TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4236, 17 October 1874, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[Pkbss Telegraph Agknct.] Auckland,. IFrid ay. At the meeting of the South British Insurance Company this afternoon the report was adopted. Messrs. Chamberlain and Howard were re-elected directors. The ship Zealandia is now standing up the harbor. She is from London with 300 immigrants. There is no sickness on board. A fire in Hobson's-street has destroyed a detached house occupied by Smith, a greengrocer: Mrs. Smith was the only person in the house at the time. She was carried out in an unconscious state, half smothered with smoke. Grahamstown, Friday. Mr. James Mackay, junr., has been trying to arrange with the Natives for a piece of land on which to hold the colonial prize firing. One old Native land-owner was obstructive, feeling rather sore at having had to pay rates; but it is hoped that the arrangement will be completed, so that the firing may take place at the Thames. The spot desired is close to the Kauwaeranga Creek. It is approachable both by water and land, and offers admirable facilities for a rifle-range and camping-ground. Dr. Philson and Mr. Lusk, Provincial Accountant, have been sitting for the past two days, investigating charges levelled against the management of the Thames Hospital in connection with Maurice Power's case. It is rumored that Power intends to institute an action against the Hospital authorities for damages for the loss of his arm while he was an inmate of the Hospital. The formation of a Masonic Lodge, uader the English Constitution, is talked of here. Hokitika, Friday. Meat of all kinds is at famine prices on the coast. At last auction sale here bullocks realised £33 per carcase, or from 555. to 70s, per lOOlbs. Several of the butchers are closing their places temporarily, being unable to obtain supplies for their customers. Napier, Friday. There was a very large attendance at the cattle Bhow on Thursday, but the number of exhibits was not so great as had been expected. Several hundreds of people travelled by the railway, which is now in regular working order between Napier and H&stings. It was opened on the 12th, but there was no public ceremony. At a private picnic about 100 persons attended, and all passed off satisfactorily. There was an attempt to set fire to the Crown Hotel at the Spit, on the night of the

11th. The constable on duty found a bundle of shavings and oiled rags underneath the billiard room. The fire was extinguished without any damage being done, and the police offer a reward of £SO for the discovery of the incendiary. 7 p.m. The s.s. Eangatira put back to this port in the afternoon, after having been five days at sea, endeavoring to make her way to Wellington in very rough weather. She was short of coals and provisions. The passengers haye met and presented au address to Captain Lloyd, the officers, and crew, for the skilful manner in which they acted throughout the continuous bad weather. The captain made a mutable reply. Dusedin, Thursday. Captain Wales addresses his constituents next week. An inquiry into the Kattray-street fire commenced to-day. Two witnesses were examined, who swore that Mrs. Schmidt, proprietress o£ the house, caused the fire, and admitted so. Friday. Sergeant Bevan, of the police force, has been promoted to the rank of sergeant-major. The single girls, per ship Invercargill, were landed to-day. The married couples and single men will be brought up to-morrow. Fifty of the immigrants will be sent to Oainaru to-uight, and fifteen to Tokomairiro. The inquiry into the cause of the Rattrayetreet fire was continued to-day. Mrs. Schmidt, the proprietress of the house, said that Sansberg, the witness who had Baid that she set fire to the place, had given his evidence out of spite, as he had proposed for her hand but had been rejected. Sansberg denied thia statement. Pout Chalmers, Friday. There were forty cases of measles and one of typhoid fever during the voyage of the Invercargill, ninety-one days out.