TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5522, 7 December 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY). Masterton, Friday, Yesterday in the Handicap Diver ran against a post and broke the jockey’s leg. Ika won. To-day a private match for £SO a side between Diver and Ika came off. Ika’s girth broke, and the jockey fell, but was not hurt. Diver won. Auckland, Friday. A new two-storied house, built to order of Captain Elliott, in Pitt-street, was totally destroyed by fire this morning. The contractor (Wright) held a policy in the Colonial Insurance Company for £4OO, His contract amounted to £650, and the work was nearly all completed except papering and painting. The brigade arrived promptly, and their exertions were directed to saving the adjoining twostorey houses owned by Mrs. Knox. The wall of the outer portion was almost destroyed, but the remainder was little injured. . The fire was arrested by a plentiful supply of water. The supposed cause is put down to a vagrant sleeping in the building. Father Henneberj admimsterd the pledge to 200 more total abstainers last night. Knox’s house and the next building, burned to-day, were insured in the New Zealand Company for £3OO. The loss is only trivial. All but two grocers signed the agreement in favor of a Saturday half-holiday. . Napier, Friday. A curious circumstance occurred at the Criterion Hotel last evening, where Judge Gillies is occupying a suite of rooms. About 6 o’clock he heard a noise, which proceeded from his bedroom. He called his secretary, and found the room locked from the inside. Upon entrance being effected, his Honor found a Maori couple had occupied the apartment without permission. As the man could not be charged as a vagrant because it was before nine o'clock at night, he was charged with being on the premises with felonious intent, and as he pleaded guilty, the magistrate gave him a mouth in gaol, though it is not considered that the natives had any dishonest intention, as they are both respectable people from Wairoa. * Nelson, Friday, Mr. Hurathouse addressed his Motueka constituents on Wednesday night. He said he was a strong opponent of the present Ministry, and criticised unfavorably all their leading measures of lost session. He received a unanimous vote of confidence. Christchurch, Friday. A large area of crop on Lightband’s has been ruined by the drought, but the later sown crops have much improved since the rain which fell a few days since. It is evident that Hayman was not the only offender against public morality, for a man named James Neval was arrested last evening on a similar charge ; be has been completely identified, and was brought up to-day and remanded till next Friday. The annual presentation of prizes took place at the Normal School, when the principal referred to the difficulty of teaching children unless they were regular attendants. Out of some 500 scholars only some twenty or thirty had during the year atten f ed every day. The attendance at this school is rapidly increasing. A fire broke out this afternoon at the timber- - yard of Mr. Daniel Reese. The firemen were soon on the spot, and extinguished the fire before it had done much damage. The fire originated in the engine-room. It is thought that if Amy Sherwiu had stopped longer her concerts financially would have been a great success. Her final one last night was crowded, and the audience was most enthusiastic. Dunedin, Friday. Sir John Richardson, M.L.C., died to-day at about 2 p.m. The secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club has written to the secretary of the Otago Cricket Association to the effect that New Zealand is not included in the programme of the English cricket team, and he does not see how New Zealand can be visited. ' The inquest on the recent fire in Georgestreet was held to-day, and resulted in an open verdict, as there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. In thanking the Vincent Council for hia election to the chair Mr. Pyke touched upon several subjects. Regarding the late disastrous floods, he said Parliament, at its last session voted £50,000 ; as a first instalment of which sum he claimed £15,000. He had every confidence it would be obtained. Already the county had received 5000, and the balance ’ was to be paid in due course. The North-easth Valley Council has resolved to borrow £6OOO, Ten declarations of insolvency have been made during the past week. It is understood, says the “ Prices Current,* * that McMeckan, Blackwood, and Company take £30,000 of the purchase money for their steamers iu shares in the Union Company. The nominations of immigrants received at the Dunedin office between November Ist and November 28th were for 49 souls, equal to 45J statute adults. The Invercargill nominations during the same period were for 17 souls, or statute adults. Invercargill, Friday. At the Bluff Harbor Board meeting to-day the tender of Henderson and Fergus, of Dunedin, £5145, for extension of the Bluff wharf, was accepted. There is universal regret here at the death of Sir J. L. G. Richardson. The single women immigrants per Waitara were sent to town last night, and declared open to engagement. The barracks were almost rushed, and every woman was engaged in a few, hours.