested intend to raise £'25,000 on the security of their rates for the purpose of its construction, the promoters of the Port Chalmers line offering to undertake the work.