TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4404, 1 May 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.] Auckland, Friday. The annual meeting of the subscribers to the Neglected and Destitute Children's Home took place last night. The balance-sheet showed a considerable surplus. At the inquest on the body of McCabe, a verdict of suicide during temporary insanity was returned. Mr. and Mrs. George Case gave a successful performance last night. The inquiry as to Major Clare, at Hamilton, charged with giving verbal permission to SubInspector Northcroft to go through the King country to Tavanaki, commenced to-day. The charges were not signed, and the accused objected to the trial on that ground. He expressed a doubt that the Defence Minister would have sanctioned such a prosecution, and the inquiry has been adjourned. The charges will be forwarded to Wellington for signature. Great rains have occurred throughout the province. A through train was run from Auckland to Mercer this afternoon. The line is now ready to be handed over to the Government. Donedin, Friday. At a meeting of the Harbor Board to-day, the annual report which is to be laid before the Provincial Council was broucrht up. It was' decided that it should not be made public till the opening of the Council on Monday next. The Engineer's report stated that the final result on the survey for dredging the channel would be ready by the end of July. The Mayor gave notice of the following motion :—" That the Mayor of the City of Dunedin be an ex officio member of the Harbor Board." The Mayor to-night entertains the members of the Corporation and a number of friends. Wm. Roberts was brought up again to-day on a charge of abducting the daughter of Thomas L. Browne, she being under the age of sixteen. It was stated that every effort had been made to find the daughter since the last remand, but without avail. Another remand was granted. Bishop Moran's lecture on "The Bankruptcy of Liberalism," has been generally attacked and condemned by the Press. Three thousand shares have been applied for in the new pottery, works. Mr. Jas. McNeill, one of the' oldest settlers in Otago, died yesterday. The Bruce Herald to-day says that an important witness has come to light in the Tichborne case, and reports as follows :—Our readers, however, will learn with no little astonishment, and no doubt some interest, that our own little province will supply a fresh and important witness in the new trial, if such be granted. It appears that a much respected fellow-colonist —Angus Alphonso Macdonald, Esq., J.P., of Hokinu, Mataura —was a fellowstudent, friend, and companion of the late Sir Roger C. D. Tichborne while at Stoneyhurst CoSege,and was actually present in company with Lord Bellew whilst the much-disputed operation was performed of tattooing Sir Roger's arm. On this point the evidence of Lord Bellew was quite distinct, but much conflicting evidence was adduced on the side of the Claimant, and on this point, and this point alone, the case for the Crown was weak; but the missing link has, we learn, been found and supplied in the evidence of Mr. Macdonald, with whom we are informed the Attorney-General is at present corresponding. By an extraordinary coincidence of circumstances it appears that previous to the departure of Sir Roger for South America the two friends (Mr. Macdonald and Sir Roger) both gay and fashionable young men, were for a time residing at Foster's Hotel, London, then and now the rendezvous of the Catholic nobility and leading aristocracy of England. At that time Mr. Macdonald was ahout leaving his native land to embark in extensive pastoral pursuits at Penola, in South Australia, and being a witness on more than one occasion to an interview between Sir Roger and his solicitor, Mr. Gosford, it is understood he can throw some material light on the contents of the mysterious sealed packet. It would thus seem that the gods have decreed against poor Sir Roger, and that as every end of the eu,rth has already supplied its quota of evidence for or against the Claimant, it falls last, but not least, to the lot of New Zealand to for ever rivet the chains round the limbs of Arthur Orton.

Application is to be made by the people of Balclutha to the Government to erect a number of cottages for newly-arrived immigrants. Heavy rain has just commenced. It was much wanted. The Guardian's and other machines are at present worked by hand. The man Jeffreys, husband of the woman who died from injuries received last week in a case of assault, died to-day in the hospital. He had suffered from delirium tremens ever since his wife died. The Governor will arrive at Oamaru on Wednesday. After being presented with an address by the he will be taken by the Harbor Board to view the breakwater. He will afterwards be invited to a dejeuner by the Corporation, and will leave for Palmerston at two o'clock. The editor of the Bruce Ifcrald writes to the Ouardian, and states that the reason Mr. J. L. Gillies's letter was not inserted was because, according to the tenns of the award, the apology had to be inserted three times, and that it would not have been right to have inserted any letter, on one side or the other, until this had been done.

[Per Press Aqbncy.l Auckland, Friday. The yacht Fleetwing has been sold to a gentleman in Lyttelton, and proceeds thither tomorrow. Another case of sticking-tvp has occurred on the Onehunga-road. A man named Morrison was knocked down and robbed of twenty pounds. Wanganui, Friday. Another indecent assault on a child has been committed, this time at Wairoa. The girl is eleven years old. The man has been arrested. Warm rain commenced falling this afternoon. It was much wanted. CHiusTeHuncH, Friday. Judge Williams gave judgment in the cases between the City Council and the cabmen to-day. The judgments in both cases fully supported the action of the City Council. The cabmen have to pay all costs in one case, and the costs in the other one were divided. The City Council now intend to proceed against the cabmen under the new by-law, in order to test its validity. Some of the cabmen have taken out licenses under it, but decline to charge according to the scale of fares providod for in the by-law. Many of the cabmen have not taken out licenses at all. The interprovincial cricket committee decided to-day to call a public meeting for May

13, to consider the question of uniting with Auckland and Dunedin to secure a visit of a New South Wales eleven next season. Timarb, Friday. Thomas Davies, settler, Waimate Bush, was charged before the Resident. Magistrate at Timaru, to-day, with attempting to poison hiswife. He has been only maxried two months.. He was remanded. Three stacks of wheat, a quantity of threshed wheat, and a threshing-machine, burnt at Hall's farm, near Timaru, last niiht Estimated loss, £I2OO. Partially insured in Norwich Union for £450, and New Zealandfor £l6O. Ddnedin, Friday. In Heriot Row, a large two-storey dwellinghouse of wood was burned down at one o'clock this morning. The house was occupied by Mr. Swan, and a family of six, new arrivals from Home. When the fire was first discovered, three buckets of water would have extinguished it, but being on the high level of the town, not a drop was to be obtained. Thirty firemen were present, who could only stand "and watch the fire blaze. ' For forty minutes the fury of the flames was terrific. The house was valued' at £7OO. It was uninsured. Mr. Swan's lobs in furniture is £3OO, and is not covered by insurance, the policy having been allowed to lapse. It had been insured in the National. The town now is entirely at the mercy of fire,, not a drop of -water is available in any part.. There is no sign of rain. Mr. Manders, M.P.C. for Queenstown,. editor of the Wakatip Mail, has been horsewhipped by Mr. D. Powell, for articles in thepaper which he deemed malicious. Mr. Powell was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment, without the option of a fine. The case, on application, was afterwards reheard, and Mr. Powell was admitted to bail. The inhabitants of the Clutha intend topresent Sir John Richardson with a substantial testimonial in the shape of a piece of plate. At least £2OO is expected to beraised. Technical objections were raised by Mr. Barton for Mrs. Arrow, in the sly-grog sellingcase, but they were overruled, and defendant was fined twenty pounds.