TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5013, 18 April 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(rEE PBES3 AGENCY.) Auckland, Tuesday. Three deserters from H.M.S. Sapphire were sent on board the Reynard. A farewell address and purse of sixty sovereigns were presented to Major Gordon last night. Geeymouth, Tuesday. The first prize in Tonic’s sweep on the Christchurch Autumn Handicap of £3OO, was won by George Simpson, who filed his schedule yesterday. The same man won an equal amount on a previous sweep. The Coalpit Heath Company have fixed the price of coal for export at 13s. per ton, f.o.b. Hokitika, Tuesday. The West Coast Times of this morning favors the Hon. Mr. Gisborne's candidature, and urges strongly that it should be favorably received by the electors of Totara. Mr, Gisborne is expected here next week. Nelson, Tuesday. At the Supreme Court the Grand Jury made a presentment recommending that the present criminal jurisdiction of the District Court should be extended to all crimes except murder, treason, libels, and conspiracies. The Chief Justice expressed his entire concurrence. Chkistchuech, Tuesday. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Hunt Club, the financial affairs and the prospects for the ensuing season were shown to be very good. The Mayor has been petitioned to call a public meeting to consider the advisability of adopting a scheme of drainage prepared by a local engineer in preference to the one prepared by Mr. Carruthers. Timaeu, Tuesday. The contractor for the new Court House has given notice to departments that he intends to pull down the old building at once ; but no other pi’ovision has been made for their accommodation. The Land Department was to have been transferred to the ci-devant Board of Works office, but the chairman has not yet given up the key, the building not having been paid for. Trade is very dull, and small bankruptcies are numerous. Dunedin, Tuesday. The Government has agreed to hand over the Bell Hill works and Maitland-street works to the Harbor Board. Mr. Donald Keid leaves for Wellington this week. The Chinese on the Quarantine Island are to be admitted to pratique as soon as arrangements can be made for thoroughly washing them in water and carbolic acid, also for burning and fumigating their clothes. Gold has been found on the Government reserve, Outram. About 100 men are on the ground. Experienced miners can make from 15s. to £1 per day per man. The Star this evening characterises a violent attack by the Guardian on the Governor as being a “ gross and ill-mannered attack on her Majesty’s representative, and a disgrace to its columns.” The City Council this afternoon, after considerable discussion, resolved by six to four, to vote £25 towards the reception of his Excellency. Mr. Watt, K.M., this morning decided that it is illegal for publicans to sell drink on Sunday, except to lodgers or bona fide travellers. Inveeoaegill, Tuesday. An inquest was held to-day on the body of John Black, when the jury returned the following verdict: —“ That Henry Mayo, on the 15th of April, with a certain gun, did kill John Stuart Black, and that the firing off of the said gun was accidental, without malice or culpable negligence, and while in pursuance of lawful occupation ; and the act of killing was therefore an excusable homicide.” Eiveeton, Tuesday.

Dr. Hodgkinson, addressed the electors here last night. After reviewing the proceedings of last session at considerable length, and giving an account of the part he took in supporting the Opposition on the principal questions brought forward, notably the constitutional changes, in the course of which he denounced the Government as corrupt, dishonest, and tyrannical, he said that he still considered the abolition of the provinces illegal and would still use his influence to get the matter fairly tested in a court of law. He referred to the appointment of Sir Julius Vogel to the Agent-Generalship, as disgraceful. He said that although the Hon. D. Reid had been a personal friend of his own he did not hesitate to characterise his recent action of joining the Ministry as that of a traitor, a turncoat, and a trimmer. He said he would support the separation of both Islands, with a Federal Government for both at Wellington, if such a proposal were brought on next session, as being the only substitute for provincialism by which the people would regain the rights and privileges they had lost by abolition. At the conclusion an unanimous vote of confidence was passed in their representative by the meeting. Between forty and fifty were present.