TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4847, 4 October 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(per press agency.) New Plymouth, Tuesday.

The dinner to Smith and the workmen engaged in smelting the iron sand was attended by about three hundred persons. The DeputySuperintendent was in the chair. Smith, in reply to the toast of his health, said it had now been proved the sand could be smelted, and he was the man to make it a commercial success. Blanchard, the furnace man, said the iron was there, but attention must be given to the flux. Several other toasts followed. The meeting broke up about eleven. Auckland, Tuesday. The brig Vision arrived this morning from a South Sea cruise. She has extended Auckland trade to Marshall’s Group, ten degrees north of the equator, establishing agencies at different islands. James Brookfield, alias Brofield, found guilty of stabbing, has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. The Prince of Wales Theatre has been converted into a produce warehouse. The Theatre Royal has been leased by De Lias. The ball to the officers of the Nymphe was a great success. Arrived : H.M.S. Sapphire, from Melbourne. Napier, Tuesday. A telegram from Archdeacon Harper was read at the Synod to-day declining the Bishopric of Waiapu. A resolution was passed appointing a committee to draw up a memorial praying him to reconsider his decision. The business of the Synod terminates this evening. Dunedin, Tuesday.

The Fire Brigade resolved last night to hold no further communication with Superintendent Whiteford, and publish to-day all the correspondence, to show that no objection was previously taken to the contest being held at Dunedin.

The Provincial Executive has not yet determined re calling a meeting of the Council. The public meeting resolutions have been telegraphed to his Excellency. Large numbers continue to leave for the Kumara. At the entire show to-day there was a splendid display of horses. The City Council is greatly enraged at the loss of the wharves and quays reserves, and intend making a strong effort to prevent the Act being given effect to. A vote of thanks to the Hon. Mr. Reynolds has been passed by the Council for his action in the matter. At the Supreme Court to-day, a man named Butler, a burglar, on six charges, received a sentence of four years’ imprisonment. He addressed a letter to the Judge asking him to shorten his sentence by increasing its severity, so that he might not lose the best years of his life. Chbistchcech, Tuesday. Alice Sheehan was arraigned this morning for the wilful murder of her infant. The evidence discloses that she drowned deceased in August last, and that she drowned another of her children in 1875, and smothered another in 1874. In all cases the infanticide took place a short time after her confinement. Prisoner was ably defended by Mr. Joynt. The jury retired at four o'clock, and returned into court at a quarter to seven with a verdict of not guilty on the ground of insanity. The Judge ordered her to be kept in strict custody in the lunatic asylum during the pleasure of the Colonial Secretary. James Thompson, found guilty on a charge of forging and uttering, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment.

The opera Girofle Girofla was produced for tbs first time in New Zealand by the Lydia Howarde Troupe last night, and was a great success. GERALDINE RACES. The following are the acceptances and entries : Maiden "Plate, —One and a-half miles. Mr. R. Ray’s Hard Times, aged ; Mr. 1). Mcllraith’s Jilt, 4yrs.; Mr. J. Mcßratney's Highland Laddie, syrs.; Mr. Wm. Smith’s Seven Bells, aged; Mr. G. P. Williams’s Fakir, 4yrs. Handicap ' Hurdle Race.—Two miles, Mr. W. E. Neilson’s Moose, Mr. Mcßratney's Jack, Mr. W. J. Williams’s Fakir, Mr. R. Ray’s Hard Times, Mr. C. Cradock’s Phantom. Publicans’ Purse Handicap.—One mile and a quarter. Mr. D. O’Brien’s Fishhook, Mr. R. Ray’s Tadmor, Mr. R. Barton’s Mignonette. Selling Stakes.—One mile. Mr. D. O Brien’s Fishhook (not to be sold), Mr. R. Ray’s Tadmor (not to be Gold), Mr. R. Barton’s Bezique, £25. . '■ Geraldine Cup Handicap.—Two miles. Mr. D. O'Brien’s Fishhook, Mr. R. Ray’s Tadmor, Mr. R. Barton’s Mignonette. Ladies’ Purse.—One and a half miles. Mr. R. Ray’s Hard Times, Mr. D. O'Brien’s Fishhook, Mr. D. Mcllraith’s Jilt.

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY. Melbourne, September 26. The Government have concluded negotiations for the Cape service, subject to ratification by Parliament. The sentence of death, passed on Ellen Francis, for the Emerald Hill murder, has been commuted to twenty-one years. Captain Leddar, who with ten men were totally wrecked in the barque Elingrove on Rabbit Island, on her voyage from Newcastle to Adelaide, states that when she went ashore, the crew, who took to the rigging, were all either washed off or crushed to death. Leddar and Hoyle got on a plank and were washed ashore. They lived on crabs and limpets, and were reduced to the last extremity when rescued. The beach is strewed with wreckage, but only two bodies have been found. It is supposed the others have been sanded up. She was insured for £2200 in the mercantile and Marine Company. During the gale the schooner Carlman lost two men and deckhouse. The inquiry into the loss of the Dandenong concluded on the 27th. The Board reserved its decision. The steamer St. Osyth left Londan on the 10 th. The Full Court reversed Judge Molesworth’s decision re Bell’s estate, which now pays £30,000 instead of £16,000 duty. September 27. The-Government are making good progress with tll6 Electoral Bills. All their propositions have been carried, although several amendments have been moved. Tbe Council has agreed to the second reading of the Education Act Amendment Bill. The late heavy rains will have a good effect on the crops. The report on the areas in South Australia is not so unsatisfactory as at first was represented. An opera company of sixteen artists has been engaged in Italy for Lazar of Sydney, and is coming to the colonies. It includes four ballet dancers. In the Divorce Court eases, Fisher v. Fisher and Winter v. Winter, the juries found against the respondent in the last-named case. The respondent was stated to be residing in Wellington ■ with the co-respondent Robert Winter. Brisbane. The s.s. Wentworth shipped twelve thousand ounces of gold at Oooktown/and eleven thousand at Townsville.

The Chinese at Cooktown petition the Governor to refuse his assent to the Goldfields Amendment Act. They also petition the Emperor of China, calling attention to a breach of treaty by England. Newcastle. Captain Harless, of the barque King Oscar, reports passing the body of a female, dressed in black, off Jervis Bay. Seagulls were settled on it, and had eaten the face away. The weather being bad, did not pick up the body.