TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5393, 10 July 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PEE PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Tuesday. A private cablegram announces the death of Mr. Lee, the resident partner in London of the firm of McArthur and Co., the soft goods merchants here. An inquest was held to-day on Rob Evans,. who died on board the Rotorua. The medipal testimony showed that death resulted from inflammation of the heart. The deceased came from the South three months ago. He has friends iu Melbourne, and was travelling to Dunedin seeking employment. Mr. Baird, the engineer of the Rotorua, was presented to-day with a valuable gold watch and chain, in recognition of his services in seeming the use of Bay of Islands coal on board the Union Company’s steamers, and for his efforts generally to make known the qualities of this valuable heating fuel. Tauranoa, Tuesday.

At a meeting of the County Council yesterday it was decided „to bring the Act into operation. Christchurch, Tuesday.

The farmers hers are taking active measures to cope with the sparrow nuisance. Meetings are being held in the various county districts to devise means to kill the birds. Poisoned wheat is most generally adopted. * The Charitable Aid Board, having arranged satisfactorily with the Government, have now settled down to active work.

A shocking affair occurred at Oxfbrd yesterday. Shortly before noon a bouse in the bush was observed to be ©a fire. When the neighbors reached the spot they found Mrs. Hoft, wife of a German who occupied- the cottage, lying on the ground insensible, with a fearful gash in her head. She was conveyed to the township, but soon after expired. Hoft was arrested ! during the afternoon. * He said that during a quarrel with his wife she hit him in the face, when he struck her on the head with a tomahawk. He seemed quite unconcerned at the result of the affair. It is supposed that after striking his wife Hoft set fire to the cottage. Oamaru, Tuesday. The Waterloo Cnp meeting of the North Otago Coursing Club commenced at the Awamoa Estate to-day. The weather was favorable and the ground in good condition. The coursing was more than usually good. The following is the result of the day’s work:— Waterloo Cup, for 32 all aged greyhounds, at £l2 10a. each; open to all greyhounds the hona fide property of members of the club whose annual subscriptions are not less than £1 ; the winner to receive £l3O and a silver collar presented by the club, the second dog £65, two dogs £3O each, four dogs £ls each, and eight dogs £lO each. A silver cup, worth £5 55., gift of Mr. R. Richardson, of the Royal Hotel, will be presented to the runner up ; —P. Mason’s blk w d Mechanic beat I. Spence’s blk d Speculatiou ; J. Stephenson’s blk s Ely beat A. Thomson’s blk d Uncleion ; A. O. Paterson’s blk d Spring beat J. Stephenson’s r w s Everton Lass ; T. Brydnn’a £ w a Ladybird beat J. Jeromen’s Gill-Gill; J. Daniels’ blk w d Scaldinga beat E. Devon’s blk d Tasman ; Hon. G. McLean's £ s Ophelia beat J. Taylor brd d John ; H. Prince’s brd s Magic beat J. Taylor’s brd s Belle ; D. O’Brien’s w and blk d Leo beat W. H. Ronayne’s Miss Paterson ; E. W. Roper’s r d Orackshot beat G. McGavin’a w d Cumberland ; G. McGayin’s i d St. Bees beat VT. C. Smith’s f d Smoker ; J. McDonald’s blk and w d Skepe beat A. Thomson’s blk d Towley ; W. McAuley’s br and w s Frolic beat S. G. Smith’s blk and w s Busybody ; W. McAuley’s £ w d Hamlet ran a bye. The meeting will be resumed tomorrow. * Dunedin, Tuesday. Several informations were laid against Dunedin merchants to-day for haying excessive quantities of petroleum on their premises. In one instance the case was dismissed, and in another judgment was reserved. The rest were withdrawn.