TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4873, 3 November 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Thursday. The Reception Committee , have . decided upon a monster public ovation, in the Theatre Royal to-morrow evening. ■, An address will be presented to- Sir George Grey, and votes of thanks to the Auckland members who supported him. , ■ v, X- ■ ’ The City Council yesterday passed a resolution in favor of asking the General Govern-; meut for the Provincial Council Library as the nucleus of a public: library. It includes about 3000 volumes - - The General Government have appointed Reader Wood, under the Provincial Appropriations Extension Act, to sign cheques and documents to the end of the year. Whitaker comes via Napier and Tauranga, to bring abolition into force. At; the Licensed Victuallers ball 150 couples attended. It was a great success. ; England Synod appointed a committee to represent to the General Synod the necessity for improving and enlarging the “New Zealand Hymnal.” " ..11.. Napier, Thursday. Yesterday being the anniversary of the separation of this district from Wellington, it was kept Ivery strictly as a holiday. The Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club arranged for the'spring'meetirig to be' held about a couple of miles from Farndon railway ntatidn.- There was a very large’ attendance, and the weather was very fine,* but warm.' The Hurdle Race was won by Hislop’s Wanganui, the Maiden Plate by Men's Tawera, the Spring Handicap' by Otipai, and the Selling Race by Ben Nevis. There 'was some very good racing, the Maiden Plate and Spring-Handicap being hotly contested, the winner in each case leading at the post only by a head. ' ' : - 1 , i , ’ - Dunedin, Thursday. < The Times says, regarding administrative changes, that Macandrew attended the Provincial Government Buildings yesterday,. but ceased to act in the capacity of Superintendent, receiving only callers; who desired - information in the usual way from him. —Green was also in his office yesterday; and :confined himself to sundry routine matters. The Hon. George McLea i is expected-from; the North to-day, and it is understood .that on his arrival ho will interview Macandrew with the view of making some arrangement by which Macandrew will reader assistance to the General Government

during the next few mouths in inaugurating’ the" new-; state of things. What Maoandrew will do is nut yet known. The answer he will give, will depend entirely on the terms McLean will offer. He has, however, decided to refuse to render Government any assistance the giving of: which would fetter his future political action in any way whatever. It is likely that Donald Held will be requested by the General Government to aid them during the next few months in transacting the business of the land department. It is by no means unlikely that Keid will for a short time assist Government by every means in bis power, both by giving them his services and by affording them all possible information regarding the work of the department. ...Large areas of. land.were disposed of yesterday by the Waste Lands Board. Bastings strongly protested against the conduct of the Board. The' Anglican . Synod met last night. The Primate in his address re r ened to the necessity, of a supply of ministers, and requested the Synod to make arrangements for securing a site for a cathedral and theological cillege. .- A prosecution under Bradshaw’s Female Employment Act has been instituted. Large numbers of postal cards are being sold. ■ ’ ■ ;/ ' ‘ : ■ Ddnedin, Thursday... McLean and Macandrew had an interview to-day, but nothing was definitely set-led, and another meeting is proposed . for to-morrow. McLean has also met the individual members of the Executive. 1 Mr. McLean’s endeavor is to obtain the assistance of the Provincial Go /e.-uasat to carry on the affairs .of., the province as hithcrtountil toe election«f the county councils which it is hoped will take place in the middle of December. Mr. McLean states that nothing . definite has been done, but a general desire is expressed. to facilitate matters so that the., public may riot be inconvenienced. - . The Sandhurst Fire Brigade hare notified ill ir intention of competing at the brigade demonstration. A uckland has intimated a probable intention of competing also. . Hokitika, Thursday. The general entries for the Westland Races close on the 13th of November. .Blenheim, Thursday. • i A tremendous fire occurred - at two o'clockthis morning.- Ewart’s Hotel, Telegraph Office, Post Office, Court House, Government Huildmgs, Lichfield, draper; Masonic Hotel, Club, Carter and Tait’s stores, LitcMield’s grocery, Hustwiok, druggist; Hunter, jeweller; Augustus’ shop, i empty; Lewis’ fancy goods store ; Presswood, watchmaker ; Laurence’s general store ;: Warner’s old shop ; lingers, solicitor; Campbell, painter; Smith* tinsmith; and two cottages; Eylesj' cabinetmaker, shop and two residence cottages all burned to the ground. The origin of the fife is a mystery. It was discovered by several 1 persons who saw the centre of the Government Buildi-gs in a. blaze, A strong wind from the west/Carried the flames across the square, igniting Augustus’ 1 old shop on the roof, thenceialong H i- h-.-treet. For some time the brigade hoped to stay it at Lawrence’s, but it crept rdunl the burnt cottages beyond Campbell's and Taylor's. - Robinson’s and Siven’s were saved with great difficulty. Meantime a fire worked from Augustus’ till it met a gap near Ee r :s’ ; no help could be given except carrying thin grout. On the western side the fire beat hack, igsiting Ewart’s Hotel, hall, and stables, win an were saved. The Bank of New Zealand had a very narrow escape, and is charred all over. Every place named is cleared away, only a few chimneys standing. The aggregate' losses of the insurance companies are—New Zealand, £2 SCO; National, £1450 ; Imperial, £2400 ; Standard, £1350; British, >62351 Victoria, £1560 ; Norwich, £1250; Batavia,-- £950 ; • Liverpool and London, £Bno. Total,. £15,401. Several losses are estimated at double. The telegraph is camped out in. a tent in Seymour-sqaare.