TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5469, 7 October 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(from a correspondent.) Palmerston, Saturday. The Presbyterian Synod are not in favor of the Otago University Amendment Act. (per press agbnot.) Dunedin, Saturday. At the meeting of the County Council on Tuesday a motion will be submitted having for its object the erection of salt water baths in this city. The following axe later telegrams from the country districts: —

Queenstown, October 5. —The weather has been gradually clearing up since Tuesday, and there is every appearance now of lasting fine weather. The floods are very severely felt in various parts of the district at the head of tho lakes. Some people had to retire to the ranges. It is reported that all tho houses at Kingston, except the railway station, have been washed away.

Cromwell, October 5. —The road from hero to the lake isl impassable. Owens (Arrow Bluff) is completely swept away. AU the roads in the district, especially from Roaring Meg upwards, are in a frightful state. Balclotha, Saturday. The water has fallen 4 h inches since last night, and is still falliugjslowly. Boats have been plying all day to tho south, side of the township, so that through coramuuicatiou is now open. One rider into the township from the south went into several holes, and had to swim. His horse and he parted in a large hole at the top of Gordon-street, but both were saved. Several similar accidents have occurred. A' few of the inhabitants have returned, but only very few will remain over the Sabbath.,

Great dissatisfaction is felt throughout the whole district in consequence of the detention here of the mails for the last 10 days. Postal communication with Port hlolyneux, Puerurua, Waitepaba, Waipa, Kaihaku, Waiwera, and the south has been suspended without any cause.- Boats are plying easily to the soutlx side of the township, and the mails need never have been detained a quarter of an hour here. , It is the half-yearly balance with some of' the banks, and bills have been ‘dishonored on fourth of the month, and other engagements not met, while remittances are kept in the post offices. Plenty of boats and boatmen are x’eady to convey mails across if asked. The river is still falling slowly, but a great part of the township is still under water, and a strong current is running across. When the water retires, the whole township will be loft covered with silt to a ooneidei'able depth. Immense holes, some supposed to be 20ft. deep, are in the streets in many places, and it is exceedingly dangerous to move about till the water is off.

Alexander Davidson, coal merchant, was drowned in a hole at the corner o! Barr and James streets at nine o’clock this morning. Three other men were with him, but could not save him. Parties have been searching for the body all day, but have been unsuccessful. Davidson is married, and leaves a widow and family. The other two men were seen to fco washed away with the current in the street, but were saved. Several other narrow escapes have occurred. Very few inhabitants have returned to the townsliip yet. Conyers and Armstrong have been here today inspecting the line. It is believed they have decided to pile instead of embank the whole line past tho township. Inchclutha is still under water. Christchurch, .Saturday. At a meeting of the Drainage Board the Inspector of Nuisances, reported on the very defective drainage system at the Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum, and it was resolved to communicate with the Government on the subject. The boating season opens to-day with a procession and a series of scratch matches. .The meeting of the conference of County Council and Hoad Board chairmen has been fixed for Monday, to consider the question of the impounded land fund. Oama.ru, Saturday. The topsail-schooner Wanganui, from Dunedin to this port, overran her distance this morning at one o’clock, and went ashore three miles north of Oamarn. The vessel is uninjured, and will be got off in a few days. The weather at the time was thick and the sea calm. . . Hokitika, Saturday. At the Supreme Court Ah Lack, a Chinaman, for an unnatural crime, was acquitted. James Can-oil, for attempted rape at Nelson Creek, was sentenced to two years’ hard labor. 1 Nioisox, Saturday. , Some mischievous person turned off the water at the- fish ponds last night, thus destroying the wholo of the season’s hatching of trout, which >vero nearly fit for distribution. 1