TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5533, 20 December 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(rEB HtESS AGENCY.) Alexandra, Thursday.

Interest in the approaching Auckland races is increasing. A good turn out is usual at the morning gallops. The following are the weights for the handicaps:—Hurdle Race—Agent, 12st; Perfume, list 101 b; Whitefoot, list 51b; Eversley, lOst 51b ; Jonathan Wild, 9st 101 b; Tom Finn, 9st 101 b. At the installation banauet. if tho masonic lodge, Manukau, several members expressed a strong hope that all the lodges in the Australasian Colonies would shortly be united under one grand lodge. Vigorous canvassing is proceeding for the erection of a masonic hall in Auckland.

The ship Clan Ferguson was eighty-eight days from the Downs. She brings four saloon, five second cabin, and thirteen steerage passengers. Napibb, Thursday.

Nominations for tho Napier Handicap of tho Hawke's Bay Jockey Club races closo on Saturday next. New Plymouth, Thur«day.

The Hauraki is now being repaired, and will soon be ready for sea. The getting her off the bank was a very successful piece of engineering. Wangandi, Thursday.

A complimentary banquet to Mr. W. H. Watt, the retiring Mayor, was given by the ratepayers. One hundred persons were present, and Mr. Robert Pharazyn occupied the chair. The dinner was followed by speeches of a highly complimentary character, and the whole affair was a great success. Blenheim, Thursday.

The low level tunnel in D'Urville Island copper mine is now 156 ft. in, and is being extended to intersect Manton's lode, 50ft. ahead. Nelson, Thursday.

Mr. and Mrs. Darroll, with the New Zealand contingent of tho " Henry V." company, sailed for Wellington to-day in the Taiaroa, after a successful season here. Dunedin, Thursday.

The special jury case of the Rev. Mr. Stanford against the liquidators of the original Daily Times and Witness Company commenced to-day before Justice Williams. On the occasion of the sale, about eighteen months ago, the plaintiff was the holder of 44 shares in the company, and for these he received £IOO each, whereas the other shareholders, with the exception of Murison, received only £75 per share. When the fact of the plaintiff receiving a larger price came to be known each of the other shareholders expressed dissatisfaction, and the liquidators were of opinion that Stanford received a larger amount as a bribe to voto for the sale of the company's property. He subsequently placed £IOOO, which was the extra amount he had received, in the hands of the liquidator*!, to abide by arbitration whether he was entitled to it or not. They, however, refused to return it to him, and intimated their intention of distributing it among the shareholders. Stanford then entered an action for the recovery of the amount, and his contention is that ho received the extra price as a bonus for the loss of his income as leader writer for tho Times and Witness, and he alleges that at tho time of sals he was earning £550 per annum in that capacity. The case will probably occupy several days, A Btore and dwelling-house owned by Boyle Brothers, Primrose Hill, was destroyed by fire this morning. The stock is insured in the South British for £4OO, and the furniture and effects in tho Victoria for £SOO. An impudent robbery took place ia Pittstreet. A man knocked at the" door of a private house, and not receiving an answer, walked in and took a watch and chain from the dressing-room. Timabu, Thursday. Edward Ball pleaded guilty to libelling Messrs. Hayes and Beuhamo in the South Canterbury Times, at the criminal session of the Supremo Court to-day. Ho was fined £SO. Charles Stirling, for 'the manslaughter of his wife, was sentenced to six years' penal sorvitude. . Tho Evening Telegraph made its appearance under the most favorable circumstances, and is receiving general support. Invkboaboili,, Thursday. The Waste Lands Board to-day, on the motion of tho Chief Commissioner, passed a resolution expressing deep regret for the loss of Sir John Richardson, and sympathy with his family. Tho cases of J. Mcintosh, Ben., and J, JlcTntosh, jun., whose deferred payment selections had been forfeited for non-residence, wero ro-heard to-day, at tho request of the Minister of Lands, and in consequence of tho report of tho Royal Commission, it was resolved to sell tho selection' of J. Mcintosh, BCD., by auction, under sections 71 and 72 of the Land 1877, and recommend tho Government' to reinstate J. Mcintosh, jun,, in'possession. ■■•'■'•'■ - • |

CHKI.-.TOHDEOH, Thursday. Mr. Nielson, captain o£ the Canterbury ] cricketers, will join them in Dunedin. A lad named George W. Frew died in the hospital last night from the kick of a horae.^ At a meeting of the Board of Education to-day a Bum of £15,000 was appropriated to the various schools of the northern portion of the province. C. T. Siucook was this' morning sentenced to six months' imprisonment- for wilfully exposing himself to a young girl. He denied all knowledge of the affair, saying he must have been intoxicated. He has been three years in the colony, and said he was going home in a week or two as surgeon of a ship. The Bench intimated their intention of punishing all such offences most heavily. At a meeting of the Water Supply Committee this morning a sub-committee was appoiuted to report on the artesian water supply of Christchurch. The investigation into the Corporation affairs will be of the most searching character. The election of a Councillor to fill the vacancy caused by the election of the Mayor takes place on the 29th January; no nwnes are yet mentioned.