TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4926, 6 January 1877, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) •: Nelson, Friday. The committee of the Interprdvinoial regatta: are taking active measures to make the regatta a perfect success. Comfortable arrangements are being made for visitors ; also, everything is being done for the accommodation of the various crews • and their boats. The Nelson crews are in active training, and promise to shape well. The Wellington Club are out for regular practice morning and 'evening. The Auckland men are to arrive by the Hcwea, and the Kaiapoi crew by the Taupo ; the West Coast crew also leave this week. (PER PRESS AGENCT.) -V Masterton, Friday. The East Wairarapa County Council met at noon yesterday. Only three members were present. Adjourned till to-day. No more were present to-day. Adjourned till five o’clock. Auckland, Friday. Private letters by the mail report Judge Arney as in excellent health. The General Government have appointed a commission to inquire into the condition of the lunatic asylum and ga01....1t is proposed to make the gaol more self-supporting, and utilise the hospital and asylum reserves. Ghahamstown, Friday. Mrs. Fisher, of Christchurch; while landing from the Auckland steamer last night walked over the Grahamstown wharf, but was promptly rescued by ,two"‘men who were near. , She had an infant in her arms, but neither was hurt beyond the wetting. • ■ New Plymouth, Friday. The programme of the Taranaki races is just published. The races’ .place on the. 3rd and; 4th April. ■ •Maiden-Plate, 40sovs.Taranaki Cup, fiflsov.; Ladies’Pufse; 30sovs.; Hurdle Pace, 50sovs. ; Jockey Club Handicap, 150 soys.; Railway Stakes, 30sovb. Nominations before 10th February. The County Council held its first meeting today, when Colonel Trimble was elected chairman. The Council is likely .to allow the whole of the Act to come into force. Napier, Friday. The Hawke’s Bay Agricultural Society’s Ram Fair will be held at Hasting on the Ist February. Sir T)onald McLean is much worse. The Mayor’s ball, that was to have been held to-night, is in consequence indefinitely postponed. ' 1 Sir Donald McLean died at a quarter to four this afternoon. Christchurch, Friday. The'volunteers here are complaining loudly of inability, to get ammunition from Wellington, hence rifle shooting is almost at a standstill. - ■ The Ashley and Geraldine County Councils have resolved not to bring the permissive portions of the Counties Act into force. The Buller 1 Council has resolved to bring the whole Act into force. .The remainder of the Councils have deferred the matter for consideration till next meeting. The, ketch XXX, which won the Champion Sailing Race at the Lyttelton regatta, has challenged the other vessels engaged in.it to sail again for a sweepstake of £25 each. This challenge has been accepted by the Transit, Minnehaha, and Belle Brandon. . “ ' Dunedin, Friday. W. Walker has been found guilty of inflicting grievious bodily harmson his stepchild, and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, with hard labor. Mr. Justice Williams said that the sentence would have been much more severe .only for the jury having recommended, the prisoner to mercy. The' Dunedinand Tuapeka line will be ready . for opening within seven miles of Lawrence before the end of the month. Timaru, Friday The Geraldine County Council have elected Mr. Pqstlethwaite, J.P., for Raukapuaka, as chairman, and decided j not to bring the Act into full’operation. ' The South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society have resolved to liberate 5000 American salmon in the Opibi river. The, Wairnate Council have elected Mr. James Bruce chairman. The Council decided to bring the Act into operation. ■ , Fine dry weather is experienced, and the crops are looking splendid. The Customs revenue for the December quarter shows a falling off of £I3OO against the corresponding quarter of 1875. Invercargill, Friday. The. County Council at a meeting to-day adopted the whole Act. Mr. Erydone proposed the.following motion, which was earned: —That this-Council is favorable to levying a ■’nominal county rate only; that it is also favorable to giving road boards as much control of the roads as possible, and assisting them with such funds as it can spare; and that the funds should be divided as nearly as practicable throughout the districts, in proportion t 6 the rates collected in such districts. It was resolved to, apply to the Government for free passes to' members on railways within county

when travelling on public business. After transacting ■ formal business the Council adjourned till 26th. Hokitika, Friday. It is contended that Mr. McWhirter’s election to the chair yesterday was illegal. The Council met to-day, and after an acrimonious discussion broke up without coming to any decision. Proceedings are at a standstill.