TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5209, 1 December 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PEE PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Friday. The installation of Mr. S’. Whitaker as P.G.M. of the Scotch Constitution, and of G. S. Graham as P.G. of the English Constitution took place at the Choral IJall, in the presence of a splendid assemblage of Masons. The day was observed as a holiday by the banks and public offices. Most of the private houses and business places were also closed. Mr. W. J. Hurst (late Mayor of Auckland) and his wife are among the passengers per Australia. The ceremony of installing Bros. G. S. Graham, Past Grand Master of the English Constitution, and F. Whitaker, Provincial Grand Master of the North Island, Scotch Constitution, took place to-day in the Choral Hall. Between five and six hundred attended, including representatives of the lodges from Otago, Nelson, Tauranga, Waikato, Gisborne, Thames, Coromandel, East Coast, Napier, and Northern Districts. Brother Lazar, the Right Worshipful District Grand Master of Westland, officiated as Installing Blaster. The superb furniture of the Sir Walter Scott Lodge, Thames, was lent for the occasion. The ceiling was hung with flags, the Royal Standard being in front of the chair. The spectacle was grand and impressive. At noon Lodge Waitemata was opened by Bro. Lazar, who was received with honors. A Grand Lodge was constituted and consecrated. The fine choir, under the leadership of J. Brown, organist, rendered several anthems in excellent style. Bro. Graham and the other officers W'ere invested and installed with the customary Masonic ceremonies. Bro. Graham delivered an impressive and eloquent address on the widespread influence and greatness of Masonry. Bro. Graham then received congratulations from the various lodges. BlcCullough represented Bro. Hislop, Grand Lodge, Dunedin. At three o’clock the Lodge St. Andrew met. Bro. F. Whitaker, with his officers, were installed with similar ceremonies as Provincial Grand Blaster, North Island, Scotch Constitution, and received congratulations. Bro. Whitaker delivered an address showing that he had been aßlason since 1839, and had occupied important positions in connection with Freemasonry. A ball takes place this evening. Taupo, Friday. Connally, the celebrated sculptor and landscape painter, has returned from the summit of Tauhara Mountain, after a stay of five days and nights there for the purpose of sketching Taupo scenery. New Plymouth, Friday. To-day is being observed as a general holiday on account of the Inglewood railway being opened and the Harbor Bill passing. The trains are running at single fares, and are crowded. An inquest on the fire was held yesterday, afternoon. The verdict had no evidence to show how the fire originated. Balclutha, Friday. A four-roomed dwelling-house belonging to H. Clarke, gardener, Balclutha, with the whole of the furniture, was burned early this morning. Clark was from home. Mrs. Clark was severely cut by the explosion of a flask of gunpowder in the house. Origin of the fire unknown, but to all appearances it was accidental. The building was insured for £2-15 in the Victoria office. Timaru, Friday. The cricket match Christchurch v. Timaru commenced this morning on the ground of the South Canterbury Atldctio Club. There was a good attendance. The game excites much interest. Christchurch went to the wdekets first, and scored 101 in their first innings. The Timaru Eleven in their first innings made 141, and Christchurch in their second innings 170, with three wickets to fall. The Customs revenue for the month of November is £1,172 4s. 2d. Christchurch, Friday. The Canterbury Agricultural Association purpose starting a colonial “ Stud Book” for draught stock. The subscriptions to the Indian Famine Relief Fund are now closed. The total amount is £5215. • Arthur Von Poelnitz, late curator of the Acclimatisation Society, was brought up on remand to-day, charged with embezzling the funds of the society, and discharged, the Resident Magistrate holding that the society had no existence in law for the purpose of prosecuting in. cases of this kind.

DUNEDIN RACES. Dunedin, Friday. About four thousand people assembled on the ground, but the Grand Stand was poorly patronised. The weather was dull and chilly. The races were on the whole mediocre. MAIDEN PLATE, Of 10 soys. One mile anti a half. D. O’Brien's Luna, 3 yrs, fist 91b (Tauten) .. .. 1 Stevens’ Sapphira, 3 yrs, fist 91b (Clifford) .. .. 2 Venus, 9st 51b : .. S Carson’s colt was scratched. Betting: 3 to 2on Luna. An even start was effected, Luna showing to the front, and leading by half a dozen lengths to the finish. Time, 3 min. ST. ANDREW'S HANDICAP, Of IXI sovs, added to a sweeptslakes of 3 sovs, Two miles. Hill’s Unknown, aged, 7st 91b (Cotton) .. .. 1 Logan’s Cloth of Gold, 5 yrs, Sst Sib (Lynch) .. 2 Delamain’s Oberon, 3 yrs; fist 121 b (Clifford) .. 3 Chancellor, Sst 91b, was scratched. Betting: 3 to 1 against Unknown, 3 to 2 against Oberon, 3 to 1 against Cloth of Gold. The lot got away on equal terms, Unknown being to the front at first. At the turn Oberon got on terms with the leader, Cloth of Gold being close behind. At the back of the course Unknown and Oberon were running close together, and on coming into the straight they raced neck and neck past the stand, Cloth of Gold being ten lengths behind, and' apparently out of it. At the back of the course iu the second round Unknown led by a clear length, and in this order they kept until turning into the straight again, when Cloth of Gold made a rush up, passing Oberon, and securing the second place, ■ Unknown winning by two lengths. Time, 3min. 52fsec. A protest was entered against Cotton by Clifford on the ground of jostling, but this was dismissed with a caution. SELLING- RACE, Of 40 sovs. One mile and a half. Small’s Larry, sst lllb (J. Allan) 1 J. McMnster’s Black Bess, fist 3lb (llastie).. .. 2 Taggart’s Sutton, fist 71b (Heeding) 3 Lavry carried 2Jlbs. and Black Bess overweight. Betting : Even against the Little Don, 3to 1 against the others. The race was a hollow affair. Time, 2min. 57fsec. SPRING HANDICAP. Of GO sovs. One mile and a quarter. Swanson’s Blue Peter, 8-t 51b (McKay) .. ~ 1 Smith’s Sweede. Sst (Smith) 2 Beeves’ Chancellor, 7st (Allen) 3 Time, 2fmin. Little Don carried 24ibs,, Chancellor LJlbs., and Sapphira H-lbs. overweight. Betting ; Even against Parthenopeus, 3 to 6 against Blue Peter, 2 to 1 against Chancellor, and 8 to 1 against the others. This was the best race of the day. After one false start a tolerably easy start was made ; Parthenopeous got well to the front, closely followed by Chancellor. Blue Peter, Little Don, Sweede, Sapphira, and Venus came on in the order named. Chancellor took the lead passing the stand, and Partheuopeus gradually fell in to rear. Blue Peter shortly came up to Chancellor, and ran neck and neck to the turn into the straight, where Sweede made a grand effort. The finish was splendid; the three horses were running close together, and Blue Peter managed to win by a neck, Little Don fourth, with Venus and Sapphira next in order. HANDICAP TROTTING RACE. Of 50 sovs. Three utiles. Heaney’s Snip (350yds) .. .. .. .. .. 1 Melver’s Bkckboy (120yds) 2