TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5153, 28 September 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Thursday. At the inquest on the woman burned at the asylum the evidence showed conclusively that the fire originated in her cell. She had taken some matches in presence of visitors in ' the afternoon, and search failed to discover them. She had never been taken out of the cell. The jury returned a verdict, “ That Mary Ann Fortune met her death by burning in the cell at the Whau Lunatic Asylum, but how or by what means the fire originated there is no evidence to show.” The jury appended the following rider : —“ That the discipline carried out in the Auckland Asylum is of a most defective character, and that the Government are greatly to blame for insufficient appliances for extinguishing fire.” A Shipowners and Shipbuilders’ Society has been formed. Napier, Thursday. At a public meeting last night re Te Ante estate, R. Stuart, Mayor, in the chair, resolutions were passed unanimously : —The first by .T. Rhodes, seconded by S. Carnell, condemned the past and present administration of the trust; the second by W. Carlile, seconded by N. Jacobs, approved of the eiforts of the Legislative Council to connect the trust with the Government department, condemned any renewal of lease privately, and expressed anopinion, inaccordanoe with the recommendation of Samuel Williams, that the estate should be out up into blocks suitable for farming ; the third by G. E. Lee, seconded by H. Robjohns, that Parliament he petitioned to prevent, by immediate legislation, the impending sacrifice of the public rights to private interest. Messrs. J. N. Wilson, Rhodes, Lee, and Buchanan were appointed a committee to draft a petition on the basis of the above resolutions, to present to both Houses. The meeting was very enthusiastic. Dunedin, Thursday. To-night’s Star says : —“ltwas currently reported in town to-day, and we have good reason for believing the report to be wellfounded, that the proprietors of the Guardian have completed the purchase of the Daily Times, and that in a short time the two journals will be amalgamated. Negotiations have been afoot for some time, but the fact was well kept secret.” Great dissatisfaction prevails re the allotment of Union shares. A meeting was held in the Council Chamber last night for the purpose of considering the circular received by the Mayor from the Secretary of the Ballarat Juvenile Exhibition. It was resolved that the meeting approves of, and heartily sympathises with, the proposed exhibition, to be opened on the Ist March, 1878, at Ballarat, and that an exhibition of the exhibits to be forwarded to Ballarat take place in Dunedin the last week in January. An influential committee was appointed to give effect to the resolution. The Secretary of the Otago Cricket Association wrote by yesterday’s mail to J. Conway, offering the Australian team the use of the ground free of expense, but without a money bonus, promising at the same time that the association would do its best to ensure the success of the match should the Australians visit the colony. Charles Spurgeon, alias George Simmons, was arrested yesterday, charged with forging and uttering five cheques in Dunedin. Westport, Thursday. The Mount Roohfort line, from Westport to Ngakawau, was opened yesterday. The event was celebrated by a public holiday, excursion trains running through and carrying several hundred persons. Kumara, Thursday. Ryan was brought up at the Police Court to-day on the charge of murdering Daniels, and was remanded for a week. Bail was refused. Daniels’ skeleton was found in the bush about a week ago. Temuka, Thursday. The horse show to-day was well attended by the farmers of the district. There was a fine lot of horses exhibited ; 17 entries. At the races there was also a large attendance. The various events resulted as follows : —Handicap Hurdle Race, of £ls ; distance, one mile and a half ; Hornbrook’s Violet, 1 ; Ward’s Schiedam Schnapps, 2 ; McNair’s Nonsuch, 3. Maiden Plate, of £lO ; one mile ; Jones’ Fishhook 1 ; Brown’s Manilla, 2. Publicans’ Purse, of £lO ; one mile: Fishhook, 1 ; Nonsuch, 2. Temuka Cup, of £2O ; two miles : Manilla, 1 ; McNair’s Annie Laurie, 2. (from a correspondent.) Palmf.rston, Thursday. A very numerously attended meeting, at which there were present residents from many portions of Waikouaiti County, was held at the Town Hall, Palmerston, Otago, this evening; Chas. Haines in the chair. The following resolutions were carried unanimously, and with applause ; —That this meeting, having heard that the committee recently appointed by the House of Assembly have reported in favor of the Strath Taieri railway, begs to express its dissent and surprise, as it believes sufficient data was not before the committee as to one of the proposed lines from this district, and it believes that if faiidy examined and reported upon it would be found shorter, cheaper, and equally advantageous to promote settlement ; and that this meeting further calls upon our member, the Hon. G. McLean, to continue to use his utmost efforts to prevent effect being given to the report until the merits of the Waihemo lines have been fairly ascertained and reported upon.—That this meeting disapproves of the action of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce in censuring the actions of our member, the Hon. G. McLean, in matters connected with the proposed inland railway.