TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5377, 21 June 1878, Page 4

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(per press agency.) Auckland, Thursday. The Chamber of Commerce have carried resolutions in favor of extending the Auckland railway to a station in Queen-street, and also urging the Government to subsidise a direct steam service from London to New Zealand, calling at tho four leading seaports of tho colony. The house of Mr. R. B. Lusk, senior, at Parnell, was totally destroyed by fire this afternoon. It was caused by a burning stick of wood which fell on the hearth during the absence of the residents. The loss is estimated at £6OO. The property was insured in the New Zealand office, the buildings for £275, and there was also a policy on the furniture, which was partly saved. The ceremony of presenting B.A. degrees to Messrs. Rattray and Tisdall was carried out by Mv, Justice Gillies with considerable effect.

Gisborne, Thursday. Twelve acres of land about a mile and a half from Gisborne realised to-day, at public auction, £922. Napier, Thursday. The two civil cases fixed for Tuesday and Wednesday having been settled out of Court, there was no civil sitting of the Supreme Court until to-day, when the case of Kelly v. Cross was taken. It was an action for nondelivery of 100 two-year old steers. Judgment was given for plaintiff, with £l2O damages. Arrow v. Harding, a libel case, was commenced this afternoon, and will last until late to-night. The plaintiff is Returning Officer for Waipawa County, and defendant, the well-known runholder at Mount Vernon, wrote to the Council that plaintiff had transgressed the law by divulging the fact how defendant had voted in an election for the Waipukurau Riding, when the Hon. 11. R. Russell and Mr. Sydney Johnstone were candidates. Waitaea, Thursday. Heavy rain last night completely flooded the buildings constructed by Government for the native meeting, and great dissatisfaction is freely expressed among the Maoris. Rewi telegraphed to the Government for tents for their accommodation. Wanganui, Thursday. _ An accident occurred to the Patea coach in coming into town this evening about 4.30. When the coach was about five miles from town, and it was growing dusk, a swagsmau started from the side of the road and frightened the horses. They 'plunged, swerved, and overturned the coach against the bank on one side of the road. Captain Marshall, A.C., was violently thrown out, his shoulder was dislocated, end he sustained ether injuries, but they are not thought dangerous. Another passenger had a rib broken and his scalp wounded. Hall, the driver, behaved admirably according to [the testimony of the passengers, and tried his best to regain command of the horses. After the accident he did all he could to set things straight. One horse was fataly injured, and the others hurt. The sufferers are progressing favorably. In the case of W. Edwards, whose application for a license ter the Custom House Hotel was refused on Tuesday by the Licensing Bench, an information has been laid by the police against him for selling liquor without a license. This is the first case of the sort in the district. Blenheim, Thursday, At the laud sale to-day all the R. P. Valley lands were offered, and which are said to be covered with heavy timber, but not one bid was received. It was the same with the Kaikoura town and suburban land, all of it remaining open for selection at the upset price. The only land sold was in payment for road works. Hokitika, Thursday. The following candidates were nominated for the vacant seat for this district in the House of Representatives to-day :—Seymour Thorne George, Gerard George Fitz Gerald, and A. Crombie Brown. Christchurch, Thursday. Mr. Murray-Aynsley addressed his constituents at Lyttelton last night. He referred to the unsatisfactory character of the last session, owing to the waste of time compelling a deal of the business of the country to stand over. Sir George Grey’s action in regard to the Waste Lands Bill he considered a most unheard-of thing. The Hon. Mr. Fisher was next criticised. The Grey party (he said) had always been itching to steal the Canterbury Land Fund. Mr. Fisher had said that the Canterbury Laud Fund would not be taken, but he changed his view when he had a seat in the Government, and now he followed Sir George Grey in everything. Had the Canterbury members kept together, the Land Fund, though bound to go, could have been retained for at least another year. He (Mr. Aynslcy) opposed manhood suffrage, but favored a system of registering every property-holder and ratepayer. No vote of thanks or confidence was proposed to Mr. Aynsley. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman. Lawrence, Thursday. The only criminal case before the District Court to-day was that of Regina v. Campbell. The prisoner is a schoolmaster at Teviot. He attempted suicide at Lawrence a few weeks ago, and the charge having been read over the prisoner pleaded guilty. The Judge discharged him this morning, subject to being brought up for sentence at any future time if a similar offence were again attempted. Dunedin, Thursday.

An elderly man named Hunt, a carpenter, attempted to blow out bis brains on Stuartstreet jetty this afternoon by putting a small bag of powder to his month and applying a match. His mouth was much shattered.

Detective Bain proceeded to Newcastle, N.S.W., by the Easby this afternoon, for the purpose of arresting the absconder Blythe, who is charged with embezzling money from the Albion Brewing Company. The arbitration case, Pritchard v. Corporation of Dunedin, commenced this afternoon. The arbitrators are Messrs. Driver (for Pritchard) and 0. H. Street (for the Corporation), with A. 0. Strode as umpire. The counsel engaged are the Attorney-Coneral and Mr. Macassey for Mr. Pritchard, and Messrs. Smith and Haggitt for the Corporation. The proceedings are likely to extend over several days. The Harbor Board to-day resolved to take' no further action in the meantime re Proudfoot’s dredging contract, but they resolved that a faithful report from the engineer, as to its progress, should in future be laid before the Board.

The question of docks, railways, and city improvements is to be considered by a conference consisting of a 'committee of the Board and representatives of the City Council and the Attorney-General. Mr. Pyke addressed his constituents at Alexandra last night, and received a unanimous vote of confidence. At a meeting of the shareholders of the Mount Eangitoto Silver Mine Company dissatisfaction was expressed at the manner in which the shareholders have been treated by the directors re the working of the mine. Dr. Brown, Dunedin, has been appointed lecturer on surgery to the Otago University.