TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5106, 4 August 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Friday.

William Ultrey, clerk to, McArthur and Co., was to-day fined' 40s) and costa for signing ,an unstamped acknowledgment, for money. ’

■ Monday, thelSth August, is now spoken of as the day for opening the railway from Mercer to Ngaruawhia. ■ Kumara, Friday.

A numerously attended meeting was held here last night to discuss the principles of Mr, Fox’s Local Option Bill. The following reaction was carried: —“ That in the opinion of this meeting, a very large proportion of the vice, crime, disease, poverty, and other social evils which exist in this colony, are the direct results of the traffic in, and the using of, alcoholic beverages ; that no system of licensing laws has yet been effectual for the prevention of those evils, to prevent which they were enacted, and that therefore a change is necessary both in the principle and method of the laws dealing with the liquor trade ; that the principle embodied in the Local Option Bill is equitable, practicable, and likely to afford the public relief from many of the evils arising from the consumption of intoxicating liquors.” Christchurch, Friday. A meeting of the unemployed will be held in the market-place to-morrow. Some persona engaged in the iron trade purpose holding a meeting next week, to urge on the Government the desirability of letting contracts for ironwork to firms in the colony instead of sending to England Tihaeu, Friday. : John McLaren, of Dunedin notoriety, is paying Timaru a visit. He lectures to-night on “ New Zealand as it was and is.” He is on his Way to Wellington. Riverton, Friday. At a large meeting held at Orepuke resolutions were passed urging upon the Government , the necessity of the immediate completion of the Riverton and Orepuke railway. A petition embodying the same has been numerously signed. , Balclutha, Friday. . The Clutha County Council met at noon today, and passed a resolution adopting the whole Counties Act. About 100 men of the unemployed from Dunedin have' arrived, to commence work at the Balclutha'ehd of the Clinton section of the Southern trunk line. The contractors for the Balclutha section are pushing on the work with all possible haste. Dunedin, Friday. : Messrs. Reeves and Roberts have been appointed a deputation to wait on the Government in reference to railway extension. | The Customs revenue for last ' mouth amounted to £31,390. The amount for the corresponding month last year was £28,815. - , One hundred and thirty-two applications Were received for work at Balclutha, The jnen who have gone out there complain that they .cannot get work, or credit from the storekeepers. The Government have reduced the goods tariff on the Dunedin and Port Chalmers railway line, the general manager having received instructions authorising, him to carry ships’ goods from Port Chalmers to Dunedin as class six, which makes the rate ss. 2d. per ton. This order places the rates lower than they were before, The fresh alteration of the new tariff will it is considered place the railway lines on a very satisfactory footing. i A large number of shares in excess of the first limit fixed 'by the provisional directors for registering the company have been applied for in Guthrie and Larnaoh’s Timber and Woodware Factory (Limited). The company is, therefore, successfully floated. The number of shares in the Union Insurance Company applied for in this province is about 80,000. The following are the resolutions to be submitted to a monster meeting to-morrow night for adoption:—(lst.) That the system adopted by the Government of importing manufactured material required for public works, is not only injurious to a number of artisans at present idle in New Zealand, but is also detrimental to the interests of the country at large. (2nd.) That in. the opinion of this meeting it is the duty of the Government to do all in its power to keep capital in the colony, and that the system at present carried out of importing that which can' be manufactured here is not the means] by which this desirable object can be obtained)_but a (policy more likely to impoverish jthan to benefit the colony. (3rd.) That in the opinion of this meeting New Zealand can' profitably manufacture rolling stock and bridge materials required for the public service. (4th.) That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded 'to the Hon. the Minister of Public Works and members for Dunedin and suburbs.

“ Lawrence, Friday. A new twenty-head stamper battery has been started at the Otago claim, Blue Spur. Kincaid and McQueen, of Dunedin, are the makers. The prospects of this claim are good.

Numerous accidents have occurred this week, and the hospital is full at present.