TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4386, 10 April 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[Pek Press Agency.] Auckland, Friday. Ralph’s hotel, near the Waikato coal-mine, has been totally destroyed by fire. It was insured in the .Norwich Union for £SO. The fire is supposed to have originated from the pipe of a drunken man lying under the hotel. The nomination for Mr. John Williamson’s seat in the Assembly was held at noon. Messrs. Dignan and Dargaville were proposed. The show of hands resulted as follows ;—Dignan, 65 ; Dargaville, 47. The poll takes place on Wednesday next. A singular omission has been discovered in the Pi’otection of Animals Act, 1873. In the clause intended to empower land-owners to shoot on their own land without a license, the words, “on own property,” are omitted, so that the clause reads that any person in lona fide occupation of land, or any person authorised by him, may shoot without a license. The game season is now approaching, and it is considered that difficulty will arise from the faulty construction of the Act. The Health Officer reports a case of scarlatina in the city. A Maketu telegram states that Sir Donald McLean proceeds to Wellington overland tonight. The natives express great satisfaction with his decisions. Mr. Dargaville, at the nomination to-day, declared himself in favor of the abolition of the provinces 'throughout the colony, as the only means of getting hold of the land revenue. In other matters he would support Sir George Grey. Mr. Dignan made no promises, but came forward as a supporter of Sir George. Alexandra, Friday. Tawhiao and his immediate followers arrived at Pekanui last evening, en route for the Kuiti meeting. He will call at Kopua this morning. The natives are making inquiries, at Rewi’s instigation, regarding the pakeha Moffatt’s antecedents. He proffers cheques in payment for large sums, which cannot be cashed. He has told the natives to come to no terms with the Native Minister at present, as a member of Parliament from England has been deputed by the Queen to come here and redress all their grievances. Napier, Friday. Messrs. Routledge, Kennedy, and Co. sold at Hastings 2000 merino ewes at 3s. Gd.; GBS store ewes, 3s. 6d. to 45.; 300 fat merino wethers, 7s. 6d.; and 535 wethers at 4s. A meeting of the creditors of Frederick Jones, bootmaker, will be held at noon to-morrow. His liabilities are £I6OO ; assets, £1000; J. G. Kinross is secured for £4OO, leaving £6OO to be divided amongst the rest of the creditors. The matter will probably be arranged without going into the Bankruptcy Court. At the meeting of the Napier Gas Company this afternoon, it was decided to employ T. R. Cooper to superintend the erection of the works, &c., in preference to calling for tenders. A telegram from Waipukurau states that a Maori got his arm crushed in a thrashing machine, and died in consequence of the injuries he sustained.

Mr. and Mrs. Case are drawing full houses. They leave for Wellington to-morrow by the Rangatira. Dunedin, Friday. The Hon. Mr. Richardson, Minister for Public Works, and the Hon. Major Atkinson Minister of Immigration, have been making visits of inspection since their arrival in Dunedin. The Hon. Mr. Richardson inspected the railway works opened at Hillside, and the works at the Chain Hill Tunnel, on Wednesday. Yesterday he visited the railway works being carried on in the vicinity of Port Chalmers. Mr. Richardson was satisfied with the progress made, and especially with the work at the Chain Hill Tunnel. Major Atkinson visited the Immigration Depot at Caversham. THE LYTTELTON MURDER. Christchurch, Friday. In the Supreme Court, this morning, John Mercer was arraigned for the murder of Isabella Thompson at Lyttelton One of to-day’s journals makes the following remarks on the case : —As might have been anticipated, the interest centred in this case showed itself in a very unmistakeable manner by the large number of persons who sought admission to. the Supreme Court this morning. For a considerable time prior to the opening of the Court, a large number of persons were assembled outside, with a view to obtaining the best places tiiat were available, immediately on the doors being thrown open. Precautionary measures had been taken by the Sheriff, Dr. Beck, in order that there should be no unseemly scramble for seats and owing to the efficient way in which his instructions were carried out by the police, no confusion of any kind occurred. The public gallery was open to everybody, and it may lie guessed that in a very few minutes it was closelypacked. The consequence was that many were unable to obtain admission. The precincts of the court were also crowded by a large number of people, who remained there for the purpose of getting a sight of the , prisoner, hut it was only in a few instances that their morbid curiosity was gratified. It may be noted that amongst the auditory there was but a very small sprinkling of females. The prisoner was brought up by the uine o’clock train from Lyttelton, and conveyed from the railway station to the courthouse in * a ’bus, together with other prisoners and a number of warders. On his arraignment lie appeared to be most thoroughly self-possessed, and gazed round the court with a degree of sangfroid that was quite at variance with the serious nature of the charge on which he was iudicted. There was the usual rush forward of heads to catch a glimpse of the prisoner on his being placed in the dock, but he made no effort whatever to escape the scrutinising glances that were directed towards him. In general appearance he looks like one belonging to the artisan class, and physiognomists must indeed have wonderful powers of discrimination who could single him out from a number of other people, and induce the belief that he above all the rest was calculated to commit such a hideous crime as that for which he now stands upiou his trial. When the indictment was read over to him by the learned registrar, and he w'as asked to plead, he uttered the words “ Not guilty ” with a clear and audible articulation and subsequently scrutinised the members o the jury as the result of the ballot called them to their seats in the jury box. Eight witnesses have been examined, all the evidence being very stroug against the prisoner. T. J. Joyntis the prisoner’s counsel.