Telegraphic News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 317, 9 March 1878, Page 9

Telegraphic News.

Auckland, Friday. An accident occurred on the railway near Hamilton to-day. A train of waggons were being “braked” down the incline to the gravel pits, when they escaped from the control of the brakesman, and “ took charge,” the result being that ten waggons were more or less injured. Saturday. The Colonial Secretary to-day, in reply to a deputation of Kerauera residents, said the Government had fully determined to close the Newmarket slaughter-house. The Government ha 3 paid the water-rate on the post-office, and the supply will be resumed by the city authorities. Monday. The City Waterworks pumping machinery has been tested, and raised 1000 gallons 230 ft. with of coal. The half-yearly Odd Fellows’ report shows 14 district lodges of the Manchester Unity, with 1108 members. The total investments are £2350. The Italian Opera Company break up here. The prima donna, Signora Guadagniui, with Cesari, Gambetti, and Nobili, go to Sydney, and the others make a concert tour throughout the colony. Two men have been severely burned at the Onehunga fire. The correct list of insurances is—New Zealand : Longley’s shop and building, £6OO ; Leahy’s boot shop and dwelling, £IOO ; Somerville’s stock, £3OO. Standard Company : Longley’s furniture, reisnured in the Union, £3OO ; England’s £2OO, and house, £SO. South British : Broadfoot’s building, £l4O. A fire broke out at Onehunga last night and destroyed nine shops and dwelling-houses. Langley’s house and shop were insured in the New Zealand and Standard offices for £I4OO. Grigland’s store was insured in the Standard for £250; a considerable portion of the stock was saved. Leary’s building was insured for £l5O ; the goods were not insured. Burns was not insured. The jams in Morris’s building were owned by George Broadfoot, and were insured for £2OO in the South British. The other stock and furniture were uninsured. The other losses were not covered by insurance. Wednesday. Bishops Moran and Redwood are visiting the Catholic schools. Sixteen deaths occurred in Auckland during February. Cooke’s upholstery warehouse caught fire for the third time to-day in the roof. The flames were quickly extinguished. The supposed cause of the fire was a spark from the chimney. A girl named O’Meara was severely burned to-day through another child throwing lighted matches on her clothes, which ignited. It is feared that the injuries will be fatal. Grahamstown, Wednesday. Bishop Moran and Bishop Redwood visited the Thames yesterday. The former administered the rite of confirmation to 170 candidates, and preached on education, condemning the secular system. He characterised the Education Act as infamous, and said that no true Catholic could take act or part in administering it. Tauranga, Saturday. I regret to have to record the melancholy intelligence of the capsize of a boat yesterday within the harbor, eight miles from the town, on the passage to Omokoroa, the residence of Mr. T. Gillibrand. During a heavy squall the boat upset, and Mrs. Gillibrand, who was a passenger, was drowned. Her body was recovered this morning, and has just been brought into town by Mr. Gillibrand and the natives, and awaits a coroner’s inquest. Alexandra, Tuesday. A large meeting of natives will be held at Kuiti on the 7th. The natives from the East and West Coasts will attend. The King will be present. It is said that the next meeting with Sir George Grey will be the largest ever held, as great influence is being brought to bear to have representatives of every tribe in the island present. Taupo, Saturday. All the surveys at Taupo are finished, the natives giving every assistance. Mr. Noble, of Taupo, lost himself on the Tokoroa Plains for three days, when travelling from Cambridge to Taupo. He arrived in a weak and exhausted state. "Wednesday. There was a severe snowstorm here yesterday. Messrs. Murray and Carrick, of the Thames, attempted an assent of Tongariro, but were turned ba.ck by the natives, and arrived here last night. The natives feel annoyed at ;* these;, .clandestine. attempts .to ascend' the

Gisborne, Thursday. The criminal prosecution against Lawrence and others, for the destruction of the late Captain Reid’s property, has occupied the past two days. The Resident Magistrate held that there was no forcible entry, as it was clearly proved that the tenant permitted the entry, and the case was therefore dismissed, the magistrate recommending proceedings to be taken against both sides. Napier, Sunday. Last night some highly successful telephone experiments were conducted between Napier and Waipukurau. The telegraph offices’ instruments used were made in Napier by Mr. Eva and Mr. Arnell. Those at first made were not found so effective as was desired. But the gentlemeu named made some imp rtant alterations of their own which answered admirably. Songs were sung at each end, and heard very distinctly, even to the brogue in “ Finnigan’s Wake.” The persons speaking were recognised by their voices. As a last experiment the “National Anthem” was sung by all present in Napier, the telephone being held in the middle of the group, and it was heard at Waipukurau. The experiment was repeated from the other end with equal success. Wednesday. In reference to the alleged jobbery in the Emigration Department at Home, respecting ship surgeons, about which an evening paper of the first instant had an explanation, the Herald's informant writes, substantiating his charges, and pointing out the absurdity of the enquiry instituted by Sir J. "Vogel. Feilding, Wednesday. The last rails connecting Foxton and Wangauui were laid last week near Marton, and the contractors started the first through train this morning from Feilding, conveying a party of ladies and gentlemen, meeting the Wanganui train at Marton. New Plymouth, Monday. Mr. Jones, who has just returned from the Mokau, states that Revvi has visited that place. In coming down the River Waikato he remained a few days and visited the Europeans daily, taking food in the stores. He expressed great pleasure at seeing the Europeans settled there and on friendly terms, and said he would advise the Government to do whatever the landowners and settlers required to open up trade. Rewi has now returned to Waikato, and it is expected that he will arrange for Tawhiao’s coming to Waitara to meet Sir George Grey. This is the first instance of Rewi having visited the Europeans on the West Uoast since the commencement of the Waitara war. Thursday. A telephone was used on the Waitara train yesterday, and the guard and engine-driver communicated with each other. Their voices were distinctly heard, notwithstanding the noise and vibration of the carriages. Nelson, Saturday. A fire at Stoke last night resulted in the total destruction of three stacks of wheat and one of barley, in all eight hundred bushels, belonging to a farmer named Alport. The fire is supposed to have originated in a stack heating. A strong wind was blowing at the time. The stacks were uninsured. Westport, Friday. At an inquest on the fire at Clarke’s Rink Hall the jury returned an open verdict. The cause of the fire is unknown. Reeeton, Thursday. A crushing of 725 tons of quartz from the Welcome Company’s mine, Boatman’s Creek, yielded 25670z5. of gold. Greymouth, Thursday. The following are the weights for the Jockey Club Handicap, to be run on the Greymouth course on Monday, March 18 :—Nutcracker, 9st. 91b.; Elfin King, 9st. 31b.; Jasper, Bst. 71b.; Banker, Bst.; Morning Star, Bst.; Doncaster, 7st. 121 b.; Native, 7st. 121 b.; Kensington, 7st. 101 b.; Venus Transit, 7st. 91b.; Maurama, 7st. Sib. ; Septimus, 7st. 81b.; Falcon, 7st. 21b.; Eclipse, 7st.; Thunderbolt, 6st. 101 b. Hokitika, Thursday. A long letter has been received from Mr. Alex. Reid by his brother here. It came by the Christchurch mail, and its tone is quite cheerful and chatty, and there is nothing in it whatever to indicate depressed spirits on the part of the writer, but the very reverse. Christchurch, Saturday. The Gas Company has decided to reduce the price of gas to 11s. sd. per 1000 ft. The calendar at the next criminal session of the Supreme Court will be unusually heavy. There are already fourteen prisoners. Six indictments are preferred against one Stephen Samuel. A fish hawker named Brightning was found drowned in the River Avon last night. The Salisbury Troubadour's opened last night. Their performance was a great success. The Customs receipts for February were unusually heavy, exceeding £30,000. 'The Board of Governors of the Canterbury College have adopted the plans for anew School building, to cost £6OOO. Monday. W. G. Butler, who fired at a guard on the South railway train on Saturday week, was brought up under the Lunatics Act. After he had been examined by a number of medical gentlemeu, they pronounced him to be insane. He was very violent while within the precincts of the court, and on a medical certificate was committed to the asylum as a dangerous lunatic. Information has been received by the police that for some time before leaving Invercargill Butler was in the habit of carrying a gun with him wherever he went ; and altogether his conduct had been very eccentric for some time past. U Matson and Co. celebrated", the opening-of I their' -coni’ 'exchange 'arid we'ekly graih 'sales

on Saturday by a free banquet, 100 poi sons being present. The affair was a great success. At an auction sale which was held subsequently a large quantity of grain was sold—wheat at from 4s. 7id. to 4s. Sd.; oats, 3s. 9^d.; barley, 4s. 4d. to ss. Id.; and rye grass, 6s. 7d. A. pigeon race between Ashburton and Christchurch, fifty miles, for young birds, was won by Earnshaw’s Luua, in oue hour fortynine minutes. Morris, the New Zealand Blondin, concluded a successful season on Saturday. He leaves for Dunedin to-day. Tuesday. A Masonic Lodge, under the Irish Constitution, will be opened on Tuesday next. A Shipping Company’s telegram, dated February 2S, notifies the arrival of the Waitangi at London. The waste lands sales during February realised £74,668. A youth named Match, while riding at the Hurunui races on Friday, got a nasty spill, and died yesterday. The police are taking proceedings against the grocers for selling local-made wines, which hitherto have been looked on as a Good Templars’ drink, hut which, ou analys s, was proved to contain 15 per cent of alcohol. At an auction sale to-day, the freehold of the Borough Hotel, High-street, the lease of which expires in December, 1878, was sold for £6500. The freehold of Carl’s Empire H tel, High-street, 30ft. by 105 ft., subject to a lease at £1 per foot, which expires in June, 1832, was sold for £SIOO. The occuper of the hotel was the purchaser in each case. Wednesday. At 4 o’clock this morning a large boardinghouse adjoining Maples’ Southern Hotel was destroyed by fire. The insurance is not known. Several buildings in the vicinity had a narrow escape. The United States Minstrels concluded an exceedingly successful season last night. They go hence to Dunedin. The boarding-house destroyed by fire this morning was owned by Mr. Buchanan, of Wellington, and was insured for £4OO in the Victoria office. Mr. Bird, who occupied the building, was uninsured, and estimates his loss at £3OO. Two boarders lost property to the value of £IOO. The fire is supposed to have resulted from a defect in the building near the chimney. Thursday. The entries for the Canterbury Ram and Ewe Fair comprise 2385 rams and 2301 ewes. Yesterday, at the Wesleyan Anniversary services, Dr. Gervase Smith, as the Fiepresentative of the British Conference, was present ; he received an address of welcome. The receipts at yesterday’s and Sunday’s services exceeded £9OO. Further inquiries respecting the late fire show the insurances to be—Union £6OO on the building, and Victoria, £4OO on furniture. Akaroa, Tuesday. At a meeting of the Akaroa County Council to-day it was resolved to adopt the Act in its entirety. Temuka, Monday. Joseph Ivess has sold the Temuka Leader to Mr. J. J. Utting, at present employed on the literary staff of the Lyttelton Times. Timaru, Friday. Mr. Goodall, Engineer for the Harbor B >ard, left this morning for Wellington to submit to the Commission plans and specifications of a 30ft. mole, at a cost of not less than £20,000. It is proposed to start at the point where Balfour commenced, the breakwater, a few years ago. It will be constructed of two solid walls of concrete blocks, thirty tons each, the space to be filled with rubble, the walls to be an average thickness of 10ft. each. The mole will be 27ft. broad at the base, 28ffc. at top, and covered with solid monolithic concrete, sft. thick. It will be 13ft. above low water, and 6ft. above ordinai*y spring tide. Greatest depth at low water 14ft. The plan is similar to the one sent on by Panagathos (Goodall’s). Should the Commission approve of the plans, tender's will be called at once, the work then can commence in three months time. The engineer estimates he can finish it in six months from then. The Harbor Board rescinded the former resolution to get Sir John Coode here. The Hon. E. W. Stafford has issued an address to the electors resigning his seat for Timaru in the Assembly. A fracas occurred yesterday evening. A darkie named Charisten Messiah leaving here by the Ashburton train was pounced upon by a storekeeper to whom he owed money. The storekeeper pounded him and then entered a trap and drove off followed by the darkie, who obtained a carving knife, and just as he entered the shop of the storekeeper was collared by the police. This aftei’noon at a full meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, he! I to consider a report from the committee re the railw-y: tariff between here and Lyttelton, the report was unanimously adopted, arid it wa- resolved to request the Dunedin and Oamaru Chambers of Commerce and Harbor Boards to co-operate vvith Timaru in asking the Government to have the tariff placed ou au equitable footing at once. Saturday. Mr. Richard Turnbull has consented to be nominated for Timaru, vacant by the resignation of Mr. Stafford. He will probably be elected. The customs revenue for February is £2439 Is. Sd., against £I63S 6s. 9d. for the corresponding month last year. r Phe criminal session of the District Court commenced ou Monday in the new Courthouse before Judge Ward. Six cases are set down for hearing—four for larceny, one for perjury, and one for assault, with intent to do bodily harm. Monday. The criminal sessions of the District Court were held to-day, in the new Court-house, before

Judge Ward. The case against Isabella Dack for larceny of goods belonging to Sutler and Co. is arranged to come off at the Supreme Court, which will sit here in June.—John Mathews, for assault occasioning bodily harm, \ was fined 405., or 7 days.—Peter MaeKugh, convicted of larceny, was sentenced to eighteen months hard labor.—JohnHennessy was found guilty of larceny. There were two previous convictions against him, and he was sentenced to two years’ hard labor.—D. McCracken, convicted of larceny, received a sentence of six months hard labor. Tuesday. Mr. Edward Wakefield, M.H.R. for Geraldine, will contest the seat for Timaru against Mr. Turnbull. A sharp contest is expected. Wednesday. The District Court has been occupied for two days trying the case of perjury against Elora McKinnon. Late in the afternoon tha jury acquitted the accused. Mr. Hamersley defended, and in addressing the jury made a most telling speech, especially commenting on London’s and Agnew’s evidence. His address lasted an hour, and was eagerly listened to by the large number of people in Court. The result will determine the affiliation cas°, F’ora McKinnon v. .John London, previously before the Resident Magistrate, who deferred judgment till the perjury case had concluded. London will also pay £3OO, damages, awarded to Flora McKinnon by the Supreme Court. In the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day an adjourned case by the police against, Margaret Wilson, for child murder, was heard. The prisoner was acquitted previously by the coroner’s inquest returning a verdict of accidental death, but she was committed to stand her trial at the Supreme Court for wilful murder. Mr. Richard Turnbull, in to-night’s South Canterbury Times, consents, in reply to a hugely signed requisition, to stand for the vacant seat for Timaru. Mr. Wakefield has declined to stand. Tap .nui Friday. Messrs. Bastings and Blair are here to-day arranging matters with respect to the Wai-pahe-Tapanui railway. Dunedin, Saturday. The Primitive Methodist Church bazaar, which has concluded, realised about £4OO. Tuesday. At 2 o’clock on the afternoon of the 3rd inst. a girl named Bella Bell, whi e gathering firewood near the railway station at Blueskin, found a box with a label ou the lid, on which was written in large letters the following words :—“ If you find my motherless darling, I pray for Jesus’ sake bury it in the true Catholic way.” The girl immediately reported the matter to the constable stationed in the distinct. On going to the place he found a soap box as described. It was tied systematically with small twine, and on opening it the constable found the body of a male child in a perfect state. There were no marks of violence on the body, and the child was dressed in a neat and respectable manner. It is supposed that the box was left there by a passenger by the evening train on Monday. An inquest will be held on Thursday. The country districts are preparing for the reception of Sir George Grey, but nothing is being done in the city. Wednesday. Mr. Reynolds has sent in his resignation as member of the House of Representatives. Thursday. Macandrew and Captain Fraser arrived overland last night. About sixty gentlemen met the Minister of Lands, and gave him three cheers. Grey arrives to-morrow afternoon. A private meeting was held relative to the reception of Grey and party. Amongst the proposals agreed to is a public meeting at the theatre to-morrow, at which the Premier gives an address, and a banquet for Saturday night. The Times denies that Grey received a cool reception at Invercargill. Lawrence, Monday. It has been raining here almost incessantly since Saturday afternoon. Yesterday the rainfall was exceedingly heavy. There is no appearance of the weather clearing up. The various creeks in the neighborhood have swollen considerably, and there is every likelihood of a heavy flood if the rain continues. The committee appointed to arrange the preliminaries for the banquet to Mr. J. C. Brown, M.H.R., on his return, are meeting with every success. A large number of tickets have been already disposed of. The date has not been definitely fixed, but it is expected that the party will reach here on the 11th instant. Large numbers who speculated on the Dunedin races, and more particularly in backing Hippocampus for the Cup, have lost a considerable amount of money. Invercargill, Sunday. At a mee'ing of the Municipal Council yesterday a motion to make special preparation co receive Sir G'-ey was negatived ; and in was resolved to wait on him relative to the removal of the railway station and the completion of the Government buildings. The Mayor was mthovised to take whateversteps ha might think necessary to hospitably entertain Sir George and party. The entertainment is to be dev> id of every particle of political significance. The .-team r Oreti arrived this morning after a dreadful passage from Dunedin. She met the severe g de early on Friday morning, and ran into Waikanae for shelter, where she lay till next morning, when the sea came in, and the chains parted. The second anchor was let go, and she strained to it until daybreak, when she put to sea, and ran for shelter to the Nuggets. She lay there until Saturday afternoon, and tnen made for Invercargill. The wind was still fresh, and a nasty sea running. She passed the Bluff at 7 o’clock this morning, and anchored inside New River Bar to wait for the tide, and arrived at 11.30 a.m. The weather was dreadful throughout, and once the Oreti was in considerable danger.

The passengers speak in high terms of the behavior of Captain Baylton and his officers and crew. Monday. Mr. Cecil Jackson, late surgeon of the Invercargill Hospital, was brought up on remand on a charge of procuring abortion in the case of Ellen Green, an hospital patient. The Court sat all the afternoon, and is still sitting. The evidence of the housemaid of the hospital, and of an inmate named Mrs. Gutzell, and of Drs. Hanan, McGregor, and Cotterill, was taken ; and all agree that the treatment adopted would produce miscarriage. The case will not be concluded to-night. Wednesday. Mr. Macandrew, with Messrs. Gisborne, Eraser, and Wilson, arrived this morning from Riverton; but the attitud eof the people was so depressing that Mr. Macandrew left for Dunedin by special train at one o’clock. Sir George Grey arrived by special train this afternoon, lie stepped out of the carriage with his hat lifted; but scarcely a score of persons were present, and they appeared comparatively indifferent, and there was no demonstration whatever in the town. Sir George Grey purposes staying here until Friday morning, and will receive deputations to-morrow. Thursday. Several deputations waited on Sir George Grey to-day. One was of merchants and importers, relative to the bonus on rabbit skius. It was pointed out how the sum of £503 on the estimates was miserably insufficient to meet claims already established, and that the Act distinctly provided for a halfpenny per skin being paid. Sir George Grey promised to consider the question. Another deputation was from the Bluff Harbor Board about Sir John Coode’s visit. Sir George Grey said Sir J. Coode had been engaged for a fump sum by the Australian Governments, and if New Zealand desired to have the benefit of his advice, this colony would have to pay pro rata. He thought that the cost to the colony would not exceed £ISOO, or about £3OO each for the harbors to be inspected. He also thought it ought to be made a colonial question, and in that case the Assembly would pass the amount ; but if not, the various harbors would be responsible. Next came a deputation from Winton re the two proposed branch lines to the Nightcap coal reserves, and one from Winton to Obanton. The deputation presented a requisition, which Sir George Grey promised to consider with his colleagues. Then followed a deputation from the Invercargill Town Council about sundry local matters, notably one re the water supply. Sir George Grey promised to send one of the Government engineers to advise the Council, conditionally on his expenses being paid. In compliance with a requisition signed, according to the Mayor’s statement, by forty or fifty people, the names of whom were not read, Sir George Grey consented to address a public meeting this evening. It was held in the drillshed, and there were from about 250 to 300 persons present—certainly not more than the latter number. The shed was rather better than half-filled. The Mayor was voted to the chair, and introduced Sir George Grey, who was received with much enthusiasm, cheers, and applause. He then spoke, commencing upon the question of taxation, with much earnestness, and strove to make himself understood. He went over exactly the same ground as he did during his famous speech at Taranaki, and after dealing with the question of taxation, he went into that of the franchise, and is at the time of telegraphing still speaking. He was frequently applauded. He is to leave for'Dunedin by special train at 11 p.m. , Kiverton, Thursday. A large fire occurred here early this morning, destroying Chapman’s, bookseller; Rogers’ tailor’s shop, Robertson Bros.’ drapery establishment, Wilson and Cochers’ store, Code’s old Royal Hotel, Henderson’s saddler’s shop, and the old Western Star printing office ; hut, fortunately, the -proprietors of the latter place had removed to new premises a week ago. Wilson and Cocher and Robertson Bros, are the heaviest losers, but the amount of the insurances has not yet been ascertained.