TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4924, 4 January 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) New Plymouth, Wednesday. A man was accidentally killed at Waitara yesterday. Sergeant Okey made top score for the representative firing, making 170 points in all. Lieutenant Hoskin is second with 154.

The report that the Mokau natives threatened to bum the steamer if it returned to Mokau, is said by a Mokau native to be entirely false. He says he was present the whole time, and not one word was said about the matter. He says such, false reports are likely to create mischief. A European who was also present confirms the above. Auckland, Wednesday. The Hero’s news has been anticipated. The quarantined passengers of the Australia express strong dissatisfaction at alleged neglect of Government in not providing necessary comforts and medical attendance. On Tuesday evening some attempt to construct a raft with the intention of escaping was made. They were with difficulty dissuaded from seizing a boat and coming to complain to the authorities. When Dr. Philson visited the Quarantine Station to-day the passengers used threats that if their wants were not attended to they would violate the quarantine regulations. In the Supreme Court Richard Joshua Debeney, for embezzling public money, was sentenced to four years’ ; George Colebrook, for cutting and wounding James King at Tauranga, was sentenced to four years. The Grand Jury returned a true bill against Martin Curtin for wilful murder. Nominations for the Derby of 1879, and Mare’s Produce Stake 1881, must be made to the secretary, at Auckland, by eight o’clock on Friday evening Grahamstown, Wednesday. Firing for choice of representatives. Blake arrived. Constabulary made aggregate score of 160 ; Gordon, 144 ; Stanger, 137. Napier, Wednesday. An action for libel has been commenced by the proprietors of the Telegraph against the proprietors of the Haiehds Bay Herald. This afternoon Messrs. Garble, Dinwiddie, and Morrison were served with three writs, at the instance of Messrs. Kennedy, Knowles, and Newton respectively, proprietors of the Telegraph, each claiming a thousand pounds damages. The alleged libel is contained in a letter published in the Herald, respecting the advertising contract. Dunedin, Wednesday. A telegram has been received from Newcastle, New South Wales,;—Coal proprietors refuse to make any reduction in the price of coal, as requested by the New Zealand coal merchants.

Wm. Henry Wood, defaulting secretary of the Colney Hatch Gas Company, and who was arrested on the arrival of the JMay Queen at Port Chalmers, was brought before the Resident Magistrate at' Dunedin to-day. Detective Dalton, of the London police, identified prisoner, and produced the deposition of the directors of the company, which showed that accused had embezzled over £6OO. He was committed to Dunedin gaol to await arrival of the Governor’s warrant for his transmission to England. During the year ending December 31, there were registered in Dunedin 1786 births, 619 deaths, and 437 marriages. Mr. McLean, Commissioner of Customs, leaves for Wellington on Monday. The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court opened this morning before Mr. Justice Williams. His Honor in addressing the Jury expressed his hope that the new Bankruptcy Act would prove successful. Nothing was easier than to criticise an Act of Parliament, but nothing was more difficult than to frame one properly. He had no wish to aminadvert upon this particular Act. He advocated that when possible uniformity should be preserved between colonial legislation and that of the mother country, and pointed out that this had not been done in framing the new Bankruptcy Act. It might not be that the Colonial Act was a substantial improvement on the English Act, but on that point he had nothing to say. The Grand Jury returned true bills in every case except one. Wm. Stanley was found guilty of passing valueless cheques, and remanded for sentence; as was Ettie Johnstone for larceny. David McKeohine was sentenced to twelve months for forgery. At Lawrence yesterday a gun was discharged through the window of a house occupied by a man name l i Campbell. Several children were in it at the time, and one was severely wounded in the hand. No clue has been found to the person who fired the gun. Throe tenders have been received by the City Council for right of constructing tramways in the city, but have not yet been considered.

Christchurch, Wednesday. The Supreme Court contiuueditssitting to-day. Herbert Fleming, convicted of laiceny of £3O from a dwelling-house, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. Hugh McPherson, for forgery, was found not guilty. This concluded the criminal sessions.

The following are the highest scores in the competition for the selection of carbine representatives :—Sergeant Fox, Christchurch Artillery, 174 ; Sergeant Hill, Christchurch Artillery, 171. Rifle representatives—Corporal Perrin, Kaiapoi, 167 ; Private Parker, Christchurch City Guard, 164 ; Private Hayman, Kaiapoi, 163; Corporal Campbell, Kaiapoi, IS9. A motion has been tabled in the Cxty Council for applying to the Go vernment for an endowment of land. At the skating rink last night, Lillie, wife of Professor Taylor, was presented with a massive gold medal purchased by public subscription. Riverton, Wednesday. A lad named Hopcroft was drowned yesterday while bathing in a milldam at Gummies Bush.