TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5316, 9 April 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Auckland, Monday.The Wolverine sailed to-day for Tauranga with the Governor and suite, and will be absent about a fortnight. Mr. Sheehan has ordered a rehearing in the case of the Poutou Block of fifty thousand acres, in consequence of a statement made by a native prisoner named King!, who is undergoing sentence for horse-stealing. The Government has ordered a search to be made at Tauranga for the body of Potier, supposed to have been drowned there in August, 1876. Kingi told a fellow prisoner it did not matter that he Had s killed Potier, as he had suffered punishment for it. He said he killed Potier with a heavy piece of iron which was in the boat, and tied it to his body. The entries and acceptances .for the autumn races close on Friday night. At the half-yearly meeting. of the South British Insurance Company to-day the report and balance-sheet were adopted. The Chairman pointed out that the assets of the company now reached £176,000, and the capital £IOO,OOO. The directors proposed to make a reinsurance fund out of the profits. The auditors ("Messrs, White and Batger) were re-elected, and their honorarium increased to £IOOO from £750 (?). The manager, in acknowledging the vote of thanks passed to the directors, read. a statement as, to ,the cost of the management of the company as follows : First year, 23 - 7 percent.; second, 1P63 ; third, 14‘3S ; fourth, 14T5 ; for last half-year, 16‘47. The English fire insurance companies cost 27 per cent, for working expenses. The working expenses of the South British were 11 per cent, below English or American companies, which latter reached 28 per cent". John Henry Lamfra, employed at Crowther’s stables, fell from a loft a distance of fourteen feet, and sustained concussion of the brain. He died a few hours after the accident. An inquest was held to-day, and a verdict of accidental death was returned by the jury.

Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan proceed to the Waikato to-morrow, and will be entertained at a Jbanquet at Hamilton. Colonel Whitmore goes to Wellington by the Taranaki. He will be replaced by. Mr. Fisher. Five boys bolted from the Training School on Saturday. "■ The Governor and the Commodore went to Tauranga to-dayin the Wolverine. They will visit the Lake country. New Plymouth, Monday. On the settling day of the Taranaki races £564 was paid as follows :—Stockman, £l4O ; George, £l4O ; Powdrell, £lO4 ; Chadwick and Belcher, £63 ; Lyons, £SO ; Quinlivan, £4O; Russell, £l2 15s. ; Old, £lO ; arid some small amounts.

The Harbor Board to-day appointed the Bank of New Zealand as its agent to raise the loan. Dunedix, Monday. Yesterday Bishop Moran* delivered a discourse on the marriage question. He explained that marriages by. the Registrar, though sinful, and carrying with them the penalty of excommunication in the i case of Catholics, yet were valid, and no power on earth could dissolve them. Green, a candidate for Port Chalmers in the General Assembly, addresses the constituency to-morrow.

The lad Mackay, who was hurt lately between two railway-trucks, died-yesterday.^ It is stated that several Timaru people intend starting for, New - Guinea on the first favorable opportunity. • Last night a child fell into an underground tank and was drowned. , , , ~ i , Blenheim, Monday. The census returns give Blenheim 873 males and 817 females. In 1871 the population was 494 males and 441 females ; increase, 757. Picton in 1874—Males 393, females 339; now, 351: males and 857 females; decrease 24. Province—6l4s in 1874; now, 7552. (from our own coruespondent.l PAlmertson North, Monday. A serious fire occurred on Saturday morning at three o'clock at Awahuri, when the house and premises of Mr. Charles Wildbore were completely 1 destroyed. The proprietor was awakened by a feeling of suffocation, and discovered the place to be on fire. The house and furniture were completely destroyed in -twenty minutes. The loss is estimated at j£3°°. ....