TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5501, 13 November 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(I’EIl PRESS AGENOr.) Wanoandi. Tuesday. The commencement of the Wanganui Harbor improvement works was undertaken to* day. A largo party on two steamers proceeded to the spot marked out by the engineer, and in a formal manner, Thomas Bembor, chairman of the Harbor Board, cast in the first block of stone. Speeches of a complimentary and laudatory character were made. John Bryce, the member for Wanganui, and the Hon. John Ballanoe, the member for Rangitikei, responded to the toast of the Assembly. All the speakers expressed great faith in the success of the works and in the future of the port and district of Wanganui. Gbahamstown, Tuesday. The volunteer review and sham fight yesterday was a great success. About B'lo Thames volunteers aud 75 of an Auckland company took part. Everything passed off successfully. There wore two accidents. A gunner foil off tho Armstrong carriage, and tho wheel passed over his body ; he lies in a precarious condition at the hospital. ' A cadet shot a youth, a spectator, with blank cartridge, but he was not seriously injured. Alexandra, Tuesday. Another report concerning tho murderer Hiroki ha? arrived from Hikurangl. A native named Temahe, just returned from Paibaka, states that ho saw and conversed with Hiroki, who is not wounded at ail ; that when ho saw tho search party looking for him he put his puraki mat and hat on a stump, which were fired at, the mat only being wounded, Hiroki escaping unhurt. Intersargill, Tuesday. At a meeting of the Bluff Harbor Board today it was decided at once to call for tenders for extending the Bluff wharf 400 ft. Dr. Monzies, speaking on the Harbor Act, concurred with tho proposed change in the constitution of the Harbor Board. It was advisable to place it on a popular basis. He was of opinion that from the position of tho Bluff it would eventually be the key of the colony. The Theatre Royal hero last night was crowded to repletion to witness tho first production of tho piece “ If ” by the Stewarj

Family. The performance was a great success, and, the artists were enthusiastically encored. The company has, by the two pieces which they have produced here, made for r.hemsclves a reputation which will not soon be forgotten. Mr. Stewart is a host in himself, while his daughters are all very highly gifted. A general holiday was held here yesterday. Great numbers went out of town via road and rail. A child nineteen months old, the sou ©f Reynolds, surfaceman, Lowther, died in the train while being brought here for medical advice. Auckland, Tuesday. ■ At the auction sale of a sixty-six years lease of the reclaimed laud allotment fronting Queen-street, prices ranged from £2 10s. to £7 ss. -per foot. ■ The news by the City of Auckland is mostly anticipated by the Arawata. Great preparations are being made for the Agricultural Show to morrow, which is expected to be a great success. A hundred men have been engaged at the Thames for the Te Awamutu railway at Bs. a day. The total amount realised at the sale of the harbor endowments to-day was £lßl7.

Napier, Tuesday. An inquest was held to-day on the body of John Rowbnttom, a member of the Artillery Volunteer Band, who was killed last evening on the railway. It appeared from evidence that when the train was quite close to the Napier station deceased, who was standing on the platform of one of the carriages, made an attempt to wa'k out of the train, under the impression that the train was actually at the station. On discovering hla mistake he grasped at the st luchiim of the carriage platform, but was swung under the train and knocked on the chest and back and flung aside. Death was all but instantaneous. The deceased merely moved ids head once, and died before auy ono reached him, though mauy jumped out immediately, A verdict of accidental death was returned. * A man named Chas. Stewart is to be brought up at the R. M. Court to-morrow on a very curious charge of appropriating a packet containing some valuable articles of jewellery, which reached Napier Post Otflce from Condon, addressed to Charles Stuait, Criterion Hotel. The Post Office people here, knowing that Charles Stewart had been barman at the Criterion Hotel, thought the packet was for him, notwithstanding that the surname was spelt somewhat differently, and sent the packet to him at Havelock, where ha was keeping the Pacific Hotel, and it being a registered packet he gave the usual receipt for it. Subsequently Charles Stuart saw a female wearing a locket which was one of the articles he had been expecting from London. He made inquiries at the Post Office, and was shown Charles Stewart's receipt. The po'ice were communicated with and Charles Stewart arrested. Captain Rolls telegraphs that he has been unable to forward the immigrants' luggage from the City of Auckland, the sea having been too rough for the steamer to enter the river at Otaki; but the weather is now better, and the steamer is expected to-morrow. At the Spit to-day a little boy seven years old was kicked on the head by a horse. His scalp was out off, and injury to the braiu is so great that the child is not expected to live. The only candidate in the field at present for the Mayoralty is J. H. Vautier, merchant and shipowner at the Spit. He is a member of the Borough Council. Mr, M. R, Miller, who had been requisitioned to stand, declines to do so against Vautier. Tadpo, Tuesday.

A bridge within a few miles of Taupo, on the main road to Tauranga, has been totally destroyed by fire through the* carelessness of some persons firing the fern, thereby rendering the traffic of vehicles impossible at present. A. party of Armed Constabulary are now temporarily repairing it under the supervision of Superintendent ScanUoll. Ahaura, Tuesday. The weather throughout the Grey Valley was unprecedented for severity on Saturday night. A number of men are employed in clearing No Town road from slips and fallen trees. The promptitude of the County Chairman is commended. Yesterday the wind waa so great that a child of Mrs. Ettiok, of Nelson Creek, was lifted off its feet and carried into the stream. The body was recovered this morning. This is the most severe and protracted winter ever known to old west coasters. Christchurch, Monday. On Saturday night all the places of amusement were crammed. Last night there wero over 5000 persons in the circus, and nearly 2000 at the theatre. The amount of money taken at the gates at the Agricultural Show was £Bll, as against £737 last year. At the d ! nuer in the evening his Excellency the Governor was present, and spoke at some length on the advancement of the colony in agriculture. At the sale of Mr. GilUgan’s racing stock yesterday there was a large attendance. Danebury was bought by Mr. R. Vallance for £s'*o ; Laertes by Mr. Walker, of Wanganui, £475; Fiction by Mr. M. Butler for £150; Mufti by Mr. 11. Mason for £425; Lady of the Lake by Mr. Walker for 95 guineas ; Songster by Mr. Black for £275 ; Jav din was bought in at £775. At the sale of prize stock. Prince William realised 240 guineas ; Morflet, 220 guineas ; Awamoa, 100 guineas ; White Butterfly, 116 guineas. . The immigrants per Hydaspes were lauded to-day, and await engagement at tho depfit. Christchurch Hospital costs £5500 per annum. A factory for the manufacture of ice has been started in Christchurch by Lindeman and u'ooel. s The railway traffic was resumed this morning on the north line. It had been partially stopped by the Waimakariri overflowing again. A deputation of the Chamber of Commerce will wait upon the Colonial Secretary tomorrow, to urge upon him the necessity for defence works being immediately undertaken at Lyttelton harbor, in view of the present serious aspect of European affairs. It is said that the election of the Mayor of Sydenham yesterday is invadd through the date being wrongly filed. The first exhibition of the Ashburton Agricultural Society takes place on Friday. Carl Schultze waa to-day committed for trial for forgery. Timaru, Tuesday. The following letter from the Hon. J. Macandrew to Mr. F. Archer, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, has been received : “ New rates for haulage have been submitted, and are now being considered by tho Government. They will be gazetted most likely next week. The Timaru station extension has been ordered to be proceeded with as soon as the necessary plans and estimates can be got ready.’ * Oartaru, Tuesday. For tho North Otago Turf Club races on the lltb and 12th of December the following weights were declared to-night;— Oamaru Grand Handicap, If miles : Templeton, 9st 121 b; Fishhook, 9stl2lb; Ariel, 9st 61b; Maritana, Bst 12lb ; Longlauds, Bst 61b; Danebury, Bst 51b; Lsortes, Bst 21b; Lara, 7* s t 121 b; Chancellor, 7sfc 101 b; Foul Play, 7st 81b; Pinfire, 7et 51b; Natator, 7st 21b; Blue Peter, 7st 21b; Mufti, fist 121 b; Songster, fist 12lb; Mireille, fist 101 b; Camballo, 6sb 81b; Lady EUeu, fist 61b; Harlequin, fist 41b; Endymion, 6st; King Quail, sat 101 b ; Sapphire, sst 91b; Prudence, sat 71b. Tradesman's Handicap, 1£ miles*. Fishhook, 9st; 121 b.; Maritana, Bst. 121 b.; Ltorte?, Bst. 41b.; FouhPlay, Bst; Chancellor, Bst.; Sinking Fund, 7st. 10lb.; Natator, -7st. 61b.; Blue Peter, 7st. 41b.; Luna, 7sfc. 41b.; York, 7st, 11b.; Merlin, fist. 121 b.; Camballo, fist. 10lb.; Mireille, fist. TOlb.; Lady Ellen, fist. 91b.; Lady of the Lake, fist. 71b.; King Quail, fist.; Prudence, sst. 101 b.; Sapphire, sst. 101 b.; Maid of Honor, sst. 71b.; Minnie, 6st. 71b.; Hose Mary, 6st. 71b. Handicap Hurdle Race, about 2 miles : Te Whotu, list. 91b.; The Agent, Hat 91b.; Eversley, lost. 61b.; Tommy Dodd, lOst. 61b.; Shillelagh, 9st; Ratcatcher, Bst 71b. Dunedin, Tuesday. Fathers O'Malley and McEneroe arrived in Dunedin from Melbourne to-day. They intend to establish a Jesuits’ College hero. The inquiry into tho Taupo accident was continued to-day, and after further evidence had been taken was adjourned till to-morrow. A writ for £IOOO has been served on J. Gloss, at the instance of tho Mayor of South Dunedin, for an alleged defamatory statement made at a public meeting held in South Dunedin re tramway. Dr. Macdonald, the rector of the Dunedin High School, was to-day Introduced to his future colleagues and pupils by the Rev. Dr. Stuart. Dr. Macdonald was received with great enthusiasm. He briefly expressed his thankfulness for his safe arrival, and hoped that his relations with both his colleagues and his pupils would bo of the friendliest description. A meeting of tho Church of England Diocesan Synod was held to-day. In the absence of Bishop Neville Archdeacon Edward delivered tho opening address.