TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5475, 14 October 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(FROM OUR OWN' CORRESFONDENT.) Feathebston, Saturday. After learning by telegram thorn was a stoppage on the line, lunch was proceeded with at 2.30*. The weather then was moderately good. Tile Governor’s health was drunk with the greate-t enthusiasm. Mr. Moorhonse replied admirably for the Parliament. The school children were taken down the lino as arranged. (per press agency.) Feathers-on, Saturday. Great disappointment was felt here at the non-arrival of the Governor and excursionists. The banquet, nevertheless, took place. There were about 300 present, but it went off tamely. The weather is fine now. The railway is interrupted at Cross Creek, near Featherston, close on the Eimutaka. Auckland, Saturday. The Improvement Commissioners telegraphed to Sir C. Grey against the proposal of the Grammar School Governors to appropriate a portion of the Government House grounds as a site for a boys' schools, a similar petition being put iu circulation. Miss Sherwin, the Tasmanian prima donna, left Sydney in the Zealandia for Auckland. The Diocesan Synod resolved to establish a “Selwyn Memorial.” The objects arc to found a chaplaincy for ministering to gaol, hospital, lunatic asylum, and old people’s refuge. One subscriber promised a hundred pounds. New Plymouth, Saturday. The directors of tho New Plymouth Gas Company have decided to call for tenders for providing all the material and labor for the erection of gasworks. Taui‘o, Saturday. Tho native meeting at Oranui is ended. Political matters were not much discussed. Father Keiguior, with a small party of native children of both sexes, which ho is taking to tho Convent to be educated, loft there for Napier. Owing to tho late warm weather, which has molted the snow on Tongariro and adjacentmountains, tho lake and the Waikato Biver is higher than known before by the oldest native inhabitants. A very heavy thunderstorm passed over here last night. Ahaura, Saturday. Tho Ahaura and Groy rivers were unusually high at midnight, but so far as yot ascertained, excepting a portion of tho Ahaura convent grounds washed away, no further damage has been done. , A number of passengers per Gilmer's coach aro stuck up here, likewise several waggoners. The weather is showery and tho rivers are falling. Mr. Shaw, the Keofton magistrate, has been admitted to the New Zealand bar. Gretmouth, Sunday. The river has been iu high flood during the last twelve hours, but has not overflowed the town. Christchurch, Saturday. A procession of boats to-day, on tho occasion of the opening of tho boating season, proved a great success. Beautiful weather and a very large attendance. A number of races afterwards took place. Telegraphic news received by tho railway authorities this morning convey disastrous intelligence from tho Waimakariri, which is higher than it has been known for a long time. Half a mile of lino is under water. It is foered it has broken through at Irishman’s Flat, but nothing is yet known for certain. People were watching the embankment with great anxiety last night, fearing it would burst. If it had, the result would have been a great calamity, as the town of Kaiapoi is from 3 to 7 feot below tho level of the water. At 5 o'clock tho fire-bell rang to alarm tho people to rise, and every man that could use a shovel turned out to patch the embankment. At 10 a m. the mailman was unable to cross the road on horseback, although a very daring man. A public meeting is to bo held on Monday to consider tho question of assisting the sufferers by tho floods in Otago. Ashburton, Sunday. A fire occurred here at 2 o'clock this niorn- . ing, which resulted in the destruction of H.

Freelander'a cottage and Pearce’s tobacconist shop and billiard-room. Both buildings belonged to Freelander. The cottage and furniture were insured in the Norwich Union for £l5O, and the shop, including a billiard table and other effects, in-the same office for £375. The fire broke out in tho shop, and is the result of pure accident. A man named Attacks, house painter by trade, between forty and fifty years of age, was arrested this morning for rape on a girl twelve years of age. Tho accused is amarried man with a family. TimarU, Saturday. A ; violent assault was committed on the beach by a sailor, belonging to one of the vessels in port, on the mate of his vessel. Both were under the influence of liquor. They quarrelled, and one stabbed the other with a knife under the ear. The wound is not serious, and has been dressed by I)r. Mclntyre ; since which, he went on board of his vessel. We have not since heard how ho is getting on. Balclutha, Saturday. The river rose during the night, and the township to-day is in much the same condition as by floods on the 4lh. Strong currents are running and channels forming through the township. Mr. McNeill’s house on the river bank is now half into the river, and must go shortly, A strong gale has been blowing all day. The river is not expected to rise higher to-night. Almost all the inhabitants have left the township, Dunedin, Sunday. At the meeting of the University Council on Saturday Mr. Bathgate delivered a long speech ic' favor of the dissociation of the Otag) University from the University of New Zealand. The discussion was postponed till next meeting. In reference to publication by the Professorial Board of resolutions re proposed new chair, the Council resolved to intimate to the Board that it did not expect the Board to publish beforehand resolutions addressed to the Council. Yesterday the water was rising at Stirling and Queenstown. Invercargill, Sunday. Todd’s stable, between Little and Deo streets, took fire to-day, and narrowly escaped destruction. Luckily the neighbors noticed volumes of smoke from the eaves. They rushed in and found the straw in the manger aud on the floor in a blaze, and water being handy they soon put it out. If the fire had spread the result would have been disastrous. A heavy gale from the south-wos; yesterday stopped several boating fmd matches.