TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5285, 4 March 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(FEU PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Saturday The Colonial Secretary to-day, in reply to a deputation of Bemuera residents, said the Government had fully determined to close the Newmarket slaughter-house. 1 The Government has paid the water-rate on the post-office, and the supply will be resumed by the city authorities. Napier, Sunday. Last night some highly successful telephone ■experiments were conducted between Napier and Waipukurau. The telegraph offices’ instruments used were made in Napier by Mr. Isva and Mr. A nell. Those at first made were not found so effective as was desired. But the gentlemen named made some imp rtant alterations of their own which answered admirably. Songs were sung at each end, and 'heard very distinctly, even to the brogue in Finnigan’s Wake.” The persons speaking were recognised by their voices. As a last 1 experiment the “National Anthem” was sung by all present in Napier, the telephone being held in the middle of the group, and it was heard at-Waipukurau. The experiment was (repeated from the other end with equal 'success. Tacpo, Saturday. All the surveys at Taupo are finished, the natives giving every assistance. ' Mr. Noble, of Taupo, lost himself on the Tokoroa Plains for three days, when travelling !frora Cambridge to Taupo. He arrived in a weak and exhausted state. ! ‘ ; ' Nelson, Saturday.A fire at Stoke last night resulted in the total destruction of three stacks of wheat and one of barley, in all eight hundred bushels, belonging to a farmer named Alport. The fire is supposed to have originated in a stack heating. A strong wind was blowing at the time. The stacks were uniusure 1. Christchdrch, Saturday. The Gas Company has decided to reduce the price of gas to 11s. sd. per 1000 ft. ! The calendar at the next criminal session of the Supreme Court will be unusually heavy. There are already fourteen prisoners. Six indictments are preferred agvinst one Stephen Samuel. A fish hawker named Brightning was found drowned in the River A.von last night. The Salisbury Troubadours opened last night. Their performance was a great success.

—The Customs receipts for Febru iry were unusually heavy, excejding £30,060. The Board of Governors of the Carte 'bury College have adopted the plans for anew High School building, to cost £6OOO. Timaru, Saturday.

Mr. Richard Turnbull has consented to be nominated for Timaru, vacant by the resignation of Mr. Stafford. He will probably be elected.

The customs revenue for February-is £2439 Is. Bd., against £1638 6s. 9d. for the corresponding month last year.

The criminal session of the District Court commenced on Monday in the new Courthouse .before Judge Ward. Six cases are set down for hearing—four for larceny, one for perjury, and one for assault, with intent to do bodily harm. , ,

Dunedin, Saturday. The Primitive Methodist Church bazaar, which has concluded, realised about £4OO. Invercargill, Sunday.

At a meeting of the Municipal Council yesterday a motion to make special preparation to receive Sir .Grey was negatived ; and it ivas resolved to wait on him relative to the removal of the railway station and the completion of the Government buildings. The Mayor was authorised to take whateverstepshemight think necessary to hospitably entertain Sir George and party. The entertainment is to be devoid of every particle of political significance. The steam-r Oreti arrived this morning after a dreadful passage from Dunedin. She ■net the severe gale early on Friday morning, and ran into Waikanae for shelter, where she lay till next morning, when the sea came m, and the chains : parted. The second anchor was let go, and she strained to it until daybreak, when she put to sea, and ran for shelter tD the Nuggets. She lay there until Saturday afternoon, and L then made for Invercargill.. The wind was still fresh, and a nasty sea running.' She passed the Bluff at 7 o’clock this morning, and anchored inside New River Bar to wait for the tide) and arrived at 11.30 a.m. The ‘ weather was dreadful throughout, and once the Oreti was, in..considerable danger. The passengers , speak in high terms of the behavior of Captain Bayltom and his officers and crew.

(from our own correspondent). : ; Taubanga, Saturday.

I regret to have' to record the melancholy intelligence of the capsize of yesterday within , the harbor, eight miles. from the town, on the passage, to Oinokoroa, the residence of Mr. T. Gillibrand. During a heavy squall the boat upset, and . Mrs.. Gillibrand, who. was . a passenger,. was 'drowned.; . Her body/was /recovered this morning, andjhas just been brought into town by Mr. GUlibraud, and the -natives, and awaits a coroner’s inquest.