TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5344, 14 May 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PEU PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Monday. Further particulars of the hurricane at Paumotus, one of the South Sea group, have been received. The island is only from 10 to 20 feet high, and unfortunately the centre of the cyclone swept over the most populous and commercially important islands of the group. Kaiaro, Apatai, and Kaukara experienced the full force of the gale on the Cth ; Anaa (the seat of Government in the group, where there is a Resident) and the adjoining islands, having it on the 7th. In llaiaro the full hurricane made a clean sweep of both the settlements, washing away every house, and even the bodies in the graveyard. Some of them were subsequently eaten by pigs. Many of the inhabitants saved themselves by getting on to the highest points of land, and others by tying themselves to cocoanuttrees until the wind and sea abated. Two schooners were lost on the island.. One American was drowned at Kaukara, the sea from the lagoon and outside meeting on the laud in a most extraordinary manner, and quickly submerging it to a depth of six feet. The inhabitants got frightened, took to the boats, and were carried out over a reef. Some boats were capsized and 117 persons drowned ; amongst them were one white man, one halfcast, two Chinamen, and the rest natives. The white man is supposed to be George Harder,late of Auckland. About twenty boats, averaging from four to five tons, were lost on this island, besides all the houses. Many thousand cocoauut-trees were washed away. A few of the native inhabitants, with four Europeans, saved themselves by climbing on the rooks and trees until morning, when the storm abated. On Apatai two schooners belonging to Bander were thrown ashore ; no lives were lost. On Anaa all the houses, stores, and residences were washed away by the sea. Thousands of coooauut-troos were blown down and broken off half-way up, and the whole place was covered with about throo feet of sand. The people saved themselves by retreating to the highest point of the island, some tying themselves to the trees, while the sea washed under them. All the boats of the schooner which loft the island the day before were capsized, and all hands (18) wore drowned, three being Europeans, one of them Peter Hehmens, late of Akaroa, Now Zealand. The French sent a iPeamer from Tahiti to ascertain the extent of the disaster. It is estimated that more than one hundred and fifty lives were lost, and fifty thousand pounds worth of property destroyed. The copra trade is ruined for the year. A split in the National Independent Order of Odd Fellows has occurred. A new lodge will be formed.

A company is started to erect a Templar Hall. A discovery of coal is reported close to Auckland. Lewis Brothers’ creditors have accepted an assignment. Nelson, Monday. ■ Mr. Mabin reports the sale of the Para Para property and plant for £965, to a company formed at Collingwood. The plant includes 210 tons of rails, a wharf, seven cottages, two punts, &c. Greymouth, Monday. W. H. Harrison, J. Barrowman, E. Kewes, and H. Newton were nominated to-day for the vacant seat in the Grey Valley representation. One of the severest gales ever experienced on the coast commenced on Saturday morning. The wind veered round to the S.W. that afternoon, and remained there. A large number of brick chimnies, verandahs, &c., were blown down, but no lives were lost. The vessels in the roadstead, thanks to the weather report from Captain Edwin, of Wellington, were signalled on .Friday to proceed to sea, which they did. The sea ©n the coast is something terrific. The steamer Kennedy, with Judge Eiohmond on board, has been barbound since Thursday. Nothing is likely to cross the bar for two days. The gale is still severe. Christchurch, Monday.

Messrs. Ingles and Saunders, the rival candidates for the representation of Cheviot in the Assembly, addressed the electors at Waikara on Friday last. A vote of confidence in Mr. Ingles was proposed and seconded, and then an amendment, thanking Mr. Ingles for his address, but stating that no candidate would be acceptable to the district unless independent of. the squatters’ interest, was proposed. It could not, however, be seconded, as though there were about fifty persons present, the proposer of the amendment was the only qualified elector in the room. This was due to the fact that the list of ratepayers sent in to the Registration Officer last year was not signed by the chairman of the Road Board, as required by the Act. About fifty persons were thus disfranchised. The resolution in favor of Mr. Ingles was carried. Dunedin, Monday. The question of teaching science in the elementary schools was discussed by the Education Institution bn Saturday, . Professors Black, McGregor, and Sutton, and several others spoke. A diversity of opinion prevailed as to the desirability of such instruction, and Professor McGregor said that the attempt to teach science in such schools would bo an unmitigated mischief. A man named Harman died in the hospital to-day from injuries received by a fall of earth in Anderson’s Bay., A lady was robbed of a considerable sum of money on leaving Dr. Somerville’s meeting the other night. The half-yearly meeting of the National Insurance Company was held to-day. The chairman referred at considerable length to the competition which prevailed, and said there were nineteen companies now doing business in Dunedin. The directors propose that in future the annual meeting only should be held, but this proposal is likely to be strongly opposed by some influential shareholders. Goee, Monday. : The engine of the 4.30 p.m. train from Invercargill yesterday, when five and a-half miles north of Gore, fell into a hole about 14ft. deep and 20ft. in width, through the line being washed away. The night was dark, and the engine-driver did not notice the break until on it. . Before he could shut off the steam the engine fell' through, and now lies in a very awkward position, with a cant to the right of about 45 degrees, and only kept from . rolling over by a luggage van and .one rail, on which the wheel was resting. No one was injured. The engine-driver and stoker-were knocked about a bit, Black, of the Public Works Department, fell off as the train was falling into the hole. There were only a few passengers aboard—H. Driver, of Dunedin, and J. Baron, of Clinton, were amongst the number. It is a matter of no surprise that no one was injured, as the train was going very slowly at the time. The guard had previously been told everything was right ahead by the sur-face-man, who, had passed over the line; but breaks were caused in a short space of time by the heavy rain which fell during the day having been damned up along the line. A messenger was sent to Invercargill at 9.30 last night with the information for the railway authorities, and Mr. Arthur, the general manager, with a good number of men, : left Invercargill at 9 a.m. to-day. After being delayed near Waikaka station through another break in the line, they reached the scene of the accident about 2 p.m. Very little was done except lowering the line and preparing the work for to-morrow, and the train returned, passing Gore for Invercargill at 5 p.m. The traffic will probably be suspended for two days at least, as there are other breaks on the line near Waipahi. about 20yds. in length and 15yds. in depth. ■ The full extent of damage caused by the 24 hours’ rain is not yet known. When the 4.15 p.m. train from Clinton passed over the line yesterday everything was'right. The engine has been got on the line again uninjured, and has been taken on to Invercargill. A commencement has been made to repair the line where the engine fell through. It is anticipated that communication may be restored some time on Thursday, although this is only conjecture, as the break near Waipahi is very bad, and possibly may retard traffic for a longer time. ?

Balclutha, Monday. An extensive fire occurred here at 2 o’clock on Sunday morning, when Dunne’s Newmarket Hotel, a portion of the stabling, the Newmarket Hall, J.' Blue and Cook’s store (late Gregor and Stewart's); and another small empty store, were totally destroyed, with almost their entire contents. The fire, which is supposed to have originated in a chimney at the back of : the dining-room of the hotel, - was first discovered by some servants who, slept in a building at .the rear of the hotel. Mr, and Mrs. Dunne, the barman, and toe bilUardmarker got out by the window in their nightdresses, the two latter‘ leaping from the upper storey. In less than an hour toe whole of; the buildings were .level with the ground and were one burning mass. Only two strangers slept in the hotel; one escaped,' but the other was burned to a cinder. His skull and some charred bones wore discovered in the morning. His name was Patrick McGrath, a native of Limerick, and unmarried. He is said

to have a sister married to a man named Lorney, at Dunatan Creek. The whole of the vehicles and harness were saved, and also all the horses but one belonging to Mr. «to“ ■ Macdonald, which was in the stables at the rear of Elbe’s store, which was burned. No one knew the horse was there till it was too late. Several adjacent buildings had a narrow escape. The morning was very calm, otherwise great damage would have been done. The following are the insurances as far as known :—Newmarket Hotel, South British, £BOO ; New Zealand, £USO ; National, £SOO ; Standard, £SOO ; Newmarket Hall, National, £6OO ; South British, £600; piano and furniture, National, £150: on stables burnt. New Zealand, £100; Blue’s store buildings, Standard, £490; stock. National, £ISOO. A small portion of the goods m the store was At a special meeting of the Borough Council to-day it was moved that the PostmasterGeneral he requested to select' a more central site for the new post and telegraph offices. An amendment, that no action should be taken till the opinion of the ratepayers was bbtamed, was carried. . , A severe storm is raging, accompanied witn rain. The river is up five feet, but no flood is auticipated. Lawrence, Monday. There was an unusually heavy rainfall here on Saturday. It commenced at 11 a.m., and continued till 10 p.m. Yesterday morning at 5 o’clock a terrific gale sprang up, committing a considerable amount of damage to the roofs of houses; that over Graham and Kennedy s coach factory was partially destroyed. Sheets of iron were carried a great distance, ana many fences were levelled. One of the telegraph posts snapped, and communication was in consequence interrupted. The weather has moderated to-day. Invercargill, Monday. At a meeting of the Southland Education Board to-day McDonald was elected chairman, and it was decided to appoint a secretary and treasurer at a salary of £3OO, and an mspector at £3OO. , ... There has been heavy ram here, swelling the rivers ; the Oreti is now flooded. ’ A large staff of men was sent up beyond Gore this morning to repair the damages done by the flood where the 60ft. of the line wag washed away. The Kingston din® Sustained no damage, and was only slightly flooded at Parsana. The Southland Education Board met for the first time at noon, but agreed to adjourn till 2 o’clock. , The Bluff Harbor Board to-day received a report of the committee appointed to, inquire into the charges' of iucompetehcy and insubordination made by Captain Thomson, the har-bor-master, against Pilot Smith. The charge of insubordination was considered clearly proved. The committee recommended that in consideration of hia length of service he should be continued an coxswain of the boat and junior pilot, to act in the latter, capacity when required. They also recommended that' a senior pilot he appointed, whs shall he next in authority to Captain Thomson. The report concludes as follows :—Tour committee cannot but express surprise at the ' inconsistency o£ Captain Thomson in recommending Mr. Smith as a competent person to take charge of the port during his absence last year for'about three months. ' . .