TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5420, 10 August 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(from our own correspondent.) Wanganui, Friday. In the case of Ambrose Lough a petition praying for mitigation of sentence has been signed by about 1500 persons; and will be forwarded to Wellington to-day by Mr. O’Haulon, one of the committee who undertook to canvass for signatures. Lough is well known here, and bore a good character prior to the late prosecution. Public sympathy here is entirely in favor of a mitigation of the sentence, as Lough has a wife and young family entirely dependent on him. ' The beer tax is greatly repugnant to all classes here, as a serious burden on an important colonial industry, and likely to affect the graingrowers in particular. The brewers here have met and agreed to co-operate with the trade in other parts of the colony in resisting the tax, which would press unevenly and crush the smaller producers. (PER PRESS AGENCY.) Christchurch, Friday. Meetings are to be held on Monday next to consider the advisability of sending a congratulatory address to Lord Bsaconsfield, and the advisability of urging on the G-overnment the necessity of opening up railway communication between Canterbury and the West Coast as early as possible. The Eaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company is making extensive additions to premises, with the view of carrying on the manufactory on a large scale. The first amount collected here as duty on beer was £95 12s. 6d. The Christchurch brewers announce an increase in the price of beer proportionate to tht amount of the new tax. Dunedin, Friday. The desirability of establishing a system of superannuation in connection with the Railway Employes’ Benefit Society was discussed last night by a meeting of the society convened for the purpose. The propounder of the scheme is Air. Atkinson, who spoke in glowing term? of the beneficial results which would flow from its adoption. It was decided to refer the matter to a committee to report as to its practicability. The Amateur Opera Company repeated “ Maritana” last night for the benefit of the Benevolent Asylum. The proceeds were £l5O. Signor Morley was presente 1 with a gold watch by the Mayor. It is intended to give a series of entertainments here, commencing in a fortnight, in aid of this institution. The Tablet says the Jesuit Fathers will arrive in Dunedin next month and open a college if sufficient inducement offers. A fire broke out in Kempthorne and Prosser’s warehouse last night, and another in Royse, Stead, and Co.’s mill to-day. Hardly any damage was done in either case. A meeting of brewers was held last night, when the following resolutions were passed : —“That the proposed duty of Ihd. per gallon ou beer is oppressive and unbearable by brewers, and as a matter of fact sweeps away at least half of their present profits.”—“'That whereas the concession of a halfpenny on sugar is only equivalent to lOd. per hogshead on beer, the proposed duty of 6s. fid. per hogshead is equal to a tax of Is. fid. per bushel on malt used in brewing.”—“ If the proposed duty is carried into effect, it will stop competition by at once closing many small established breweries, and thereby throw a monopoly of the trade into the hands of capitalists.”—“ That the tax must fall on brewers and hotelkeepers only, as the consumer cannot be charged more than he at present pays. Therefore this is class legislation, and defeats the ends for which it was proposed.”—“ That the drawback allowed on beer exported is inoperative, as no beer is exported to other colonies, ou account of the want of reciprocity on their part.”—“That the proposed duty on beer manufactured on or before 7th June is unjust, as many brewers had on baud large stocks of ale for six months, and that the law should not be retrospective ; and many brewers have large contracts on hand, which will have to be executed at old prices.”—“ That Messrs. Joel and Marshall be appointed delegates to proceed to Wellington, to act in conjunction with delegates from other parts of the colony.” Lawrence, Friday. At the Tuapeka County Council meeting, held to-day, a petition against the employment of Chinese labor ou county works was laid ou the tabic. The Council resolved to inform the member for the district that in their opinion steps should bo taken by the population to put a stop to Chinese immigration. The petition bore the signatures of 300 bona fide ratepayers. Oamaru, Friday. At a meeting of the Oamaru and Naseby Railway’Committee to-day it was resolved that a petition bo sent to Parliament urging Government to extend the Waireka railway to Livingstone. • . ! ■ The merchants of Oamaru have petitioned the Commissioner of Telegraphs to open the office at Oamaru between 5 and 7 o’clock in the evening. Dr. Lemon has sent a letter refusing the request, ou the ground of the additional expense it would incur to the department. Txmauu, Friday. Father Heunebery'a remarks here on Sunday last as to mixed marriages are partly incorrect as they appeared in’the xVeio Zealander and some other papers, not being as sent by the Press agent. Father Heunebecy did not liken newspaper men and editors to a “ curse,” but said ho treated those averse to him as a traveller, would' treat a’ yelping cur—take no notice of the animal. He said if ho preached the doctrines imputed to him he would be stopped by the priests,, and perhaps be suspended by the Bishop. ~ Auckland, ijnday. The licensed victuallers meeting to-day discussed the action of the brewers in raising the price of beer a halfpenny above the tariff. The members present said that they. . cou ia not subdivide the new impost, there bein'* no farthings, and if they put on a halfpenny'people would call them dishonest. The brewers action Was generally condemed ; but another meeting is called to discuss the whole subject. j ' New Plymouth, Friday. A fire broke out at one o’clock this morning in the back room of the Temperance billiard room, over the shop, near the town bridge. It was discovered before the fire had a hold ou the premises, and was extinguished, The block of buildings was saved through one of the New Zealand Company's hand engines being brought quickly into play. Hokitika, Friday. The Christchurch coach, due on Saturday night, only reached town yesterday evening. The road is in an almost impassable condition ; avalanches of snow have fallen over portions of the road and filled the lower gullies. Cassidy when driving from this bud got nearly to

the middle peg between "Westland and Canterbury, when the coach and horses got embedded in the snow. He sent the horses back, and shouldered the mail*, attempting to get through on foot. He managed to get five miles, wading through waist high in places, keeping the road by means of the telegraph poles. The snow then became too deep, and he was obliged to return with the mails to the Otira Hotel for shelter. Four additional road men were obtained next day, and worked in making a cutting through the snow from Sunday till Wednesday, when the track for horses was opened. People who can ride can go through now easily enough, but vehicle communication is entirely cut off. Numbers of sheep died last week while trying to get through, and others were so famished and footsore that they had to be lifted out of the way to allow the horses to pass. Sheep and cattle ou the way had no food for six days. The mails started this morning. The weather has improved.