TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4433, 4 June 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[from our own correspondent.] Dunedin, Thursday. Summonses were yesterday taken out at Invercargill against the South British Insurance Company, to enforce a settlement of a claim arising out of the great fire which occurred there recently, in Dee-street. The cases will be heard on Tuesday, and considerable interest is manifested. The new Executive is considered a strong one, and has the’confidence of the Council. Mrs. Bates opens to-night at the Princess, but Mr. Bates will not appear till Saturday, in consequence of illness. The immigration returns for May give 1265 males and 192 females, of which number 765 were Chinese from Hongkong. Mr. Froude, the historian, received an appointment in South Africa. Allan’s Opera Company will perform in Lyster’s Opera House, Melbourne, on their return from Adelaide. The Premier of New South Wales is seriously ill. The Agent-General for South Australia in London is actively engaged sending out immigrants to that colony. [Per Press Agency-.] Christchurch, Thursday. The Committee of the Chamber of Commerce will wait on the Provincial Government this afternoon to urge the Government to place on the supplementary estimates the sum for public buildings which they allowed to be struck out of the original estimates. Another of the men injured by the late accident at the Dirnsandel railway station died yesterday. The examination for provincial scholarships commenced yesterday. Sixty-eight boys and girls presented themselves as candidates. In the Provincial Council last night, a motion that a Minister of Education be appointed, who shall be a member of the Executive Council and of the Provincial Council, was agreed to by 18 to 8. Mr. Harper obtained leave to "withdraw his resolution re consideration of the question of pasturage leases. Dr. Turnbull, one of the city members, will move to-night that an endowment of 25,000 acres of land be made for Christchurch. On the motion of Mr. Pilliet some money was voted for surveying a line of railway from Lincoln, on the Christchurch and Southern Hue, to Akaroa. The Railway Tolls Ordinance, which provides for an increase on rates of carriage, created a great deal of adverse criticism last night. The Bill will be further considered to-night. A deputation from the Governors of the Canterbury College waited on the Provincial Government to-day respecting the museum public library and college votes. The Government declined to re-open the museum question, or place a sum of money on the supplementary estimates for the college in lieu of that struck out from the original estimates, but promised to place an amount on the supplementary estimates for additions to the public library equal to that struck out of the original estimates, namely, £4OOO. The Star to-night says rumors were current at the Provincial Buildings this afternoon that Wynn Williams, the Provincial Solicitor, had resigned. Some say that ill health is the reason, others that he cannot stand it any longer. It is known, however, that Sir Cracroft Wilson was anxiously expecting this afternoon a caucus, composed of a few friends, to consider the position. A largo number of the city cabmen were fined to-day for breaches of the city by-laws. They were undefended. Mr. Garrick, their soKcitor in previous declined to appear for them, and this is considered satisfactory proof that no flaw could be found in the bylaw, and that the long-continued fight of the cabbies against the city authorities is over at last. Grahamstown, Thursday. Dur ing the mouth of May there were 49 deaths and 41 births registered in the Thames district. Of the deaths 7 were adults and 42 infants. Causes of death —measles, bronchitis, and typhoid fever. There is a perceptible diminution in the death rate during last week or so. Dunedin, Thursday. At a meeting of the Euphrosyne relief fund committee to-day, the Mayor stated that he had paid £285 into the bank, and he expected when the lists were all in there would be £4OO. The weather for the last few days was magnificent. The following took their seats on the Government benches to-day :—Reid, Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Lands and Railways ; McKellar, Goldfields ; Green, Works ; Lrtmaden represents Southland; Steward, the Northern district ; Davie, Treasurer; Stout is Solicitor, but did not take his seat, as the Executive Ordinance only provides for six members. Reid proposed to amend the Ordinance so as to admit him.