TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5529, 16 December 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(mi PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Saturday. Tlie Theatre Royal has had a narrow escape. At midnight a fire broke out in a shop underneath, occupied by Mr. Hoag, tobacconist and fruiterer. It was discovered by smoke issuing through the shutters. The fire brigade promptly arrived, and the strong force of water extinguished it. The damage is about £SO. Another incipient fire in the Auckland Timber Company’s mill, at 3 o'clock this morning, was put out with a few buckets of water, no damage being done. Sheehan is expected here on Wednesday. Tenders will be issued on Monday for the reclamation works for the central railway station, estimated to cost £20,000. The railway is to be extended immediately. A circular from the Minister of Education states that £926 10s. 6d. will be available tor distribution among Auckland country libraries. £BO has been sent for rewards to children passing a meritorious examination in schools. A barque, the King Oscar, went ashore at Port Albert, but got off. There was no pilot on board. The school teachers intend holding a pic-nic and ball before the close of the Christmas holidays. Sir George Grey and Mr. Macandrew left to-day for Wangarei, visiting Kawau and Waiwera en route. They will return on Wednesday. Nelson, Saturday. The Good Templar Grand Lodge closed its session yesterday. Last night the delegates addressed a public meeting in the theatre, which was crowded to excess in every part. They spoke in warm terms of the reception they had met with here, and of the beauty and delightful climate of Nelson. They leave per Arawata co-morrow. Colonel Whitmore arrived this morning, and is now engaged with the Mayor and Hospital Committee discussing the question of charitable aid. Chbistohdroh, Saturday. At the distribution of prizes at the High School, Judge Johnston said the instruction had already proved itself a great success, and paid a very high compliment to the teachers, from the lady principal downwards. The electric light will be used at the head of the Fire Brigade procession on Monday night. Volunteers from Christchurch, Mornington, Waimate, Oamaru, and Timaru will take part in the demonstration. There will be a luncheon at ten o’clock in the forenoon, at which 200 persons will sit down. The various fire brigades will arrive to-night. There will bo a church parade to-morrow. Entries ore coming in very freely for the sports, which are also expected to be a great success. Thomas Hughes, farmer, of Dunsandel, was killed on Thursday, through being thrown from a roller, which passed over him. At the banco sitting yesterday the Judge called the attention of the profession to a very important change which had taken place in the law with reference to societies, whereby the management of the funds accruing had been taken out of the hands of Judges without any previous consultation with them. He further intimated that it would now be within the province of the law societies to appoint some one to relieve the Judges of a portion of the burden of examining candidates for admission. Lyttelton, Saturday. The Marlborough has been placed in quarantine, there being six cases of fever on board. Four deaths have taken place during the passage, all infants. Dvnedin, Saturday. The wrestling match for £SO a side and the champion belt of Otago took place this afternoon between John Tyson, the present champion, and Thomas, of Eaglohawk, the Victorian champion. Thomas was challenger, and came to Otago and defeated Dagg about a fortnight ago, for one hundred sovs. In consequence of that victory ho was the favorite to-day. Both ho and Tyson were loudly cheered on appearing in the ring. The contest was to be decided by best two out of three. Considerable play took place when the men came together, but it was evident they would never take “ hold” of their own motion, and when they were put together bvthe judges, Tyson frequently slipped his hold, and his wrestling throughout was marked by a great want of pluck, and the crowd hooted. However, by sheer brute force he twice in succession threw Thomas, and during the struggle for second fall almost choked him. Thomas wrestled very fairly and very gamely, and many believe that had Tyson done the same he would not have won. The Government have arranged with Mi - . Coster, chairman of the New Zealand Shipping Company, that a steamer shall be despatched from London to New Zealand during the month of January, to call at several porta in the colony, and to carry not less than 600 immigrants, in addition to other passengers. The steamer is expected to arrive before the end of harvest.

The representatives of the Dunedin, Port Chalmers, and Mornington fire brigades leave this morning to take part In the Christchurch demonstration.

Mr. T. T. Ritchie, late bank manager, fe a candidate for the auditorship of the Colonial Bank.

Nawer, Saturday. At a meeting of ratepayers of the borough of Napier, to consider the question of raising a loan of £70,000, so as to consolidate the two existing loans and leave about £53,000 for drainage and sewage scheme, the meeting was presided over by the Mayor. There was a good deal of discussion, but no resolution was passed, the Act prescribing that there shall be only consideration and discussion. The Mayor gave notice that a poll would be taken on the 23rd inst.

This morning Judge Gillies gave a decision in banco in an important appeal case, Russell v. Campbell. It was an appeal from a decision of the Trust Commissioner, wherein ho refused to grant a certificate to a deed of lease from Paul Keokeo, husband of Aurora, to the Hon. H, R. Russell, she having in 1868 granted a lease to Hugh Campbell’s predecessor. Rees appeared for Russell, McDonald and Garble for Campbell. After hearing argument, the Judge decided iu favor of the appellant Russell, aud stated the Court would order the proposed alteration. There was another appeal case of exactly the same nature, with the exception that it related to another piece of land, and that the respondent was W. Douglas. Iu this case also the Judge decided in favor of the appellant Russell. Rees appeared for Russell, and Cotterill for Douglas. Invercargill, Saturday. The trial of Welsh for the murder of his wife was resumed this morning, when witnesses in addition to those examined yesterday were put in the box. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr. Donald) then addressed the jury for an hour, contending that if the hypothesis that the woman committed suicide was untenable they could come to no conclusion but that the deceased had come by her death at the hands of Welsh, and that the offence was murder. Mr. Wade addressed the Court for the defence for an hour and a half. He contended that the-woman either committed suicide or had been murdered by a third person not discovered, and that the accused had fled into the bush through fear that he should be convicted of the crime. The Court then adjourned, and his Honor began bis summing up about 3 p.m. The murder case is finished. The Judge summed up exhaustively, aud with extreme impartiality. His debvery occupied two hours. The jury retired, and within half an hour returned with a verdict of guilty. Prisoner’s demeanor was impassible. When asked if he had anything to say why the sen!once of death should not he passed he muttered almost inarticulately that he knew nothing about it. The Judge was much affected. His hands shook when placing the fatal cap on his bead. With a tremulous voice he addressed the prisoner, and said he had had a long, fair trial, and had been convicted by a jury of his countr'-men, and with their verdict he thoroughly concurred. He then sentenced prisoner to death in the usual form. The verdict is regarded as righteous by everyone here. The Southland Times came out this morning double royal. It has been permanently enlarged. The leader on the subject alluded to the necessity of enlargement through the progress of the town and district, and the hearty support awarded it since it has been iu the company’s hands.