TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4399, 26 April 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[from our own correspondent.] Auckland, Saturday. A deputation from Grahamstown waited on Sir George Grey to-day, regarding the Tairua leasing system. He said he could not interfere with the working of the Mining Districts Act. Moreover, he would have to be satisfied that it was the wish of the majority that the system should be altered, before he could make any representations on the subject to the, General Government. Captain Burke, apprehended on a charge of arson, was released to-day on bail. Correspondence from the East Coast reports that White. Island..is. very, active. Dense volumes of smoke are ascending. The recent severe shocks of earthquake in the Bay of. Plenty came from White Island and travelled in the direction of Rotomahana. On leaving Whakatane the Native Minister was escorted by six hundred natives. Tapsall's great guns fired, a salute. The Echo to-night says the Colonial Secretary has got an opponent in Sir George Grey who has worsted him in argument and means to make the province of Auckland feel it. If the present unsatisfactory condition of .things is caused by suspicion of the General Government, the latter can remove it by displaying anxiety to show the province fair play. The Eev. Charles Clark's lecture on the Tower of London, last night, was well attended. He preaches a sermon to-morrow in aid of the Ladies' Benevolent Society. A man named William Phillips twice attempted to drown himself, and has been sent to the Lunatic Asylum. Sir George Grey does not intend to appoint a goldfields' secretary. [ The General Government has handed the •Waikato roads over to the Provincial Government. ' . Rumor states that an action, involving £BO,OOO, is pending, regarding the Waikato railway. , , . ,■ The line between Mercer and Ngaruawhia is rapidly progressing. It is expected that the line will be completed to Ngaruawhia about Christmas, and to Hamilton about June next year. ; [Per Press Agency.] Auckland, Saturday. William Phillips, who has been committed to the lunatic asylum, threw himself twice from the wharf in a state of mental aberration. When taken to his lodgings he ran out without clothes. Wanganui, Saturday. The result of the election for Kangitikei is as follows :—For Mr. Ballance, 112 ; for Mr. Watt, 105 ; for Mr. Hutchison, 27. Mr. Ballance, therefore, is elected to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of the Jlon. Mr. Fox. At Marton the voting was as under :—Ballance, 70 ; Watt, 47 ; and Hutchison, 18. At Bull's—Ballance, 22 ; Watt, 23 ; Hutchison, i. The annual meeting of the Rifle Association! was held last night, when most satisfactory reports were presented. Sommerville, the retiring secretary, was presented with a gold guard and locket for past services. Tauranga, Saturday. The Bay of Plenty Times this morning favorably reviews the " Official Handbook." White Island is extraordinarily active. The weather is cloudy and oppressive, and the drought still continues. Napier, Saturday. Captain FairchilcJ, of the Luna, endeavored to raise the sunken steam-tug Una, but failed, it being too heavily laden and too firmly embedded in the sand. The decks were torn asunder in the attempt. The buoy on the Pauia Rock has been replaced, i It is intended to make an experiment on the 450 feet of artesian piping expended on the recent attempt to get water at the Spit. Captain IFairchild purposes placing a charge of lithofracteur at the lowest attainable point in

the pipe, which will be filled with water, and an iron cap fastened on the top. When the explosion takes place, the shock is expected to be sufficient to raise the pipe or loosen it, so that it can easily be drawn out. Doubts are expressed as to the feasibility of the scheme, but it is worth trying. The duration of Sir Donald McLean's stay here is uncertain. Complaints of want of rain still continue. Fat stock is rising in price. Routledge, Kennedy, and Co. sold yesterday thirty fat cows and steers, &c. Fat beasts realised £8 ss. to £9 15s. ; two and a half-year-old heifers, spayed, £5 10s. to £6 15s. ; store steers, £2 to £5 10s. Cases of sickness, but not serious,. are increasing. Doctors differ as to the kind of fever prevalent, and whether it was brought here by immigrant ships, but the public have very little doubt on the subject. The new Colonial Bank premises are being rapidly completed, and will open for business shortly. They form a neat and appropriate building, from plans by Mr. Ben. Smith. . - '" .- A new hotel is being put up at Woodville, Seventy-mile Bush, at the junction of Masterton and Main South-road from Napier to Wanganui and Wellington via Palmerston. At present there is no hotel from Tamaki to Palmerston Bridge at Manawatu Gorge. The new hotel is expected to open in a few weeks. Christchdrch, Sunday. On Saturday night fifteen nominations were received for the Champagne Stakes of 1876, comprising—Redwood, three ; Richardson, one, Mallock, one; Webb .[Watt.?], four; H. Campbell, one ; Wilmer, one ; Walters, one ; Delamain, two ; and Nosworthy, one. The same nominations, excepting one by Wilmer, were made for the St. Leger Stakes of 1877. The number of gaming tables at the races haß increased so greatly of late that the police have received instructions to put them dowm A raid was made upon them on Friday, and several of their proprietors summoned before the Resident Magistrate on Saturday, but being the first cases of the kind brought before the Court all the defendants were dismissed with a Btrong caution. . • The bookmakers must have made a great haul at the the races, most of the favorites (all of which were heavily backed) being defeated. Parawhenua won the Autumn Handicap. This was very good for the ring, as he was scarcely backed at all. Castaway, Templeton, King Philip, and Tadmor carried lots of money, especially Castaway, who, after winning the St. George's Handicap on .Friday,, was, regarded as a moral certainty for the Autumn Handicap. As a last resort, the losers at the previous races piled it on him heavily, in the hope of pulling themselves straight again. The meeting, as a whole, was the best for good running that has been seen here for a long time.

Nelson, Saturday. A misunderstanding has arisen between the Nelson cricket team and Mr. Wix, the captain, on account of the latter not going on to the ground, but deciding to postpone the match without consulting them. They are so annoyed that some of them refuse to play on Monday, and the country men, five in number, have returned home, determined not to come back. The match, therefore, will not be completed. Blenheim, Saturday. The Provincial Council opened yesterday afternoon. - The Superintendent (A. P. Seymour, M.H.R.) announced his intention to proceed to England by the May San Francisco mail. James Hobson, M.P.C., Mayor of Blenheim, will be appointed Deputy-Superinten-dent. CHRISTCHUKCH AUTUMN MEETING. [Per Pbess Agency.] Christohbch, Saturday. Owing to the state of the weather, His Excellency and Lady Normanby were not present. The results were as follows : Handicap Hurdle Eace of 60 sovs. Two miles. Mr. Stevenson's Tommy Dodd, list. 41b 1 Mr. Eunn's Alice Gray, 9st, .. ' .. .. .. 2 Mr. Mackay's Mousetrap, 9st. .. .. .. .. S Betting—Even against Tommy Dodd, 2 to 1 against Medora, and 3 to 1 about the remainder. Kory O'More, 12st. 71b., and Medora, list. 41b., also ran. After one false start the flag fell to a good line. Medora led off, but soon gave place to Mousetrap, which led over the first hurdle, the favorite coming second. Rory CMore stumbled oa-alighting and threw his jockey, thus losing.twenty lengths:- Passing the stand TommyDodd led Mousetrap by half a length, Alice Gray third, Medora falling rapidly astern. At the fourth r jump Medora ran round, and Rory O'More refusing, both lost all chance. Mousetrap now led, but nearing. the bottom turn Tommy Dodd went up again, and Alice Gray took second place. Tommy led up the straight, and though Alice was severely punished, he w6n easily by half a length. Time, 4min.. 13 Jsec. Great Autumn Handicap of 300 sovs. One and ahalf miles. Mr. Watt's Parawhenua, 7st. 61b ",. 1 Mr. Campbell's Castaway, Bst. 51b 2 Mr. Murphy's-Hercules, 6st.-111b. -.; .. 3 Templeton, 9st. 71b., King Philip, 7st. 111 b., Right Bower, 7st. 101 b., Tadmor, 7st. 31b., Guy Fawkes,.' 7st. 21b., and Princess Mary, 6st. 51b. also ran. The betting was 2 to 1 against Castaway and Templeton, and 4 to 1 against Parawhenua. ' After several false starts; Campbell despatched the lot on even terms; .Templeton rushed to the front and took hiside place, but'was soon passed by Castaway, who at the second corner gave way to Parawhenua and Tadmor. The latter led for a moment or two, along the back of the course; when Parawhenua again took up.the running, with Castaway second, Templeton lying next•;._ Princess Mary and Kory O'More rapidly tailing off. At the bottom of the course all except the last two were together. ! , Parawhenua led into the straight, with Castaway second, and, nearing home, Hercules, came up with a rush, but could not get nearer than third. Parawhenua won by half a length, Castaway two lengthß ahead of Hercules. Templeton finished up fourth, Eight Bower fifth. Time, 2min.. 47|seCS. '.■■:•'•■ : ':'-' Sellino Race of 60 sovs. .Weight for age. One mile. Mr. Hutchinson's Spritsail i Mr. Stevenson's Tommy Dodd' .. .. i> Mr. Murfltt's Kate ... 3 Mr. McKennon's No Gentleman and Mr' Humphrey's The Bat also ran. The betting was 2 to. 1. against Spritsail, 4 to 1 against the remainder. The Bat led at a hot pace until the bottom turn, when Spritsail and Tommy Dodd came away, the former winning easily. Flying Handicap of 160 sovs. Three-quarters of a lnilo. Mr. Delauiain's Templeton, 9st. IMb 1 Mr. Stevonson's Guy Fawkes, 7st 2 Bight Bower, 6st. 101 b., Sonnambula, 7st. 61b., Hercules, 7st. 61b., Ngaro, 6st., Phcebe colt, 6st., Twitter, sst. 71b., Lough Neagh, sst.. 71b., also ran. Betting—2 to 1 about the Phcebe colt and Templeton, 3 to 1 Guy Fawkes, sto 1 about the remainder. After a splendid race the Phcebe colt passed the stand first by half a length, but was disqualified on a protest from the owner of Templeton, on the ground of jostling. It appears that the rider • of the Phcebe colt in the straight lost hold of his reins, and the colt accidentally jostled Templeton. Cavalry Eace of 25 sovs. Trooper Hawkins's Purakinui .. jSix others ran. Consolation Eace of 40 sovb. Mr. Stevenson's Guy Fawkes \ "Mr. Kay's Tadmor .. .. .. .. .. 2 .Rory O'More, Princess Mary, and Guy Fawkes also started. The race was run almost in the dark. Tadmor was a hot favorite.. Coming down the straight all five were in a ruck, and it was anybody's race until within a few yards of home ; then Tadmor and Guy drew away and passed the stand level, the judge declaring the race a dead heat. The owners decided to run off. The horses went again to the starting post, and after a most splendid straggle Guy won by a short neck, amid tremendous excitement on the running off, the bookmakers offering 30 to 20 on Tadmor,