TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5493, 4 November 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Saturday. A fire broke out in a small house in Chapelstreet this afternoon by a spark from a chimney falling on the shingles. It was speedily extinguished, and but little damage was done. The Hinemoa was met by a steamer at the Manukau Heads, transhipped the passengers, and returned to Wellington. A correspondent of tho Herald, writing from Alexandra, at Waikato, says :—“ Land rings are endeavoring to prevent an early settlement between Sir George Grey and the Kingite natives by trying to create dissension amongst the natives themselves. For this purpose letters have been sent and messengers employed to cause a split between Tawhiao and Rewi; but so v far are not likely to have much evil result.” The settlers at Kaipara and Wairoa are dissatisfied in consequence of a hitch that has arisen in the proposal to extend the telegraph to Wairoa River at Kaipara, where there are large shipping and timber interests. The Hobson County Council, at a meeting held bo consider the matter, resolved that the Council learn wirh regret that tho Government now decline to proceed with the construction of the telegraph line from Waipu tp Darg.-ville, but fully endorse the propriety of the condition required by Mr.-Dargaville, Seeing that a large amount is required from him by way of guarantee for the whole line, he should be re lieved of a proportionate amount of guarantee for each additional station opened along it. Mr, and Mrs. Darrell open with Steele aud company on Saturday next in Darrell’s new piece “ Back from the Grave.” Miss Sherwin gives a third concert to-night at the theatre, Tho alterations made in the system of working the Kaipara line resulted in an increase ofreceipts by a hundred and fifty pounds a mouth. A committee has been formed at Wangarei to give the Premier a public reception on his expected visit. A most successful fancy dress ball was held by the Pousonby elite last night. At the Board of Education it was stated that the returns for the quarter showed a decline ia the average attendance of pupils amounting to four hundred. It is the first time a decrease has ever been known. The average attendance is 8869. Father Teward, formerly a Roman Catholic priest at the Thames, writing from China, says: —“ Famine is still ravaging the west of this large province. I hope they have received my letters, and got some alms for those dying of hunger. We have a good deal of alms from parts ’of China, from Europe, etc., to relieve the famished ; but they are so many that those aro not nearly sufficient to relieve the distress ; also many are dead aud dying of hunger. What you say of my poor person I take as a compliment, and thank you for your goodwill and also for the goodwill of the others, but think that my superior-general would not send me back alone after I, with my other Franciscan brothers, have been expelled, as you know, from your shores in a way that was very far from just or right.” Referring to the New Britain massacre, and the Rev. Mr. Brown’s retaliation,, the Fiji Times says:—“Two English ships of war have lately visited New Britain, and the captains Have rigidly investigated tho whole affair in which Mr. Brown was engaged. They have , met natives and traders, of whom they made most searching inquiries relative to the matter. One of those gentlemen gave Mr. Brown full permission to tell anyone that in his opinion lie had done quite right, and bad saved the mission, and the lives of the traders as well. Mr. Brown has suffered considerably from repeated attacks of fever; but a cruise for three weeks in one of the ships of war, which the captain kindly invited him to take, Las been beneficial. Mrs. Brown, who with three children was left on the mission station, suffered no annoyance from the natives during Mr. Brown’s absence, which clearly showed that those prophets who have predicted nothing but evil from Mr. Brown’s expedition last April will probably have some misgivings as to the solidity of the ground upon which they have stood.”—Eight more native teachers of Fiji volunteered to go to New Britain, aud are probably now on their way to join Mr. Brown. Tho New Zealand Loan aud Mercantile Agency Company is pushing business in Fiji. A proposal has been made there to establish a Sugar Company if the capital of £15,000 can be raised. Grahamstown, Sunday. A shocking suicide was discovered late last n : ght, when the lifeless form of Captain Goldsmith, Mining Inspector, was discovered in a chair, with wounds in his mouth and arm, from which he had bled to death. The wound in his arm had been done with a penknife, and a large quantity of blood was found iu vessels ; but there not being sufficient to cause death, he had fired the chamber of a small pocket revolver into his mouth. A note, addressed to the doctor, was found asking for medicine, as he feared an attack of paralysis. An inquest will be held ou Monday. Christchurch, Saturday. It is said that Mr. Rollesbon will not offer himself for re-election as a County Councillor. Among the prizes offered at the Northern Agricultural Show was one for the best kept farm. There were four entries. The judges have not yet arrived at their decision. At yesterday’s meeting of the Harbor Board, Mr. Cunningham gave notice that he would move at a future sitting that £SOO be voted towards the establishment of a Sailors’ Home. It was stated that one member of tho Board was willing to give £SOO towards the same object. Tho following avo the acceptances for the Free Handicap and Spring Steeplechases : Free Handicap—Danebury, Bst 71b; Foul Play, Bst 51b ; Lara, 7st 121 b ; Camballo, 7st Blb ; Sinking Fund, 7at 51b; Ramarama, 7at 51b ; Lady Ellen, 7st; Lady of the Lake, 7st; Kalulu, 6st 10lb ; Ratcatcher, Bsb 71b. Steeplechase Handicap—Te Whetu, 12st 71b ; Agent, 12at 31b ; Eversloy, 22*t 2lb ; Royalty, list, 71b; Moose, list 21b; The Lad, list. At the last meeting of the present Ceunty Council, held this morning, an application was made by the inhabitants of a portion of Ashburton district, asking to be taken into Selwyu County ou the ground that they had never had a penny spent on them by the Ashburton Council. The area proposed to b« added to Selwyn County is 5000 acres. The matter adjourned, aa waa also a proposal to erect a bridge over the Rakaia at a cost of £20,000. Tho copy of a long letter to Sir Julius Vogel that had been forwarded by the chairman of a meeting held at Southbridge, with regard to the extension of tho railway, and pointing out the legitimate employment of English capital in the same, was read, but no action was taken. It was resolved to pr meed with the third section of the Malvern water-raco as far as Waddington. The new rifle range was opened to-day at Cashmere by Lady Wilson. A number of interesting matches were afterwards fired. A public meeting is uow being held at the Corn Exchange re the tour of the Canterbury cricketers in Australia. Some very fine practice took place to-day ou the Haglcy Park grounds. Balclutiia, Saturday, At tho annual meeting of the Clutha Agricultural aud Pastoral Society last night, the treasurer’s report showed a credit balance of £OO. It was agreed to hold an annual show, to include a show of dogs, on the 18th December. It was also resolved to establish a weekly corn market in Balclutha ou Fridays. Higginsou, an engineer, has been engaged by tho committee appointed at a public meeting, aud has inspected the river bank behind the town this afternoon. He is to return on Tuesday to tako measures for the protection of the township. The river bank continues to wash away with alarming rapidity. The steamer lona has arrived from Dunedin to resume the river traffic. She got in easily at the old entrance at the mouth of the river.