Telegraphic News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 230, 5 February 1876, Page 9

Telegraphic News.

Auckland, Friday. The Maori murderer has not been captured. The Government offer a hundred pounds reward. Charles Hill has been arrested on a charge of forgery at Taranaki. The annual report of the Bay of Islands Coal Company shows a defect of £3654. A coroner's Jury to-day, on a death from drinking carbolic acid, added a rider that it be included among legally defined poisons. The Corporation has received intimation from the Government that the subsidy will be paid in two instalments, the Ist of February and Ist of March. Saturday. The City of San Francisco has arrived. She transhipped mails to the Mikado at Kandavau. She then waited ninety hours for the inward mail, but the boat with it not arriving, she came on. She proceeds South on Tuesday. The Grenada is expected to come to Auckland direct with the English mail. The regatta to-day was a great success. The schooner race was won by the Jessie Henderson ; Agnes and Maud second. Monday. The schooner Kenilworth arrived at Wangaroa on Sunday: The captain reports sighting a brig named the Maggie in the Bay of Plenty. She was flying signals of distress. The captain on boarding her found she had been thirty-one days oxxt from Newcastle, and bound for Napier, with coal. The brig was destitute of provisions, and for nine days the crew had been living on three potatoes a day. The captain of the Kenilworth parted with all the provisions he could spare. The sufferings of the crew were very severe. Blondin's first performance on Saturday was a great success; 1500 people were present. The City of San Francisco will be detained till Wednesday morning if the Grenada does not ai'rive previously. Tuesday. A house on Mr. Laughlan's farm at Papatoetoe has been destroyed by fire. It was insured for £l5O in the New Zealand office. The Maori murderer has been traced to Orakei, where he met a Hauhau, who purchased a quantity of biscuits and other provisions. He has doubbless set out on a journey towards the King country via the Miranda. Wednesday. The Llewellyn has arrived from Fiji. The Amerian ship Tuscarora is engaged surveying for a cable line from America to Australia. She proceeds on the 17th to Kandavau for coals ; and if she cannot obtain them, she goes to Sydney, and returns as early as possible to resume the survey. The Secretary of State instructed the Governor to appoint a commission to investigate claims to land, the ultimate decision to be left with the Governor and Executive Council. A dispute has arisen at Samoa between the American Consul and Colonel Steinberger, who undertook a mission to the island on behalf of the United States Government some time ago. The Consul contends that Steinberger's authority has ceased. He maintains it has not. Colonel Steinberger has entrenched himself with two cannon, and is determined to resist the authority of the consul. The latter

called in the aid of the captain of H.M.S. Barracouta, who would not interfere, but despatched a sub-lieutenant to Sydney for instructions from the Commodore. The City of San Francisco proceeds South to-morrow morning, unless the Grenada arrives meanwhile. The gig race to-day between Thames Interprovincial crew and North Shore resulted in Thames winning by three lengths. The North Shore was leading, and would probably have won but for one of their stretchers breaking and throwing a man backways. Thursday. At the inquest on the body of Packer, a verdict of wilftd murder was returned against the Maori Wynyard. The police are out searching in all directions, but without obtaining any clue to the present whereabouts of the murderer, who is believed to be well on his way towards the King country. Blondin's first night's performance was attended by 5000 persons. The City of San Francisco has sailed for the South. Grahamstown, Friday. In consequence of the stoppage of the road party by the Church Mission Society, the men have been moved one mile or so further on towards Ohinemuri, and the labor already performed is wasted. Saturday. A miner named Charles Smith was discovered buried by a fall of earth. He was working as a " hatter," and being missed, search was made. At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned. Sir George Grey has authorised the removal of the road party from Puriri to the road between Mackaytown and Waitekauri. Monday. Anniversary day was celebrated to-day. About 2000 Sunday-school children assembled, and marched to Parawai, but the rain came on and spoilt their day's outing. The Star's correspondent reports the arrival of the schooner Kenilworth at Whangaroa. She fell in with the Maggie, of Napier, thirtyone days from Newcastle, short of provisions, and relieved her. Tuesday. Macdonald, Mayor of the Thames, was summoned to-day for breach of the borough by-laws. He defended the case, and brought witnesses to prove that while in his charge his horse had not been over the footpath. The case was dismissed. In consequence of the treatment of the Thames crews at the Auckland Regatta (particularly in the North shore crew declining to pull because it was rough weather), four Thames girls have sent a challenge to the North Shore Club, to row them at the Thames for £lO (three miles) during the month of February. The challenge is said to be bona fide, and the stake is likely to be increased if desired by the challenged party. Great disgust is expressed here at the conduct of the Auckland committee. Thursday. F. W. Paul, manager of the Bank of New South Wales, was marking at the rifle butts yesterday, when a bullet rebounded from the target, and struck him on the eyelid, inflicting a severe wound. It is not known whether the sight is injured permanently. Alexandra, Monday. The Epsom murderer has not yet reached the King country. He is well known there. His father and family reside at Kuiti. Paiwhenua, wife of the man who saved Mackay from a murderous assault at Kuiti, is one of his sisters. The natives expect he will try to make his way there. Wednesday. There is no news of the Maori murderer having reached the King country. It is thought that both sides of the river here should be closely watched. There is only one town constable here for duty. The weather is still bad for harvesting. The native stacks are greatly damaged from heating. Napieb, Monday. In the rifle match Wellington v. Napier the scores of the Napier men were—G. Sellars, 91 ; Baggs, 75 ; Chicken, 75 ; Ross, 71 ; W. Sellars, 70 ; Renouf, 63 ; Elms, 59 ; Green, 58 ; Murphy, 46. Tuesday. The telegraph reporter has just arrived from the racecourse, which is in a fearful state of puddle owing to the excessive rains last night. The stewards have gone out, but owners of horses will refuse to run their horses. There is no course open but a postponement. . It is raining hard. The races have been postponed until a future date, of whichnotice will be given. The course is partly under water. Another flood is likely to occur. The Meanea district is again under water, and one settler has brought his family to town. Wednesday. Mr. Locke, the Returning Officer, told the electors of the Eastern Maori District that he had taken legal advice, and could not declare anyone duly elected. He should send the writ to the Governor, with the facts advised thereon and the numbers polled. The election will most likely be held over again. Wanganui, Tuesday. The nominations for the W a nganui Jockey Club Handicap close on Thursday at 8 p.m. Nelson, Friday. Colonial representative firing by City Rifles —Grossman, 99 and 100; Burns, S 8 and 90; C. Burns, 91 and 83. Saturday. The railway was opened to-day. About thirty people (invited by the Superintendent) enjoyed the advantage. No arrangement was made for the general public. Great dissatisfaction and no public demonstration. Monday. Mr. Shapley, agent for the Cable Extension Company, accompanied by Captain Cross,

harbormaster, and Captain Maling, have been taking soundings in various places for landing the Australian cable. It is generally understood that the place first mentioned will be decided upon. The Nelson and Wakefield railway was opened for traffic to-day. The formal opening was on Saturday, but there was no public demonstration. .Blenheim, Saturday. Wairau election.—The returns to hand give —Seymour, 185 ; Henderson, 170. It is believed that the returns to come will swell Seymour's majority. Sunday. The complete returns give Seymour a majority of 23. Westport, Friday. The steamer Charles Edward passed the ship John Milton, from London, bound to Wellington, last evening, between the Cape and the lighthouse. Greymooth, Friday. The competition for the district representative s for the colonial rifle meeting at Wanganui was completed here yesterday. Sergeant Munyard (head score), with total, 181 ; Stonebridge, 180 ; Chamberlain, 178 ; Simmons, 175 ; Gorrie, 173. At 400yds. Gorrie scored six bulls' eyes and a centre, or 27 out of a possible 28. Christchurch, Friday. The Waimate steeplechase is fixed for 3rd May. The highest scores in the preliminary competition for infantry representatives was as follows:—Manning, 88; Parsons, 82; Beattie, 77; Marshall, 75; Piercy, 75. It is intended to carry out the regatta on Heathcote estuary in February or March. The agitation against, the recent appointment of F. de C. Malet to the registrarship of the Supreme Court continues, and it is reported that Mr. de Malet has resigned in consequence. Sunday, 5.25 p.m. A fire occurred at one o'clock this morning in a block of buildings known as the triangle, in the centre of the city. The fire brigade mustered smartly and worked splendidly, but the supply of water was short, and the buildings were so crowded that five shops were completely destroyed, and another was gutted, several shops injured, and nearly the whole of Oram's City Hotel was burnt down. The fire was first observed in the back part of Almao's (the hatter) shop, and owing to the inflammable nature of the goods, it blazed up with great rapidity. The City Hotel was full of boarders, some of whom only escaped in their night clothes. Most of the commercial travellers saved their samples. The losses in stock, buildings, etc., were difficult to obtain to-day. The following are near the mark : City Hotel buildings, damage, £2500 : insurances—New Zealand, £800; Liverpool and London and Globe, £SOO ; National, £3OO. Stock and furniture, damage over £2OOO. The total insurances are about £I7OO. Of this £3OO is in the Victoria, the rest in the South British, National, and Standard offices. Macfarlane's, grocer, stock, £I4OO, was insured for £SOO in the South British. The stock saved is worth £IOO. Woodward, shoemaker, stock £SOO, insured for £IOO in the Transatlantic. Part of stock was saved. Firth's, the carver and gilder, stock was destroyed, value £500; insured for £2OO in the Transatlantic. Almao's, hatter, stock destroyed, £IOOO ; insured for £250 in the Standard, and £250 in the South Bi'itish, and £2OO in the Transatlantic. Rossiter, watchmaker, uninsured; loss £2OO. Clark, bootmaker, stock £1000; insured for £l5O in the Standard, £l5O in the Victoria; the buildings, value £3OO, were insured for £250 in the Victoria. Allchin, eating-house, stock and furniture, damage £120; insured for £IOO in the Standard; building damaged £lO, insm-ed for £2OO in the Northern. The shops occupied by Woodward, Macfarlane, Almao, and Rossiter are said to be insured for £I2OO, full value, in the Liverpool and London and Globe office. Monday. None of the Canterbury Infantry Volunteers have qualified to attend the Colonial. Prize Firing. The origin of the fire yesterday is a mystery. Almao says when he locked up at 11 p.m. on Saturday the gas and fires were all out and everything safe. Further .particulars re fire. Dransfield's four shops were not insured in the Liverpool London and Globe, but for £BOO in the New Zealand, and £2OO in the National. The stock and furniture of the City Hotel were insured in the National for £SOO for £3OO ; South British, £550 ; Norwich, £550. These amounts will about cover Oram's loss, as a great lot of things was removed, and the stock in the cellars, valued at £IOOO, is not much injured. The amounts to which the insurance offices are involved are as follows : New Zealand, 1600 ; South British, £I3OO ; Standard, £IOOO ; National, £750 ; Victoria, £7OO ; Norwich, £6OO ; Liverpool, &c, £SOO ; Transatlantic, £SOO. Tuesday. An inquiry is to be held into the origin the recent fire. The programme of the Grand National Steeplechase Meeting, to be held here on 24th May, is a very liberal one, and includes a maiden plate of £IOO, one race of £250, another of £l5O, and a Consolation of £BO. A liberal programme will be offered for the Heathcote Regatta, which is fixed for 7th March. A regatta is also to be held at Kaiapoi. Wednesday. The merchandise carried on the different railway lines in the province during December, 1875, is 19,683 tons, compared with 12,366 in the same month of 1874. The number of passengers during the same periods was 65,238 and 43,813, and receipts £17,293 2s. 3d. and £8524 9s. 2d. Another contract will be accepted for the continuation of the cathedral.

Thursday. The accounts of the crops from all parts of the province give promise of an unusually large harvest. The yield per acre will be greater than last year. Much land has been laid down in grass for sheep farming, but this is more than counterbalanced by the immense number of acres of new land brought under cultivation. There is a decided preponderance of oats, but very little barley. The oats will average throughout the province 36 bushels per acre ; wheat, 30 ; barley, 28. The fire brigade committee, influenced by experience gained at the late fire, have recommended the City Council to make a largely increased provision for water supply. The following are the highest scores in the Cadet firing :—Mcßae, of Timarn, 42 ; Jenkins, of Christchurch, 37 ; Duncan, of Christchurch, 34 : Stokes, of Christchurch, 32 ; Montgomery, of Christchurch, 31. The Minister for Justice, in reply to the Law Society, declines to reconsider the appointment of Malet as Registrar of the Supreme Court here. Timaru, Wednesday. The railway is to be opened for traffic throughout from Lyttelton to Timaru on Friday next. The first section south of Timaru is completed to Pairora, twelve miles, and will foe handed over in a few days. The immigrants by the Soukar found employment immediately at good wages, and a great demand for labor continues. The low price of grain and high rate of wages make farmers' prospects gloomy. Fifteenpence a bushel is offered for oats. This will not recoup the outlay. Considerable loss has also been sustained through the late rains beating down the crops and delaying the harvesting. Oamaru, Saturday. The second competition for choice of colonial representatives for North Otago was completed this morning. All six competitors qualified. The top scorer, King, is believed to have made the highest score in the colony. The following are the scores :—Sergeant King, No. 1 Company, first competition, 97 ; second, 100 ; total, 197. Volunteer Harding, No. 1 Company, first competition, 90 ; second, 96 ; total, 186. Captain Morton, 0.C.C., first competition, 92 ; second 92 ; total, 184. "Volunteer Laurie, No. 1 Company, first competition, 89 ; second, 87 ; total, 176. Volunteer McCorkindale, first competition, 93 ; second, 82 ; total, 175. Volunteer Selbyj No. 1 Company, first competition, 90 ; second, 81 ; total, 171. Dunedin, Thursday. Captain Baldwin is said to have thrown up the Editorship of the Guardian, because the provincial party on the directory attempted to interfere with him in conducting the policy of the paper ; the result has been a split amongst the directors, and the probable sale of the Guardian and Southern Mercury. ' Friday. The attempt to raise a water supply company for Milton has collapsed, only 2500 out of the promised 6000 shares having been applied for. The prospectus of the Clutha Times Company is published. Capital, £2OOO. Paper to be bi-weekly. The names of the best men in the Clutha district are on the provisional directory. Mr. Stout is one of the directors. The policy is to be provincialist. Saturday. The employes of the railway department went by special train to Waihola this morning. There -was a grand picnic held on the margin of the lake, some five or six hundred persons being present. Some good foot-racing and other sports came off. A number of tradesmen contributed liberally towards the prize fund, which amounted to over £6O. Mrs. Donald lleid presented the prizes. This is the first picnic, but it is to become an annual outing. The weather was fine. The arrest of G. H. Campbell has created quite a stir in town. Monday. The vital statistics for the Dunedin district for January give births, 161 ; deaths, 44 ; laarriages, 35. De Murska gives six concerts on alternate nights, at the Queen's Theatre, commencing on the 7th of February. De Murska gives six concerts on alternate nights, at the Queen's Theatre, commencing on the 7th February. Tuesday. "The Daily Times of this morning has a sarcastic leader on Taiaroa's announcement that he is now a supporter of the Abolition of Provinces' Act. It concludes thus:—Upon the whole we shall try to look upon Mr. Taiaroa's change of sides with such equanimity as we may, and we are glad to see that so able a supporter has been added to the Government Tanks. They want all they can get. Mr. Charles Bright, the Victorian lecturer, made his first appearance before the Dunedin public in the Temperance Hall last night. Mr. H. S. Chapman, late Judge of the Supreme Court, presided. The lecture was on "Yankee Humor." Mr. Bright was well received, but hardly realised the high expectations entertained concerning him. He lectures again to-night. A committee of citizens has been appointed to take the necessary measures to have the fever hospital erected on Tower Hill by the City Council removed. They intend making a final appeal to the Council to do so ; and in case of refusal, compulsory measures in the shape of legal proceedings will be taken. A sum of £SOO was raised in town in two hours, for the purpose of meeting any expenses which may be incurred between ■ 6th January and Ist l-'ebruary of the present year. There were 76 nominations, equal to &2>h .statute adults, made through the Dunedin Immigration Office for free passages to the colony. Smith, of No. 1 Company, and Captain Goldie, Port Chalmers Naval Brigade, have signified their intention to take part in the ■Colonial Prize Firing.'

The defendant will move for a new trial in the breach of promise case of Hughes v. Shand. The Admiralty case in which the owners of the steamer Express claim £3OO, salvage for services rendered to the steamer Taiaroa on the occasion of her stranding at the Bluff, is set down for hearing on March 6. This is the first case of the. kind here, and attracts considerable attention. The revenue of the Otago Harbor Board for the past month is £1782 3s. 5d., and its expenditure, £3OBO 12s. lOd. A man was fined £lO in the Police Court to-day for allowing his horses to trespass on the railway line. At the Police Court to-morrow, Inglis and Co., drapers, will be proceeded against for holding a lottery of pictures and works of art without authority. John Keys was fined to-day twenty shillings for altering the date of. a weekly railway ticket. The right of the Corporation to make use of the Town Belt for other recreative purposes is to be decided at court. Wednesday. The remanded charge of embezzlement against F. C. Corby fell through at the Police Court to-day. The accused should have been proceeded against for embezzling cash, and not a cheque, as stated in the information. The Guardian this morning contains the fol] owing telegram from its Melbourne correspondent :—" I interviewed Sir Julius Vogel on his arrival here, and he said that circumstances must decide, perhaps at the last moment, whether he proceeded to New Zealand direct or to Sydney. He thought it would be necessary for him to visit Sydney in connection with the Pacific Mail contract, and it was with regret he noticed the mishaps which had taken place; but he, on behalf of the Government, had endeavored to do his duty, and he believed that the service would work through to a success. With reference to the submarine cable between New Zealand and Australia, he saw no reason why it should not be laid by April next,.. according to contract. The steamer Edinburgh had brought part of the plant, and the remainder was probably on its way in a steamer which was reported to him as one of the best in the world (if not actually the best) for the purpose of telegraphic cable laying. On the immigration question his ideas were unchanged. He still believed that a stream of immigration, judiciously conducted, was required to develop the resources of New Zealand. A rumor, he was aware, had been circulated that he intended to sever his connection with New Zealand. If he were to notice a tenth part of the absurd rumors circulated regarding him, his hands would be full. It had even been said, so he believed, that he did not intend to return to New Zealand at all. He observed with gratification a new development in the trade between New Zealand and Sydney, McMeckan, Blackwood and Co. having started a monthly steamer on that line. Captain McMeckan also informed him that the firm intended to run steamers from Melbourne to Hobarton, and thence to New Zealand, returning by the same route. During his stay in England he had effected an important arrangement with the Bank of England, in the interests of New Zealand. The Bank of England would henceforwax'd inscribe New Zealand stock, and probably the Australian colonies would bring themselves under the same arrangement. His health had been far from good, but he was able to get about during his stay in Melbourne, and had conferred both with Sir George Bowen and Sir James McCulloch on matters affecting the common interests of the colonies. He could not say at the present moment what immediate steps the New Zealand Government would take in the matter of immigration. His colleagues in New Zealand could answer the question just now better than he coxxld." Thursday. Judgment was delivered this morning in the City Police Court in the case of A. and T. Inglis, Dunedin drapers, who were proceeded against by the police for having instituted a lottery in connection with their business. The information was dismissed, on the grounds that the firm was not beneficially interested, as ticket-holders had received full value for their money. Charles Bright repeats his lectures on Friday and Saturday evenings at reduced prices. He is regarded as a failure. It has been decided to hold a Queenstown regatta upon St. Patrick's Day. Prizes amounting to £2OO will be offered. The sixoared race will be open to all-comers. The prize for it is £6O. The Clutha Leader of to-day states that Mr. Shipton, Dunedin, commercial traveller, received a sunstroke the other day in the neighborhood of Bald Hill, between Roxburgh and Alexandra. Mr. Shipton, by last accounts, was recovering slowly. The temperature exceeded lOOdeg. in the shade. No progress is being made with the Deborah Bay tunnel on the Dunedin and Moeraki railway. The line contractors are said to have lost heavily, and the work will probably be re-let. Operations have been resumed on the Clutha and Mataura railway line. Mr. Talfourd Young, agent for the Simonsen Opera Company, has arrived by the Omeo to-day, for the purpose of making arrangements for their early appearance. The company number sixty performers, selected from the leading opera houses in Europe. Invercargill, Wednesday. The streets were lighted with gas for the first time last evening. The formal inauguration of the gas supply takes place to-morrow night.