TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5528, 14 December 1878, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

5| (PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Friday. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew proposes to extend the railway station temporarily to Queen-street wharf, along Custom HouseStreet. Tho Waikato and Thames railway lino is to ; bo begun immediately at both ends. Sir George Grey visits the Thames with the Hou. Mr. Macandrew about the end of next week, to turn the first sod. They go to Wannora / and Wangarei to-morrow. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan is expected hero on ; Monday to address the Rodney constituents. Sir George Grey will probably address a public meeting in Auckland before going to the Thames. The Ministers will visit Waikato. Share market.—Moanatairi, 32-4. fid. to 355.; Kurunui Hill, 55.; Tookey (tribute), 3s. to 3s. 3d. Alexandra, Friday. The Kingites are about to establish a Press of their own at Kopua. Ilonane to Waioha is collecting money for the purpose. Mr. Grace has arrived here, and this being the Hauhau Sunday is being largely interviewed. Grahamstottn, Friday. A Thames deputation, headed by Sir George Groy, waited upon the Minister for Public Works to day, respecting the Thames railway. He agreed that the works should be commenced at both ends without unnecessary delay. The £30,000 voted is to be expended before Parliament meets. A suggestion has been made to Ministers that the first sod may turned by Sir George Grey, who will be at the Thames on Saturday, December 21, to address his constituents. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew and Mr. Blackett will accompany tho Premier. Waitara, Friday. After repeated efforts the steamer Hauraki was floated off tho beach this morning. Little or no damage has been sustained by the vessel, the weather having been unusually fine during the last ten days. Greymocth, Friday, Bradley’s Racecourse Hotel was burned to the ground this morning. The landlord, his wife, and family barely escaped with their lives. Nothing was saved. The insurances were £6OO on the furniture; £IOO in the South British. Christchurch, Friday. A very handsome silver testimonial will be taken by the Canterbury team to Australia for presentation to Bailey, the cricketer. It is the gift of a few Tasmanian residents in this town, and is given to mark their appreciation of his exploits as one of the Australian Eleven in the old country, Mr. Montgomery, the chairman of the board of governors, made the presentation of prizes this evening to the scholars of the girls’ high school, in the presence of a large number of the parents of pupils. His Honor Mr Justice Johnston held the first sitting in banco to-day since his return from the Court of Appeal. There was a very long list of cases. At a meeting of the Drainage Board to-day it was resolved that before going oat of office members of the Board would inspect the very extensive works now In progress. The large public school at Christchurch broke up to-day for a six weeks’ holiday. Considerable discussion is taking place in reference to the change which the Government have made in the scale of fees chargeable before and after hearing in the R. M. Court, and also as to tho mode of their collection. Great dissatisfaction is expressed at the change. The threatened heavy rain of last evening passed off without falling. At the police court this morning William Bartlett was charged by his wife with having failed to provide for her maintenance, and it was stated that he had been spending his money on a kept mistress. This however he denied on oath. This statement being believed to be false, he was arrested on a charge of per*-: jury as he was leaving the Court; he was brought back, and remanded till to-morrow. Dunedin, Friday. James Rattray is a candidate for a vacancy on the directorate of the Colonial Bank. A house in King-street, tenanted by Mr. Lewis, had a narrow escape of being burnt down this afternoon. There were eight declarations of insolvency made during last week in Dunedin. At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce this afternoon Blair wrote that the works were now in such a state of forwardness that nothing but continuous wet weather could delay the completion of the whole line to Invercargill beyond the first week in January. At the annual breaking up of the Christian Brothers’ school to-day Bishop Moran stated that the Catholics had within the last year in Dunedin expended £160,000 on education, exclusive of school fees, and that the Dunedin Catholic schools were now attended by nearly 800 children. He complained of the injustice of the Government towards Catholic schools, and said that Catholics would never cease to agitate until they got their rights at the hands of the Government. The Chamber of Commerce to-day elected Tewsley as a member of the Harbor Board. At the Rifle Association meeting the first prize was a cup, presented by the President, Lieut.-Colonel fetaveley, value £ls 155., ard £1 in money : Volunteer Esmeth, 232 points; Volunteer Mills, 267 ; Volunteer Wilcocfcs, 267 ; Sub-Lieut. Keed, 267 ; Volunteer Webster 267 ; Sergt. Buckley, Canterbury, 265 ; Sapper Chapman, Canterbury, 266 ; Sergt. Richardson," 263; Volunteer Hutchison, 263; Captain Wilson, 262 ; Volunteer Anderson, 262. The following is the result of the Ladies’ Challenge Shield ; City Guards, 339 ; South Dunedin Rifles, 328; No. 1 Clutha, 321 ; Bruce Rifles, 320 ; East Taierl, 316; Dunedin Navala, 314 ; West Taieri, 303; Waikari, 301 ; Portobello, 297 ; Dunedin Artillery, 291 ; North Dunedin, 289. Mr, R. Wilson is a candidate for tho direcehip of the Colonial Bank. Invercargill, Friday. The annual examination of the scholars of the district high school and north public school, under the supervision of the Invercargill school committee, occurred to-day, with very satisfactory results. Many prizes were awarded. The twelfth annual show of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held here to-day. There was a large attendance, and the weather was fine with the exception of a few showers in the afternoon. The entries were not so numerous in the live-stock classes as last year ; but there was large accession in the implements, etc., classes. Of draught horses there were seven exhibits. The first prize went to Young Prince of Wales ; owners, Prince of Wales Company. Beat thoroughbred entire, any age : Ist, Basatian's Vermicelli. Best shorthorn bull: Ist, Beren’s Can well Knight. Sheep.—Merino ; Beat ram, 4-tooth or over, W. B. Kingswcll; beat pen of three, A. D. Johnston, Lincoln : Best 4tooth and over, F. Sut ton. The Supreme Court commenced its sittings this morning before Mr. Justice Williams. Whitelaw, indicted for larceny at Riverton, pleaded guilty, and sentence was deferred. Catherine Sullivan and Robert Sterwill, indicted for larceny, were each acquitted. Welche pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife, and the trial has been occupying the Court all day. Two more witnesses for the prosecution are to bo examined. The case is likely to last another day. Wade, is defending the prisoner ably. Deveraux's stable and store and a saddlers* shop at Winton were burnt down this morning. The prices of produce are the same as last week. No change.