TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4846, 3 October 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Auckland, Monday.

The Thames Gas Company have reduced the price o£ gas to 155., in compliance with a memorial from 120 consumers, threatening to discontinue using gas unless a reduction was made.

The Judge sentenced Brierly to-day, for indecent assault on a married woman, to ten years’ imprisonment and two whippings. A warrant has been issued at the Bay of Islands for the arrest of Roderick Cane, charged with administering noxious drugs to a girl. New Plymouth, Monday.

There is great enthusiasm about a dinner to be given to Mr. E. M. Smith to-night. The tradesmen are voluntarily closing. Volunteers and Fire, Brigade are to attend in uniform. It is expected to be a great success. i . Napier, Monday.

At the Synod to-day Archdeacon Harper (Timaru), and Rev. E. C. Stuart (Sydney),

were nominated to the vacant Bishopric of Waiapu. The choice fell on Archdeacon Harper, who is elected, if he will accept the nomination.

GrkymoutH, Monday.

.The crushing of the Wealth of Nations for the month gave 624 ounces 14 dwts. retorted gold. A dividend of 3s. per scrip (the 20th) has been declared.

The Kumara Times cautions miners' against coming there unless possessed of means to stand three months, as it takes that time after striking gold before tunnels can go in. About two thousand miners are now supposed to be on gold, but the place is being overdone by business people and miners. Christchurch, Monday. In his address to the Grand Jury to-day the Judge said that at next sessions he should take the opportunity of addressing them in reference to the progress of any changes in the criminal law. .Robert James Thompson, who is undergoing sentence of two years for forgery, was brought up, under a writ of habeas corpus, for a similar offence, and pleaded guilty ; sentence deferred. The Judge made some very strong remarks in consequence of the prisoner being placed in the dock in his prison clothes. Joseph Garrett, alias Carberry, was sentenced to fifteen years’ penal servitude for robbery with violence. ‘ Fred. Hardy, a new arrival from Sydney, got six months for robbery. William Cassidy six months for robbery from an immigrant ship on her passage out. Five other prisoners were acquitted. Only two remain to be tried, one of them being Alice Sheehan, for the wilful murder of her infant. In passing sentence upon the “sticker-up,” the Judge said this offence was only next in degree to murder, and that he was determined the vices of the old country should not be introduced into New Zealand without severe punishment. The celebrated Dr. Turner, alias Osbaldistone, came out of gaol this morning, and was again immediately arrested for stealing a coat, and remanded for eight days on his own recognizances.

The Horse Show on Saturday was a great success. There were sixty-eight entries, and the stock generally was of a magnificent description. Christchurch, Monday.

At two o'clock yesterday morning a cottage occupied by Mr. Corr was destroyed by fire. Mr. Corr was away at the time. The family narrowly escaped with their lives. The fire was caused by the explosion of a kerosene lamp after everybody was asleep, , Roberts beat Weston by 148 points. He plays bis last game in the province to-night at Lyttelton. Dunedin, Monday.

The Provincial Executive are to consider to-, day the resolutions carried as to calling the Council together. The Bruce Quartz Crushing , Company cleared a profit of £IOOO in less' than five months by their operations. The Guardian characterises the reply of the Wellington Fire Brigade as cowardly, and advises the Dunedin men to wash their hands of the whole concern, and leave the Wellington men to enjoy the theft of ah honor which they covet, but which they, are not mauly enough to contest for upon, their merits. It adds:—“Their action in this matter is thoroughly disreputable, and is very much in keeping with the spirit of a lot of spoilt, selfish children, who having filched from their playf mates some trifling toy, run away, and when at. a safe distance turn round and exclaim, ‘ Ah ! we’ve got it ! Don’t you wish you may get it!’ It was not creditable for our men to treat such individuals as gentlemen. They are unworthy of being further communicated with on the subject.” The Dunedin Brigade have not yet received the communication referred to, although it appears in the Wellington papers. Stout leaves to-day. The Supreme Court opened to-day. The chief offences for trial are forgery, housebreaking, beastiality, and criminal IlbeL Nothing of importance was done to-day. No true bill wa< returned in the libel case Bishop Moran against the Evening Star. Invercargill, Monday.

A memorial protesting against making Otago one county has received six hundred signatures.

PROVINCIALISM IN OTAGO. (from our own correspondent.) Invercargill, Monday,

The following correspondence appears in this days’ Southland Times , and has created considerable sensation here, as illustrating' the manner in which the outlying districts are treated by the Otago Provincial Government;—“New River Harbor Board Office, Invercargill, September 8, 1876. —His Honor the Deputy-Superintendent, Dunedin.—-Sir,— I attach report of the architect to the New River Harbor Board on the condition of the signalman and pilot’s house at the New River Heads. Your Honor will no doubt remember that the Appropriation Ordinance, 1875, page 2370, authorised the expenditure of £7OO on the New River harbor. About £2OO has up to this date been expended, and I am desired to ask your Honor to be good enough to authorise the expenditure of the sum of £l4O for putting the signalman’s house in habitable condition. The house this officer has to live in is in a shockingly dilapidated state, and' his salary of £llO per annum prevents him from doing anything to it, as he has a large family to provide for. I have, &0., W. B. Scandbett, Clerk to New River Harbor Board." —“Dunedin, September 28,1876 —W. B. Scandrett, Invercargill New River pilot's house —TheFrovine! al Government has no funds available,—J. Macandkbw.” Harbor Board Office, Invercargill, September 30, 1876, —Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge your Honor’s telegram of September 28, stating in reply to the application of the New River Harbor Board for £l4O to repair the pilot’s house, * that the Provincial Government has no funds available.’ I regret that yourHonorshould,more especially as the sum of £49,000 has been paid into the provincial account at Invercargill alone during the present month of September as land revenue arising within the Southland district, to say nothing of the very large sums during previous months. I have, &c.,—John P. Cuthbebt-ton,-Chairman New River Harbor Board, —His Honor the Superintendent, Dunedin.”