TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5289, 8 March 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(per press aobkot.) ’ ' , ; ' New Plymouth, Thursday. =’ : The following are the'acceptances for the Taranaki races.;—Jockey Club Handicap": Kakapo, 9st. 101 b.; Resolution, Sat. 121 b.; Tamatea, Sat.; Flora McDonald, Sat.; Folly, 7at, 21b.; TTria, 7at.; Tamouri, fist. 121 b.; Otawa, Sat. 101 b. . Hurdle Handicap: Gazelle, list. 71b. ; Uria,‘idsfc; Supplejack, 9at. j >., t A telephone was used on the Waitara train yesterday, 1 and the guard and engine-driver communicated with each other. Their voices were distinctly heard,. notwithstanding the noise and vibration of the carriages. < GISBORSE, Thursday. The criminal.prosecution against Lawrence and others, for the destruction of the late Captain Reid’s property, has occupied,the past, two days. The Resident Magistrate held that, there was no forcible entry, as it was clearlyproved that the tenant permitted the entry, and the case , was therefore dismissed, the magistrate recommending proceedings, "to be' taken against both sides. ■....; ; : j ' ' ■ Respton, Thursday! A crushing of 725.t0ns of quartz from the Welcome Company’s mine, Boatman’s Creek, yielded 2567»z5. of gold. Grbtmodth, Thursday. The following are the weights for the Jockey Club Handicap, to be run on the Greymouth course oh Monday, March 18 Nutcracker, 9st. 91b.; Elfin King, - 9st. 31b.; Jasper, Bst. 71b.; Banker, Bst.; Morning Star,- Bst.; Doncaster, 7st. 121 b.; Native, 7st. 121 b.; Kensington, 7st. 101 b.; Venus Transit, 7st. 91b.; Maurama, 7st. 81b. ; Septimus, ;7st. 81b.; Falcon, 7st. 21b. j Eclipse, 7st.; Thunderbolt, fist. 101b.' ; Hokitika, Thursday. A long letter has been received 'from Mr. Alex. Reid by his brother here. It came by the Christchurch mail, and its tone is quite cheerful and chatty, and there is nothing'in it whatever to indicate depressed spirits oh the part of. the writer, but the very reverse..,,. , , Christchurch, Thursday. - The entries for the Canterbury Ram and Ewe Fair comprise 2385 rams and 2301 ewes. Yesterday, at the Wesleyan 'Anniversary services, Dr. Gervase Smith, as the Representative of the British Conference, was present ; lie received an address of welcome. The receipts at yesterday’s and Sunday’s serviaes : exceeded £9OO. n '■ Further inquiries respecting the; late fire show the ,insurances to be—Union £6OO oh the building, and Victoria, £4OO on furniture. Dunedin, Thursday. ' Maoandrew and Captain Fraser arrived overland last night. About sixty gentlemen met the Minister, of Lands, and gave him three cheers. Grey arrives to-morrow afternoon. A private meeting was held relative to the reception of Grey and party. Amongst the proposals agreed to is a public meeting at , the . theatre to-morrow, at which the Premier gives an address, and a banquet for Saturday night. - The Times denies that Grey received a cool reception at Invercargill. In vbboaboill, Thursday. Several deputations waited on Sir George Grey to-day. One was of merchants-and importers, relative to the bonus on rabbit skins. It was pointed out how the sum of £SOO on the estimates was miserably insufficient to meet 1 claims already established, and that the Act distinctly provided fpr.a halfpenny per skin being paid. Sir George Grey promised to consider the question. , . Another deputation was from the Bluff Harbor Board about Sir John Goode’s visit! Sir George Grey said Sir J. Goode had been engaged for a; lump sum by the Australian Governments, and if New Zealand desired to have the benefit of his advice, this colony would have to pay,pro rata. He thought that the cost to the colony would not exceed £ISOO, or about £3OO e-oh for the harbors! to ‘be"ln-: speoted. He also thought it onghtto be made a colonial question, and in that case the Assembly would pass the amount; but if not, the various harbors would be responsible! J. i < Next came.a deputation, from IWinton re the two proposed branch lines to the Nightcap coal reserves, and one from Winton to Obautoa. The deputation presented a requisition, which Sir George Grey promised to consider with, his colleagues! : Then followed a deputation from the Invercargill Town Council ; about sundry local matters, notably one re the water supply. Sir. George Grey promised to send one' of the .Go-_ verument engineers to advise the Council,: conditionally on IVh expenses being paid. In compliance with a requisition signed, according to the Mayor’s statement,: by forty : or fifty people,' the names of whom . were, not read; Sir George Grey consented i to address a‘ public meeting this evening. lt was held in the drillahed, and there werefrom about ,250 c t i 300 persons, pr sent—certainly not more ' than the latter number. . The shed was rather better than lialf-filled.': The Mayor was voted.

to the chair, and introduced Sir George Grey, who was received with much enthusiasm, cheers, and applause. He then spoke, commencing upon the question of taxation, with much earnestness, and strove to make himself understood. He went over exactly the same ground as he did during his famous speech at Taranaki, and after dealing with the question of taxation, be went into that of the franchise, and is at the time of telegraphing still speaking. “He was frequently applauded. He is to leave for, Dunedin by special train at 11 p.m. ~ ../ ,

Riverton, Thursday. A large fire occurred here early this morning, destroying Chapman’s, bookseller; Rogers’ tailor’s shop,-Robertson Bros.’ drapery establishment, Wilson and Cochers’ store, Code’s old Royal Hotel, Henderson’s saddler's shop, and the old Western Star printing office ; but, fortunately, the proprietors of the latter place had removed to new premises a week ago. Wilson and Cocher and Robertson Bros, are the heaviest losers, but the amount of the insurances has not yet been ascertained.