TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5518, 3 December 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) I’OXTON, Monday. Tha statement published in Wellington and Wanganui papers, that three councillors only voted for Halcombe’a resolution condemning Loudon, is utterly false. Geahamstown, Monday. At the invitation of the Thames Borough Council, 0. Wakefield, Under Secretary for Goldfields, to-day visited the United Pumping Association’s underground workings, and accompanied by some members of the Borough Council descended the shaft to the 640 ft. level, traversed the :outh drive towards Waiokarako, and the north drive of the Kurunui Hill for 1150 ft. The party was down at the low levels for two hours, and at the surface the Under Secretary was met by tha county chairman, warden, county engineer, and others. Mr. Wakefield has now visited the principal mines at Grahamstown. He mode a journey to Ohiuerauri, and proceeds to Coromandel by invitation of the county to-morrow. He returns to finish his business at the Thames, and then proceeds back to Wellington via Auckland. Auckland, Monday. It is stated that Sheehan w ill resign the portfolio of Minister of Justice owing to the many duties of tho Native Department. The Hawea has arrived from Tauranga with a number of tho Taranaki’s passengers. The South British Insurance Company had risks over the Southminster on lines to ■Southern ports which are landed. The amount on goods remaining in the vessel is ,62189,

F.P.A. only. Any re-insurances are under open policy on the total lines in the vessel, and are not now accurately known. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan is expected at Auckland to-morrow. He visits Wbangarei with the Premier. • Mr. Jack, general manager of the National Insurance Company, during a visit to the United States completed airangementa with the South British Company for the agents of the latter in California, Messrs. Callingham and Co., to also represent the National there. The two companies will now issue joint policies in California and the adjoining States. The papers speak approvingly of the financial strength of the combined companies, and of the agents in San Francisco. An old man named Buchanan, a watchman, was found dead. He died from natural causes. The news from Samoa reports a great scarcity of food in the Tonga t aud Ellice groups. There was considerable distress among the natives. Taueanga, Monday. Some Maori diggers from the Thames, who were on board the Taranaki at the time of the disaster, say that if a native bad keen at the wheel or on the look-out the accident would not have happened. One of them declares he whispered to the man on the look-out that there was land ahead ten minutes before the ship struck. Hawera, Monday. At Thompson aud McGuire’s sale on Saturday 43 sections in Normauby Extension were sold. The prices realised were very satisfactory. The total proceeds of the sale were over £2700. Outside buyers exhibited great confidence. Waitara, Monday. Bewi left here this morning for Waikato, overland. Dr. Hector leaves in the Hannah for Mokau to-night. He will endeavor to get up the Mokau River as far as its source, cross the watershed, and return by the Wanganui River to Wanganui. New Plymouth, Monday. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan leaves here to-mor-row morning for Wanganui and Wellington, by way of the coast. During the last twelve months upwards of £20,000 has been spent in New Plymouth alone in new buildings which have been erected. Christchurch, Monday. The kerosene bond of Messrs. Tweatyman and Cousen was completely destroyed by fire last evening. It contained between 300 and 400 cases of kerosene. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is supposed to be through some boys smoking near the shed. There was no insurance. Steady rain fell on Saturday and part of yesterday. It will do much good to the country. A woman named Matilda Thompson was taken to the hospital on Saturday night, as it was supposed she had poisoned herself. It was found she had only taken a dose of aniseed, with the object of frightening her husband. Timaru, Monday. Rain is falling at last, aud is welcome to the farmers and settlers, being in time to save the crops. The revenue from Customs for November was £1728 4s. 5d., against £1572 4s. Id. for the corresponding month of 1877. The promoters of the Evening Telegraph , Fisher, Chapman, and Co. are receving general support from the business and other commercial firms here. The paper will probably be issued about the 10th of this month. Dunedin, Monday. A cake of gold weighing 5480 z. has been obtained from 328 tons of stone from the Cromwell Quartz Mining Company’s claim. Sir Julius Vogel, iu acknowledging the receipt of a copy of the Now Zealand Anthem, writes to Mr. Woods, its composer—“ I think the idea is excellent of associating our colony In the minds of children being educated in this country with a pleasing melody they can never forget, and the remembrance of which will bring before them Britain beyond the seas.” An inquest was held at the Taieri to-day on the body of a man named John Seawell, found dead under mysterious circumstances. The result of the inquiry went to show that death was caused by exposure while under the influence of drink, and by asphyxia caused by tightness of the shirt collar.