TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5228, 24 December 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY). Auckland, Saturday. The directors o£ the Bank of New Zealand have altered Mr. Murdoch’s appointment to that of general manager, and have appointed Mr. Murray as inspector. Wanganui, Saturday. The Collector of Customs gave the following decision after holding an inquiry into the stranding of the schooner Colleen Bawn at Wanganui Heads on the 9th instant ; —“ That the stranding,of the Colleen Bawn was an unavoidable'accident. That no blame ' appears from the evidence to attach to the master or crew, who did all that they could under the circumstances.” TaCPO, Saturday. Mr. Connelly, the landscape painter, returned here yesterday. He has made the first real ascent of Tongariro. He has climbed even the cinder cone of Ngaruace, where he has built a cairn of stones on the lip of the outer crater, which. is of vast extent. The crater is not a single one, as it has hitherto been believed to be, but is double —the inner one being much smaller. The valley between is covered with white sand, granite boulders, and many colored rocks. Mr. Connelly descended into this valley, where not even a lichen was to be seen. Volumes of steam emerged from the inner crater, whose lip appeared in the distance to be covered with a coating of molten sulphur. Slight tremors of the ground were felt occasionally, and no sound disturbed the weird-like solitude of the smouldering volcano. The sketches taken by Mr. Connelly of these strange scenes fell into the bauds of the natives, who robbed him of his horses and other property. He has laid

a criminal information iu the Resident Magistrate’s Court here against Huritahi, the native who is said to have committed this robbery. Timaru, Saturday.

The weather took a change for the worseduring the night. Wind south-east. Heavy sea and rain this morning. At six o’clock the brig Craig Ellaohie, owned by Messrs. Smith, parted both her anchors, aud drifted ashore north of the Government landing service. The newly-formed Volunteer Rocket Brigade worked well, and got Captain and Mrs. Meredith ashore safely. Fears are entertained for the safety of the schooner Kate Magregor, which is dragging fast towards the beach. The three-masted schooner Annie Bow is riding out the gale well. The heavy fall of rain is most beneficial, all the wells and tanks having been nearly dry. Sunday.

Heavy rain fell during last night, but now the weather has cleared up. At 10 o'clock last night heavy seas were rolling, and the schooner Kate McGregor parted one anchor. The rocket brigade were again called together, and lights were kept burning on board the vessel. A strict watch was kept all night, but she held to her anchorage well. To-day the sea was much smoother. The Craig Ellaohie has had part of her rudder broken away, and also the keeh Oam aku, Friday. In the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day r nine publicans were fined 40s, each for permitting “ Yankee grab ” to be played in their licensed houses. From the evidence of the two witnesses, it transpired that they had been engaged by Coguan, boardinghouse-keeper, who, some time ago, was fined heavily for alygrog selling. Balclutha, Saturday, At Grigor’s sale of town sections this afternoon, on behalf of Barr’s trustees, there was great competition; twenty sections averaging the eighth of an acre, in back streets, were sold at from £3O to £2OO ; average, £65; being, the highest price ever obtained for town sections in Balclutha.