TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5443, 6 September 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Christchurch, Thursday. THe Taupo arrived at the breakwater at five minutes past seven o’clock this morning, after a very fast passage. . At a distance of ten miles from Wellington the weather cleared up, and the night was unusually fine. A great deal of interest was taken in the race between the Tanpo and Hinemoa, and it resulted by about 15 minutes in favor of the Hinemoa.

Christchurch is full of visitors, and they find great difficulty in getting hotel accommodation. A good many people from Dunedin arrived by the Southern train at a quartervpast seven.

The weather has been warm, but exceedingly dusty, causing the Wellington visitors much annoyance. The train for Dunedin starts at six o’clock on Friday morning, and it is expected that nearly five hundred people will go by it. They mil breakfast at Ashburton, and stop for an hour at Timarn and Oamaru, and should reach Dunedin at 6 p.m. Members of both Houses of Parliament, County Councillors, Mayors, &c., are here in great numbers. The new wing of the Museum was opened by the Governor at noon. The attendance was not large, about half of those present were visitors.

(from a correspondent.) Dunedin, Thursday. Major Atkinson’s speech has created a favorable impression here. People are surprised at the opposition to the fiscal policy, by supposed Ministerialists. No interest is taken in the question of triennial Parliaments. Government agents are astir, and this indicates that a dissolution is probable. (PER PRESS AOENOV.) Grevtown, Thursday. It is reported that a boy named George Burling, aged seventeen, was killed while ploughing this morning, at Pihautea, on Bidwell’s ran, by being kicked by a horse. ■ FOXTON, Thursday. The ketch Huon Belle, Captain Herns, from Wanganui to Greymouth, went ashore five miles north of Foxton at five o’clock this morning.. A heavy gale from the westward is blowing. All hands were saved. The vessel is in ballast. Auckland, Thursday. After a short stay at Waiwera springs the Chief Justice, Mr. Prendergast, leaves for the South, to hold a Circuit Court at Hokitika. Mr. Justice Gillies resumes the duties here. His health has improved. A movement is being initiated for the formation of a Tattersall’s Club, to protect betting men.

Gkahamstown, Thursday. • The Hibernian Society hero celebrated their anniversary by a grand ball last night. The music was supplied by our own brass band. The Grahamstown goods wharf was for the first time lighted with gas to-night, and the' first public lamp and iron post that has been erected hero was brought into use. ■ ■ ■ Napiee, Thursday;

Inspector Scully has received a telegram from Sergeant "White, stationed at Gisborne, stating that to-morrow morning he will proceed to Waiapu,/accompanied by Constable Walsh and Sergeant Ballard of the A.C. force (the latter is to. act as interpreter) to take gteps for the arrest of the murderer of the native woman to which Mr. Sheehan referred in the House on Wednesday afternoon. Christchurch, Thursday.

At a meeting of the Farmers’ Grain and Produce Stores Company yesterday it was resolved to call for applicants in the New Zealand aud intercolonial newspapers for a manager and secretary. Letters have been received from the secretaries of the Melbourne, East Melbourne, South Melbourne, and Ballarat Cricket Clubs, in addition to the Bohemians, accepting the challenge of the Canterbury Association to play them on their respective grounds. Between thirty and forty men arrived yesterday per Luna from the West Coast. They bad been despatched by the Minister of Public .Works, being out of employment, and without means. They are in charge of the Immigration Officer, and most of them have already found employment. A good many bad half-sovereigns have been in circulation during the past few days. The police are keeping a sharp look out for the offenders.

It is said that far more guests have been invited to the banquet to-nigbt than the Provincial Council Chamber can possibly contain. At a bazaar last night, in aid of St. Luke’s Church Fund, a concert being held at Akaroa was well enjoyed by the audience here by means of a telephone. The Hinemba has arrived, and the town is now in a perfect blaze of M.P.'s aud bunting. There was a large attendance to-day at the opening of the Museum by his Excellency the Governor. Among those present were many members of Parliament and their wives. The weather was very fine. The members of the Dunedin City Council have arrived. There has been a great rush for tickets for the banquet to-night, and the Mayor has been compelled to be very exclusive in consequence of the limited accomodation.

The through train starts at six o’clock tomorrow morning. The Mayor and the Christchurch City Council will accompany the party through. The voting of the people is in favor of the construction of the Rakaia and Ashburton Forks railway. A public meeting was held last night on the question of .the tariff. The following resolution was moved, —That this meeting strongly condoms the policy of the present Government in introducing the system of taxing local industry, as anounced by the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer; and that the Bill imposing the beer tax is most oppressive and inconsistent with the previously announced policy of the Government to lighten the burdens on the working cla-s. The following was moved as an amendment, —That the present Government should not be blamed for the imposition of the beer tax, as it is for the benefit of the whole population. Whoa the amendment was put, amid great confusion, it was declared to be carried, Mr. Turner then moved, —That the meeting approves of the general policy of the Government, as set forth by the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, in the direction of free trade. This was also carried. Dunedin, Thursday. A special train for Oaraaru, to meet the Governor and Members of Parliament, leaves Dunedin at seven o’clock to-morrow morning. The city will be handsomely illuminated in the evening. Great preparations are being made to-day. Messrs. Blair and Conyers report re the Dunedin railway station has been received, and appears to be in favor of the Harbor Board plan. It states that inasmitch as the Board’s site for a goods station is nearer to the passenger station and proposed import dock, the northern site has an advantage. Their only serious objection to the Board's plan is that it encroaches seven chains on the line of reclamation marked by Sir John Coode. Mr. Bathgate, R.M., decided to-day that the brewers cannot recover the value of beer supplied knowingly to sly grog sellers. A public meeting will be held to-morrow night to select suitable candidates to be nominated for the City. Council. Invercargill, Thursday.. At a meeting of the'Wasfce Lands Board today a letter from Mr. P. K, McCaughan was read suggesting that the conditions upon which' the seaward bush should be offered at auction be that it be thoroughly drained so as to render it suitable for agricultural subdivision by fens and belts of timber, and that a tramway road or railway be made. The writer also suggested that there should be ten chains depth of frontage of seaward bush added to other block. The boundaries of the block to be the Matawa River, the ocean, and Bluff Harbor, the Bluff railway, and the bush frontage; and, furthermore, he suggested that a copy of the proposition should be forwarded to the Government, with a recommendation that a Bill should be passed empowering the sale of the area at ss. per acre. It was objected that the area set out by McCaughan exceeded the area defined by the Chief Surveyor. It was agreed that the Chief Surveyor should define the area, subject to the sanction of the Board, Marked dissent was expressed by one of the commissioners at the proposal to slice a frontage from the seaward bush, and throw it in at the price named. The rest of the business was unimportant.