TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5399, 17 July 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PBB PEESS AGENCY.) Wanganui, Tuesday.

Yesterday afternoon at about 5 o’clock the Ellerton went on shore. During the day a fresh iu the river rose to such an extent as to render it impossible to send assistance to her. Her anchors still continued dragging during the afternoon, and the vessel getting worse into the breakers, at 4, o’clock the captain slipped the anchors and tried to make sail. The wind was blowing off the laud, but the surf drove her back broadside to the shore. The Clyde ■ went down to her, but could do nothing. Soon after a heavy sea struck the schooner and caused her to slew bows on. When the men found her beached, they took to the boats and came off. The owner, Ross, and the captain, however remained on board all night. At midnight the vessel was beached high up on the Spit, aud it was found that she had sustained no serious damage. The vessel was insured for £IOOO, but there was no , insurance on the cargo. . - Naw Plymouth, Tuesday.

Mr. T. King was presented to-day with a handsome testimonial, in the shape of a silver tea service, by his friends and customers of the Bank of New Zealand, on his retirement from the management at New Plymouth. The Borough Council agreed last night that the Mayor should attend the Municipal Conference in Wellington on the 29 th inst. Auckland, Tuesday.

The Harbor Board has received letters from the Government asking for permission to reclaim seven acres for a railway station at Queen-street wharf. The Board resolved to defer its decision until after the receipt of Messrs. Conyer's and Lawson's report. The man Black, the victim of attempted murder at Archhill, is recovering.

The following particulars of the accident to the schooner Helen, from NVaitara, in crossing the Kaipara bar, have been received ;—Tho sea, being heavy, the captain got into the rigging to point out the channel, and the other two men remained on deck, one steering. The captain seeing a terrific sea rushing on the vessel, cried “ Look but.” The man at tho wheel was frightened, and ran forward. The wave completely covered the vessel, broaching her to, causing her ballast to shift, and throwing her almost on her beam ends! When the wave receded the two men on the deck were missing. The captain got tho schooner near the pilot station, where it was noticed that something was wrong, and a boat was sent off. The menthsn righted the ballast, and anchored the vessel. The same evening she proceeded to the mills. . . . Napier, Tuesday.

A testimonial is being got up hero for presentation to Major Withers, who is under orders to proceed to Auckland to take command of the Auckland and Thames volunteer districts. Major' Withers has been for some years in command of this district, and is a very old resident besides. He’is much respected by all classes. - The testimonial is likely to be very substantial. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan landed from the Eaugatira yesterday morning. He was interviewed at tho Spit respecting Port Ahuriri bridge.' Yesterday afternoon he went up to Waipukarau, and will return to-morrow. At a meeting of the Harbor Board to-day, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Oarruthers for his services in respect to the Napier harbor, and a sum of £IOO was voted to him. I Grbymouth, Tuesday.

A large meeting of coal miners at Brunnertou on Saturday passed, the following resolutions ;—(1.) That this meeting cordially endorses tho action taken by,the public meeting at Greymouth, with the view of representing to the Government the necessity of immediately prooseding with the works for the improvement of the Grey harbor. (2.) That the absence of any positive provision for the continuous prosecution of these works is not only discouraging to those who have largely in-, vested their money for the purpose of developing the resources-of this district, but absolutely.prevents them from giving any guarantee of permanent employment to their workmen. (3). That this state of uncertainty has already been productive of very serious consequences to this district, owing to the. want of regular employment of the skilled labor which! under other circumstances, would find an ample and profitable field. (4.) That the Government be urged at once to assist the development of the coal mines by subsidising a steam tug, so that vessels coming here for coal could be towed in and out free of charge. A committee was ap : pointed to draw up a memorial embodying the foregoing resolutions, to be forwarded to the Minister ol Public Works, and to the members of the district. Subsequently it wga .resolved that the Government be urged to proceed with the construction of the railway to the East Coast. The state of the coal miners hero is very deplorable, and many of the men are leaving the district. CimiSICJHURCH, Tuesday. Mr. J. E. Brown, the member for Ashley district, addressed his constituents at Amberloy. He said that attendance at the Assembly now, became absolute slavery, and he doubted for some time whether or not to resign his seat. After referring to various measures of last session, Mr. Brown said that the course adopted by the House regarding tho T.and Fund was Wise, but the Government had not since kept faith with Canterbury. Ho decidedly opposed manhood suffrage, which he said would be a great! mistake—in fact, almost a crime, tie opposed the land tax, arguing- that a property, tax was the fairest we could have. He advocated an extension of the radway to the Wes Coast, and said that cither Ashley should have two members, or Hurunui should be the boundary. He also declared that the Premier

had not yet enunciated a single point of policy that.he would support. A vote of thanks and confidence in the member was proposed, but an amendment* conveying a vote of thanks only, was carried. Dunedin, Tuesday. The Attorney-General last night delivered a lecture at the Otago Institute, entitled “A Plea for Studying Politics,” in the course of which he advocated the. study of political science in preference to all others. The iSrst annual meeting of the Prisoners’ Aid Society was held last night. The receipts for thq year amount to £306, and the expenditure to £295. Mr. .Macandrew to-day received a deputation from the Harbor Board, the Chamber of. Commerce, and other public bodies. Mr. Macandrew. stated that the north railway line would be finished about the middle of August, and the south line in September. , A meeting was held to-day re the construction of a railway to Portobello, but there., seems to be a diversity of opinion as to the course which the line shall take. The Minister, for Lands- and the AttorneyGeneral, accompanied by Messrs. Blair, Conyers, Hume, and other gentlemen, proceeded to Blueskin by special train, to fix a site for the new lunatic asylum and industrial school.

In the case of Pritchard v. the Corporation of Dunedin the arbitrators have awarded to the plaintiff £3BOO.