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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5335, 3 May 1878, Page 2

A memorandum received yesterday from the Telegraph Department notifies the fact that the Batavia and Singapore cable has been interrupted since 3.30 a.m. the previous day, and that arrangements are being made for the conveyance of telegrams by steamer. The frequent interruptions of this cable are particularly annoying and inconvenient at the present time, when European intelligence regarding the existing crisis is.of the utmost interest and importance.

It is not expected that the English mail via Suez will bo delivered before Saturday morning. The Arawata will arrive here then, and it happens that none of the coastal steamers will be here sooner.

Several important matters relating to the finances of the City Council were brought up at yesterday’s meeting, but no definite and conclusive action was taken, the consideration of them being postponed. A report of the proceedings appears elsewhere.

It is understood that Sir John Goode will not be able to visit Wellington, as his engagements to report on other places ■will occupy all his time before he leaves the colony. Although some people profess to believe that Sir John Goode’s advice on anything connected with our harbor is not needed, it would be highly desirable to learn his opinion with reference to the effect the contemplated reclamation works at Te Aro might have upon the harbor. On Wednesday, when opr reporter made a formal application at the afternoon's sitting of the Education Board to bo admitted during the discussion on Hr. Doherty's case, the question of the admission of the Press was put to the vote. The result was that reporters were excluded, the division being thus: —For the adraissiou’of the Press—Archdeacon Stock, Messrs. Hutchison and Gisborne : and on the other side—Messrs. Pharazyn, Beetham, Toomath, and the Bev. Mr. Paterson. A survey has been held on the brigantine Emma Jane, which was damaged by being run into by the brig Fawn daring the recent heavy gale. The surveyors (Messrs. Bendall, Scott, and Williams) found that three planks on the starboard side, above the water line, had been stove in, and would have to be replaced. The estimated cost of the necessary repairs is about £IOO, which it is understood will fall upon the owners of the Fawn. . It is always gratifying to notice fresh local industries springing up in bur midst, whether they are on a large or small scale. Amongst other enterprises recently started here is that of Messrs. Williams and Graham, near Te Aro Pa, where they are now engaged in making blocks, pumps, steering wheels, and all kinds of ship's work. The machinery is worked by steam, and same of the latest appliances for effecting a saving in time and labor are brought into use. The workshop, although not a large one, is well fitted up, and there is a good stock on hand of all sorts of commodities adapted for the business,

The other, day a little girl about three years of age had a very narrow escape from a shocking death by suffocation. She, while playing in the yard of the Gas Company, Courtenayplaoe, climbed on to some iron which was heaped up close to a gasometer, and losing her balance, fell into the water between the frame and the dome. As the gasometer was full at the time its bottom edge was but a few inches in the water, and had the child gone down only one foot, she would have been forced into the gas. Fortunately her playfellow, a mere baby of the same age, caught her by the hand, and screamed for help. One of the men working in the yard heard the screams, and saved the child. It would not be easy to conceive a more horrible accident than this would have been had the second girl, Ellen Jane Wallace, a daughter of the foreman of the gasworks, ran away for help instead of keeping the child from sinking, for a moment's delay would have caused certain death.

An important sale of mining property and plant is advertised by Mr. J. R. Mabin, auctioneer, Nelson, to take place on the 9th May. The property comprises the whole of the Para Para Iron and Coal Company’s estate. For the convenience of intending purchasers the steamer Lady Barkly will be laid on between Nelson and Collingwood at suitable hours. We hear that several business men here are likely to avail themselves of the opportunity of being present at the sale.

, The sad accident alluded to in our issue of yesterday, the bursting of a lamp by which the unfortunate girl Hannah Barnes was terribly burned, resulted fatally at 4 o’clock yesterday morning at the Hospital. She suffered great agony for several hours prior, to her death, which must have been a happy release to her. An inquest will bo held at the Hospital to-day. . Notice is given in our advertising columns that arrangements have been made to extend the b.b. Wellington's run on Monday, the 6th inst., to Collliugwood, calling there on her return trip on the 14th inst., so as to give intending investors an opportunity of being present at the sale of the Para Para Coalmining plant.

The annual meeting of the Wellington' Horticultural Society will be held in the Odd Bellows’ Hall this evening at eight o’clock. There will ba a sitting of the Supreme Court in banco to-day. The cases of Gillon v. Macdonald and others, and Peters and Joseph, will be brought under the notice of the Court.

The Bank of Australasia has opened branches at Feilding and at Feathers ton. There was- a meeting of ■ the Waste Lands Board yesterday." The business transacted was not of much importance. 1 A report appears elsewhere. A correspondent at Nelson says that eleven of the College boys are prepared to play eleven of the Wellington College Cricket Club whenever the latter choose to put in appearance on the Nelson grouud. The annual meeting of the Builders and Contractors’ Association, which was held last night at the MetropolitanMlotel, was largely attended, and passed off very successfully. A report appears in another column. A girl nine years old, named Stevens, who came to Wellington with her brother yesterday from Horokiwi, got separated from him, and for some time was a lost child. She was noticed wandering about, and was taken to the Queen’s- Hotel to await her friends. A reference to our advertising columns will show the times and places at which Courts will be held for revising the lists of voters in the electoral districts of Wellington city and country, Hutt, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Kangitikei, and Wanganui. Yesterday Councillor Fisher treated the members of the City Council to an oration, in which he declaimed against the wrong done by the arrangement made that the Council should meet at 4 o’clock, instead of half-past 7, in order to enable some members to attend the annual dinner of the Builders and Contractors’ Association. Councillor Fisher seemed to attack everyone excepting Councillor Fisher, and paid him an undeserved compliment by asserting and insisting that that public-spirited man had caused the Council to meet at 7.30, by bringing in a motion to that effect. Not content with this he said that the reason for taking this action was to suit the convenience of the ratepayers, who could not attend to watch their representatives in the afternoon. After Councillor Fisher had done, Councillor Maginnity quietly pointed out that the motion which fixed 7.30 o’clock as the time for meeting was moved by Councillor Maginnity and seconded by Councillor Hunter. Of course, Councillor Fisher denied this, and, of course, he was wrong. The records of the Council show that Councillor Maginnity was right. “ Davy Crockett” was repeated last evening to a fair house. To-night, “ William Tell,” followed by a concert and Professor Strachan in the third act of “ Othello,” are announced, for the benefit of Miss Pender and Mr. Dillon. We expect to see a full house on the occasion, as both the lady and gentleman for whose benefit the performance will take place are great favorites with the theatre-going portion of the public, and the bill of fare is a varied and attractive one. _ A wager of somehwat novel nature was decided a few days ago at Papanui. Mr. J. Wild, of the Sawyers’ Arms Hotel, backed a man named William Ponninghouse, for £lO, to erect three chains of poat-and-rail fencing within eight working hours. The conditions were—two rails, 9ft. in length, to bo pointed, the post to be morticed and sunk 2ft. 6iu. in the ground. Ponninghouse worked steadily throughout without making any great apparent effort, and completed the work in a substantial manner easily within the time. Mr. Wild thus won his bet.

We (Napier Daily Telegraph) are glad to hear that Mr. Grindell has been abundantly successful in securing support amongst Europeans and natives for the Maori newspaper about to be established try a company at Gisborne. Mr. Grindell has sold nearly 200 shares at £5 each, and promises in th'is district have been made to take up the required balance, or even more if necessary. We look upon the Gisborne venture as a most beneficial one for any true hearted settler to enter into. It is absolutely necessary that the Maori population should be supplied with truthful information, and be correctly educated in political matters, considering how extensively they are enrolling themselves on the electoral rolls of the colony. Mr. Grindell is now on his way to Wellington to purchase the plant, and as soon as the press machine arrives from Melbourne the publication of the new Waha Maori will commence.