TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5341, 10 May 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(imoir oun own correspondent). Palmerston North, Thursday. The store and dwelling-house of Mr. Henry Phillips were burnt down last night at twelve o’clock. The furniture was saved. Mr. Phillips was insured iu the Victoria for £2500, but the greater part was re-insured by them in other companies. With the aid of a fire engine the dwelling-house could have been saved. (PER PRESS AGENCY.) Palmerston North, Thursday. There was a fire last night in town. Phillips’ store was totally consumed. The want of an engine was much felt, and if one had been there much property would have been saved. The. stock lost was worth £3OOO, beside the adjoining building, which was used as a dwel-ling-house. The buildings wore insured iu the Victoria Company for £SOO, half of which was re-iusured, and the stock for £BOO iu the United, of which £550 was re-insured in the New Zealand Insurance Company., Auckland, Thursday.

The contest for Franklin will probably He between Mr. Hobbs and Mr. Harris of Waiuku. Both are Grey supporters. Sir Arthur Gordon, Governor of Fiji, met with a very friendly reception from the natives of Tonga. The chiefs declared their determination to maintain their own Government, which Sir Arthur Gordon highly, praised. George Vennese, lately a storekeeper at Kaipara, fell from a steamer and was drowned. t . ' Tho New Zealand Insurance lose £I2OO and the North British £3OOO by the foundering off Cape Horn of the ship Hazelline, bound from New York to San Francisco. The risks were taken by the San Francisco agents of those companies. New Plymouth, Thursday.

The 3.45 train from town ran over a horse- at Henui whilst on its way out. The engine and train got thrown off the line, but no one was hurt. The horse jumped a cattle stop, and the train being on a steep incline, could not pull up in time to prevent the accident, although the brakes were put on, and every means taken to lessen the speed. The horse was overtaken, run over, and gut in two, the engine and one truck going ever it, and then going off the line down an embankment. "Wray, the engine-driver, and the fireman were thrown off, but were unhurt, and immediately proceeded to put out the fire and let off steam. Smith, the guard, came into town for assistance. The line is out up, but the railway men are working energetically, and the line will be ready for traffic again tomorrow. The full extent of the damage done to tho line and engine is not yet known.

Kusiara, Thursday. An inquest on the late fire was held before the Resident Magistrate. The verdict was that the fire originated at the Club Hotel, but that the origin is unknown. Christchurch, Thursday.

The Rifle Association propose to hold another prize competition on the Queen’s Birthday. There is great dissatisfaction here with the decision of the Dunedin umpire in the chess match, Christchurch v. Dunedin, which is tantamount to saying the match is drawn. The general opinionisthatChristchurch won beyond any doubt, and that the Dunedin umpire’s decision should nob have been published until the decision of the Christchurch umpire was known, when, if the two umpires disagreed, the whole matter, as provided for in the conditions of the mach, should have been referred to Mr, Beubow, of Wellington, who is tbe referee.

Sergeant Hughes, while arresting Samuel Badhazn for wife desertion last night, was stabbed by Badham in the lower part of the loin, but fortunately the wound is not dangerous. Oamaru, Thursday. After Hr. Shrlraski had concluded his speech, several questions were answered by Mr. Hislop. A vote of confidence was unanimously passed by the electors. At the annual meeting of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association to-day, it was resolved, —That in the opinion of this meeting the time has arrived when steps should be taken to establish an Agricultural and Pastoral Association in New Zealand, holding periodical exhibitions at the centres, on the plan of tbe Royal Agricultural Society of England or the Highland Society of Scotland, That the secretary be instructed to write to the different societies throughout the island, asking concurrence and assistance in establishing such an institution. It was also resolved, — That a company be formed for the purpose of erecting a public market and corn exchange at Oamaru, of 1000 shares at £lO each. Dunedin, Thursday. At a meeting of tbe new Education Board to-day Mr. Donald Reid was appointed chairman. W. Pryde, acting-secretary, was appointed secretary at a salary of £loo a year.

Mr. Reid addresses his constituents next Thursday. At the Education Board meeting to-day it was resolved that a report be obtained from the Inspector of Schools and Inspector of School Buildings upon the schools in the education district, the accommodation afforded, the accommodation needed, and the approximate sum in each case necessary to supply such accommodation ; and also that it be specially submitted to the audit committee to draw up a scheme for pyyment of the salaries of teachers, and for determining the strength of the teaching staff to be allowed in different classes of schools ; and also to ascertain whether the Board has any funds disposable for new school buildings, and if so, to advise the Board regarding the allocation. That the Chairman and Messrs. Bastings, Clark, and Eulton be appointed a permanent committee for the purpose of advising the Board regarding the appointment and promotion of teachers; and that the committee be empowered, in cases of emergency, to promote to be teachers, such cases to be thereafter, reported to the Board at its first meeting. The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce has received a communication from Mr. Macandrew, in reference to the Chamber’s remonstrances re the different charges made for the conveyance of grain on railways. Mr Macandrew hopes that when the line to Dunedin is completed the tariff will be arranged on such a basis as will put all parties on an equal footing as much as possible.

Mr J. 0. Brown will be entertained at a banquet at Lawrence next month.