TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4959, 13 February 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER press AGENCY,V Auckland, Monday. Dr. Pollen meets Eewi and the Kingite chiefs at Alexandra on Thursday, to hear their views respecting the subjects discussed at the recent meeting. A telegram from Sydney states that the Hero left on, Saturday night. The North Shore Ferry Company’s report shows a dividend of 5 per cent. W. Buchanan, who was sent Home as agent, has purchased a new steel paddle-boat. The result cf the Glenlora inquiry to-day was that Captain Mitchell was censured on three counts, but his certificate was not suspended. The certificate ef Bailey, the second mate, was suspended. Alexandra, Monday. A great proportion of the native wheat crops have been destroyed by the late rains. The Native Minister meets Eewi here on Thursday. Geahamstown, Monday. The weather got much worse onSaturday evening and between nine and ten a terrific storm of°rain fell, accompanied by thunder and lightning. This continued all night, and yesterday it somewhat cleared, but last night it came on a rrain with increased force, and the result is the flooding of the town. There have been landslips in every direction. The Karaka Bridge in Pollen-street has given way, and a large

volume of waste water overflowed, runniiq into - houses and shops, doing considerabl damage in Karaka. A young man name Outridge was proceeding during one of the storms to turn the water off the flume at Percy’s battery, when he was struck down by falling boulders and instantly killed, his back being broken and skull fractured. No further fatal casualty reported yet. Rogers, alias Armstrong, who was arrested on his own confession of murdering a man known as Red Bill, at the Thames, m'1867, was brought up on remand to-day, and discharged for want of evidence. The accused ’said he was lying when he made the statement that he committed the murder.' ’ • At the inquest on Outridge a verdict of accidental death was returned. The deceased was Only nineteen years of age. He was a member of a Rechabite lodge, and was very generally respected. The rainfall registered from Saturday at 7 a.m. till this day (Monday) at 8 a.m. was 6g inches. Napier, Monday, The flood is the highest for twenty years. Two boats went out on Saturday- afternoon from the Spit along the Taradala-roari UoTaradale. Several families there had removed from their houses, where they were in danger of drowning. In one house the husband and wife were standing up to their waists in water, the children climbing .up on the beds. The boat went into the doorway, but there was not room between the top of it and the surface of the water without the people in the boat stooping down into her. After removing some of the people to places of safety, the pilot-boat, with a load of other men, women, and children, was caught by an eddy and swept about; but was » ultimately enabled to fasten to a tree, where they remained all night in the rain.. The houses in Taradale are. much knocked about. A good many carcases of sheep have been washed' on ,the beach. The approaches to the Waitangi bridge are carried away. On the railway line the bridge and embankment anundermined 1 and half-washed away. The bridge itself- is injured, and some ballast on the line swept off. The trains are not running to-day. It ceased raining yesterday till evening, but several heavy showers came down to-day. ' : . Blenheim, Monday,' The following are the entries for the Marlborough Races ;—Handicap Hurdle—Stevenson's Dick Turpin, McArtney’s Whalebone, Mclvor’s Tom Finn, Blower’s Nero. Blenheim' Purse Stevenson’s , Jonathan Wildj Ward’s Lara, Tom Firm; Rives’ Morning Star, Nero. Hurdle Racc-r-Jonathan Wild, Whalebone, Tom Finn, Nero, Maiden Plate—Redwood’s Ladybird; Stevenson’s . Barmaid, Tom Finn; Rives’ Lady Mary, Sapling, Ladybird j Redwood’s Ruriki, . Stevenson's Awatere, Redwood’s Rata, Mclvor’s Halfcaste. ' Acceptances for Blenheim Handicap—Redwood’s Banks ; Stevenson’s Blenheim, Lara, Tom Finn, Lady Mary; Blower’s Doncaster. Same for Cup. Christchurch, Monday, ■ The Davenport Brothers and Professor Fay opened to-a large; house at the - theatre on Saturday night. The performance was considered highly successful. Reports from the country districts respect- - ing crops give a bad account of them. : Mdlle. Franzini, the celebrated female byciclist, has reappeared at the skating rink. Dunedin, Monday, Mr. E. ■Prichards, solicitor, on .Saturday served on the City Corporation a writ for £6OOO, damages sustained by him through the recent falls of earth in Rattray-street. , The Council of the Convention held ameeting on Saturday afternoon, when the following resolutions were agreed to, viz.:—l. That in consequence of the continued ill-health of Sit George Grey, and the-short time' that must elapse before the meeting of the Colonial Parliament, this Council is of opinion that Sir George Grey and Mr. Macandrew should not at present proceed to England. 2. That the petition ordered by the Convention to be sent by the delegates be forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the province of the Convention be to remain as an organisation to watch the interests of the colony against the Centralists. 3. That this Council regrets the continual illness of Sir G. Grey, and hopes that he may be soon restored to - his wonted health and strength, to further the battle in the interests of the colony against the evils of centralism. ~ The treasurer reported that he had- received a considerable sum-by way .of subscriptions from the country districts, to assist in defraying the expenses of the delegates. It wasagfeed that the collectors should be written to asking if in the altered circumstances contributors wished their amounts to be returned, or would they leave them, for objects iu connection with the Convention which might afterwards be resolved upon. _ At a meeting of the City Council'held this afternoon it was resolved—that the further consideration of the new Municipal Act should be postponed until after the next municipal election, and that at next session of Parliament the Council endeavor to obtain an alteration in: clause 9 of. the Rating Act of 1876. \ At a meeting'held this afternoon for the purpose of raising subscriptions for a testimonial to Captain McLean, £IOO was collected in the room. - The Otago Volunteer representatives departed by the Hinemoa this afternoon.