TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5248, 18 January 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PJER PRESS AGENCY.) Mastekton, Thursday. A fearful gale has swept over Masfcerton and neighborhood. Nearly all the windows on the east side of Bridge-street were broken. Many chimneys were blown down, and the roof of an unfinished building was carried several chains. Parts of the neighboring bush look as if cut down by hand. Two houses were burnt down, and two blown over. Mr. Lowe's Hail way Hotel narrowly escaped, and all the furniture had been removed. Heavy rain has commenced to'fall, and the crops still standing are much damaged, especially oats. No gale of equal severity lias been felt here before. It is feared that Carterton lias fared as bad as Maaterton. Auckland, Thursday. Dr. Somerville held a special prayer meeting for ladies to day, from which gentlemen were excluded. Only two civil cases are set down for hearing at the Supreme Court.. Sir George Grey is elected patron of the Working Men’s Club, and Mr. Brett, the Mayor, president. In the case of Henry Solomon Meyers, charged with fraudulent bankruptcy, the jury were locked up all night, and failed to agree. They were discharged this morning, and the case will be re-tried at the April session. Another charge, of concealment of assets, is being proceeded with. . Mr. Walters takes his horses South about the 25th inst. It is not known whether Hippocampus will start for the Wellington races. The Auckland and Riverhead railway is expected to be opened in two months. R. Thatcher, Levy's agent, left for Napier to-day, to make arrangements for his appearance there. The rainfall last night was about two inches. Blenheim, Thursday. Up-country rains yesterday raised the Opawa River sixteen inches, whereupon the Government punt ceased working, under orders from Picton. Consequently communication between the railway and the settled districts ceased, except by boat. Great dissatisfaction prevails. There is no sign of the fresh or flood increasing ; on the contrary, the river is falling. The valuation of the borough of Blenheim is £16.131, against £14,427 last year. Ohbistoh uiich, Thursday.

At a meeting of the New Zealand Shipping Company resolutions were adopted repealing clause S of the articles of association, and empowering the directors to borrow on debentures any sura not exceeding the amount of uncalled portion of capital, debentures to be first charge on such uncalled portion of capital. The chairman announced that a dividend of i per cent, would be declared for the half year ending 31st December last. A furious gale from the N.W. commenced early yesterday morning, heavy rain falling at intervals. Towards six o'clock the wind abated a little and the rain ceased ; boisterous wind still prevails ; considerable damage has been done in town. Two large plate-glass windows at Beatty’s Hotel were blown in and smashed. Several shop signs and portions of the roofs of buildings were bio* va down; it is also feared the crops have suffered severely. The wind continued very boisterous all day. A great amount of damage was done both in town and country. In Christchurch several trees, signboards, and part of the front of an old stone building in Gloncester-street were blown down. A wooden shed was carried across Cashel-street and deposited on top of a verandah. Buildings and crops suffered severely. In many places where the grain was ripe the wind threshed it nearly all out. The hurricane did considerable damage to the ripe crops in the rural districts. The Supreme Court was occupied hearing the'divorce case Heney v. Honey, in which the husband applied for a divorce on the ground of adultery. Ho is a middle-aged man, with several children by a former wife, and married the respondent when she was young. The evidence clearly proved the adultery between the respondent and a nephew of the petitioner. J. E. Fitz Gerald, Commissioner of Audit, and J. Carrutheis, Colonial Chief Engineer, are now here for the pu-poaa of enquiring into the alleged grievances of the railway employes. During the storm yesterday a horse was killed at Haugiora by lightning. The weather still continues boisterous. The cricketers are practising in a very desultory manner for the match against the Australians. The Mayor lias requested the citizens to observe a half holiday during the two days of the match. During the last few days twenty thousand salmon have been liberated in the Waimakariri and Rakaia Rivers. The skating rink having ceased to pay is being converted into a livery stable. A crowded meeting was held at the Odd Fellows’ Hall to-night, to consider the alleged grievances of the railway employes. Mr. Wynn Williams presided. Among the speakers were the Revs. Fraser and Denny, E. 0. -I. Stevens, member of tho Assembly for Christchurch, John Anderson, and J. C. Francis, chairman of the Hallway Servants Society. A letter was read which explained that several cases of disaffection existed among railway employes, and the principal one seemed to be a recent resolution requiring the men to work, overtime without pay, and to work on Sundays when required. A resolution condemnatory of this arrangement was unanimously carried, and also one requesting Government to appoint a commission to inquire into the whole of the grievances of the railway employes. . Mr. Stevens spoke strongly in favor of this course being adopted. Ddnemn, Thursday.

The Star to-night says:—“We have been favored with the perusal of a letter received by a resident at Dunedin from a passenger who went Home by the Loch Ryan, which left Melbourne at the latter part of last ye -.r, in which the writer states that Sullivan, the murderer, was a second cabin passenger in the ship. The convict was discovered a month after the Loch Ryan left Melbourne." The prominent shareholder in the late Daily Times company who has been accused of doing his best to promote the sale in consideration of receiving a bonus in addition to the price paid for each share, has refunded the money so received. The affair has caused

much talk in Dunedin, as it is considered that the property was worth more than the price given for it, and that the sale would not have taken place under ordinary circum-tances. . Port Chalmers, Thursday. Ihe single men per Canterbury were released from quarantine. There are no fresh cases of fever. Barometer low, 2S‘6O. Strong S.W. breeze.