TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5437, 30 August 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENOP.) Auckland, Thursday. Mr. Commissioner Thompson has received a further report from Constable Balford, of Eaglau, on the wreckage at that place. He states that the vessel lost is the Kaiumn. A board 3ft. 9£in. by 6in., with that name carved on it, was given to the constable by a native living in the settlement near to Aotea Harbor, and was found upon the beach a day or two previous. The topmasts of a vessel were washed ashore at Kawhia. The constable has been for several days searching the coast, but up to the present has not found anything of sufficient value to defray the expenses of conveyance to a place of safety. There can be no doubt regarding the identity of the Kaiutna. Mr John Morgan, second mate of the barque Bella Mary, was washed overboard in a gale. Napier, Thursday,

A case that was decided in the R.M. Court on Tuesday by the Mayor, who is temporarily acting as R.M., has excited a good deal of public attention and of comment against the decision. Captain Hair, of the Falcon, was sued by the purser, named Hugh Scott, for £62 2s. under the following circumstances : —Scott, who is collector of odd things, has a lot of zinc on hand, and was recommended to ship it to Sydney by the Falcon. Captain Hair called on Scott to arrange about the shipment, and was referred to Mrs Scott, and such arrangement as was made about the matter was made between them. Captain Hair asserted that he was to take tho zinc at 16s. a ton to Sydney, and there do the best he could with it. In corroboration of this several respectable and disinterested witness were called, who testified to hearing Scott enjoin Captain Hair over and over again to do the best he could for him. On the other hand Mrs. Scott avers that Captain Hair was not to sell the zinc at less than £ll per ton, and that Captain Hair agreed to that. The zinc was sold in Sydney at £6 per ton, and less freight netted £22 Bs., which sum was tendered to the plaintiff, and refused. At the hearing of the case Scott had Mr. Lascelles as couusei ; but Captain Hair was obliged to conduct his own case, as by a strange fatality all other counsel were otherwise engaged. The magistrate decided upon the evidence of plaintiff’s wife that Captain Hair should pay the amount sued for, on the ground that he had not disproved what Mrs. Scott alleged. Yesterday the Mayor refused to grant a rehearing. A public subscription has been made up to-day to reimburse Captain Hair. The Synod for the Diocese of Waiapu opens on the 9th September. Christchurch, Thursday,

The Mayoral banquet to the Wellington and Dunedin visitors takes place in the Provincial Council Chamber on Thursday next. On tho arrival of the Governor he will be met on the platform and presented with an address. Yesterday the engine of the Oxford train ran off the line at the points at Rangiora, in consequence of their being locked, in compliance with an order recently given. A fire occurred at two o’clock this morning, by which the shops occupied by Reed, fishmonger, and Gleeston, fruiterer, were totally destroyed. They belonged to Tilman and Ponsford. The buildings were insured for £3OO in the Victoria Company ; the furniture and stock were uninsured.

At the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday a very large number of new members were elected. The report was of a very satisfactory character, and was unanimously adopted. The committee were glad to say that Lyttelton would shortly be in a position to underbake its defence in the event of war. They hoped that shortly there would be direct steam communication with London, as they felt that great benefit would be derived therefrom. They made passing reference to the West Coast railway and other matters, and among other things regretted with mortification that New Zealand had not been represented at the Paris Exhibition owing to the supineness of Government. Referring to the scarcity of trucks on the railway last year, the Chairman said he hoped they would not be subject to the same inconvenience next year. A committee was appointed to take into consideration the question of building a new chamber without delay. At a meeting of the Board of Governors to-day it was resolvfcd to open the additions to the Museum on Thursday next, and to ask his Excellency the Governor to be present on the occasion. A contract has been taken for extensive additions to tho ICaiapoi Woollen Factory. Timahu, Thursday. The engineer of the Harbor Board has condemned 500 casks of cement, imported here by Messrs. Guthrie and Laruach, contractors, to supply cement fer tho breakwater. It was landed from tho Beautiful Star. Dunedin, Thursday. Mr. A. C. Begg has been elected a member of the Education Board, vice Mr. De Lantour, resigned. At a meeting of the Board this morning two members said some of the county school buildings were in a disgraceful condition, and unfit for a master to live in. Mr. D. Reid, chairman, said that if Government had attempted too much in the matter of education it should retrace its steps. The Christchurch football team last nigbt kicked over a coffee stall, the owner being iu it at the time. Acting on a hint given in one of the morning papers, they compensated the keeper of tho stall to-day. The principal buildings in Dunedin will be illuminated on the arrival of the Northern visitors. The Mayor intends to request shopkeepers to keep their establishments open on that night, '