TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4356, 6 March 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[Peb Press Agencv.l Auckland, Friday. A circular has been received from the General Government by the Highway Boards throughout the,province, supposed to be either in connection with the proposed constitutional changes or as to the basis of a property-tax. It refers chiefly to the amount of rateable property in the district, and the amount of taxation raised. The Inspector of sheep announces that no case of scab exists within thirty miles of Auckland. The Yew Zealand Insurance Company have received a telegram stating that the steamer Pretty Jane has been successfully floated, and that the cost of repairs and recovery will not exceed £IBOO. Napier, Friday. Two other fires have occurred in the Poverty Bay district. Poulgrain’s seven-roomed house was burned, and nothing saved. Mulloney’s hotel at Tologa : Bay was also burned. The fire occurred in the day time. The Gisborne Music Hall had a narrow escape from fire on Wednesday night, through the upsetting of a kerosene lamp. The steamer Pretty Jane, which was stranded in the Big River, at Poverty Bay, has been got off and safely towed into the Bay. A libel action is threatened by Mr. Johnstone, proprietor of the ferry at the'Western Spit, against H. Ellison, surveyor, Napier, in rc a letter in the HaivL-e's Bay Herald, accusing Johnstone of gross mismanagement, of the ferry. The case has since been settled between the parties, Ellison paying the preliminary expenses. “East Lynne” was played last night to an immense house, for the benefit of Mrs. Bates. Wanganui, Friday. A dwelling-house in the occupation of Mr, Scheriff, on No. 2 line, three miles out of town, was destroyed by fire this morning at four o’clock. The inmates narrowly escaped. The fire is supposed to have originated in the fireplace. Nothing was saved. It was insured in the Liverpool and London for £BOO. Mr. Williamson’s dwelling-house in Waitotara was totally destroyed by'fire yesterday afternoon. The origin of the fire is unknown. The damage done is estimated at £3OO. The place was uninsured. No further particulars are to hand. •' Tauranga, Friday. The Luna arrived yesterday with Sir Donald McLean, who T was enthusiastically received. An immense number of natives at present throng the town. ■ - ■ Sir Donald McLean was busy all day in receiving deputations from various public lodges, and transacting native business. He leaves per Luna at midnight for Whakataue> to attend, a, monster native meeting. He returns here on Monday. Graham stows, Friday. A deal of sickness ,is prevalent amongst children. The death-rate for February is unusually high.. ./Twenty-three deaths were registered for the district, nineteen being of children under one year. The causes of deaths were dysentery, convulsions, and diarrhoea. •• • ■ : ‘Kelson, Friday. The Horticultural Sh ow yesterday was very successfully 'There was a splendid collection of fruits of all kinds.- 1 ■ > -ry: , ; Christchurch, Friday. ; ,At the Philosophical Society’s meeting last night;, a' letter ‘ was read from . Mr. Woodfield, 1 at l Oxford, respecting the supposed moa footprints. Dr. Powell said he had seen the casts by.,Mr. Woodfield, and had no doubt , the. were those of a wallaby.

A ihanl -named -Edward Hayton fell into a well at Addington last night, and when extricated was dead.

Fine weather has been .experienced for the ram show to-day, and the-general quality of the, entries was very. good, especially in imported slieep, of, which a • good number were entered. The i business done wde very small. Only one or two imported rams were sold. The highest price obtained was 41 guineas. There were no buyers present from other provinces. ■ ■ Dunedin, Friday. The millers have reduced flour 30s. per ton. Price now, £lO 10s. .This action is mainly due to the keen competition and large recent arrivals from Adelaide. The Guardian reports that the General Government refuses to confer on the Harbor Board the powers winch the Superintendent formerly possessed. A. Armstrong has been appointed railway manager, vice Conyers, resigned. The Qluthn Leader has been' informed that he intends to visit Clutha next week, for the purpose of completing arrangements for the opening of the through line from-Chain Hills to Holyneaux lliver. He intends to run a train from Dunedin right up to the mouth of the tunnel, and from the upper end of the tunnel to the Molyneaux Kiver, providing for two miles of a break over the Chain Hills by coach. He is sanguine of being able to make arrangements whereby passengers 1 to Balclutha will reach their destination within three hours.