TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5277, 22 February 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Auckland, Thursday.

Bishop Cowie has become patron of the Working Mens’ Club, which is in a fair way of success. Premises have been taken, and the club will be opened shortly. A lunatic named Edwards escaped from the Whau Asylum. When recaptured he was walking in a dangerous place on the railway line.

Mr. George Collins, schoolmaster, formerly a partner of Mr. D. M. Luekie, as proprietors of the Nelson Colonist, has been suffering for some time from paralysis and occasional congestion of the brain and sleeplessness. Yesterday Mr. Collins left the schoolroom and went into the house. When his wife returned from the school, she found him lying on a bed, with his eyes glazed and fixed teeth. He let his wife and a lady named Pettit open his mouth with a teaspoon and pour oil down his throat. A doctor was sent for, but the remedies applied were ineffectual, and he expired about 7 : o’clock. He was iu the habit of taking doses of hydrate of chloral to induce sleep. These doses were generally administered to him by Mrs. Collins. An empty tumbler and a chloral bottle were found on the table by his bedside. Mr. Collins has been very shortsighted for some time, and could not distinguish objects even when close to him, and it is supposed he took an overdose by mistake. He has been teacher of the Maori school at Orakei for some time. An inquest will probably be held to-morrow. The Rev. Gervase Smith had a large congregation at the Wesleyan Church last evening. Blenheim, Thursday. In consequence of the heavy rains the races are being postponed from day to day. Guy Fawkes is advertised for sale, or to be let for stud purposes. Nelson, Thursday. A temperance meeting was held last night, under the auspices of the Rechabite delegates, at the Provincial Hall, which was crowded. The Hon. Mr. Fox delivered a long and interesting address. A presentation of a handsome bound edition of Shakespere was made to Brother Bond, by Alfred Saunders, on behalf of the local Good Templar bodies. Westport, Thursday. Sir George Grey and the Ministerial party were entertained at a banquet last evening. He afterwards addressed a large meeting. The speech was well received. A vote of thanks was accorded with cheers. He has made a generally favorable impression here. ' Gbeymooth, Thursday. ■Sir George Grey and party arrived hero at noon t -day. They met with a most enthusiastic reception. The day being observed as a holiday, there were over 600 school children on the harbor works and 1000 citizens on the wharf, who cheered them moat lustily. An address was presented by the Borough Council. The party proceed to the coal mines by train this afternoon, and are to be entertained at a banquet in the evening. Sir George Grey proceeds to Reefton to-, morrow at 7 aim. He will reach Kumara on Monday, and Hokitika on Tuesday. Timaku, Thursday. Last night Mr. Sothern appeared at the Theatre Royal as Lord Dundreary in “ Our American Cousin.” His performance was a success, and the house was crowded.

' Christchurch, Thursday. Two boxes of American white fish ova, containing 20,000 ova, which had been presented to Canterbury by the Government, arrived by the; Californian mail here, and turned out a dead failure, not more than twelve ova of .the 20,000 being alive. Many had already hatched •out. - Mr. Karr, secretary to the Acclimatisation Society, is of opinion there was too much moss employed, and thatthe ova were killed by its weight. He at once telegraphed to Dr. Hector at Port Chalmers; recommending him not to proceed to Lake Anan, near the Bluff :(where the Doctor proposed to liberate , 20,000 ova), without first examining the boxes in his charge. At a special meeting of the City Council last evening, it was stated that Mr. Cuff, the city assessor, had undervalued the properties of the city by a great many thousand pounds. The Mayor stated that the valuator had been heard to say it would not pay him, for the sake of £SO, to raise the value of his clients’ property. The Council resolved to make objections to a large number of the assessments as made by the valuator. Pour events are fixed to come off at the Grand National Steeplechase meeting, which comes off at Christchurch on the Queen’s Birthday:—AXaiden, 100 sbvs.; National, 200 sov«.; Hunt Club Cup, 150 sovs.; Consolation, 50 sovs. Dunedin, Thursday. : A meeting of the Early Closing Association was held last night, when addresses, delivered by a number of leading citizens, and motions were carried, affirming the principle of shutting shops up at 6 o’clock on Saturdays, and pledging support. The Salsbury Minstrels have been drawing large houses. ■