TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5565, 29 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(per press agency.) Blenheim, Tuesday.

Inspector Smith, from Oamaru, arrived here to-day to succeed Inspector Emerson, who has been transferred to Taurauga. News arrived this afternoon from Wakamarina that a tunnel at the Mountain Camp Creek fell in, burying three men—John Sweeney, Robert Diannnt, and William Dorset. It is not known yet whether they are killed. The miners are working hard to relieve them. The doctor from Havelock went immediately to the scene of the accident. Later. A telegram this evening from the Express' correspondent at Havelock, re the accident, says that Sweeney and Diamant are both dead ; Dorset is still living, but badly injured. Foxton, Tuesday. Captain Bendall has been working all day at Mclntyre's Forest Queen, which is now in a good position, and likely to be floated once more if the weather remains at all favorable, of which there is now every prospect. About mid-day the Cleneig hitched on to the Hyderabad, and has been tugging away at her since, but the progress is comparatively slow. Yesterday an ingenious arrangement of tackle was extemporised, by which they rolled the Hyderabad in her bod, so as to loosen the sand around, and give the tug every chance to pull her clear Sea and wind are at present alike favorable, and bid fair to remain so for a while. Captains Holmwood and Gibbous are at Foxton now. Greytown, Tuesday, 10 p.m. Lines north are all interrupted by a heavy fire now raging near Greytown. Telegraphic communication is entirely cut off, and is not likely to be restored to-night. The following were elected last night as the Greytown School Committee for the ensuing year :—Messrs. Hornblow, Barnard, Bock, Cowper, Wakelin, Jackson, and Fenton. Mastehton, Tuesday. The following school committees have been elected :—Masterton —Messrs. Payton, Feist, Wrigley, Crayne, McKee, Droun, and Vile. Taratahi —Messrs. Barstow, Fish, Corpe, Gole, Smith, Taylor, and Walden. Carterton — Messrs. Armstrong, Fairbrother, Moore, Callister, Parker, Vickerstaff, and Hammond. Featherston—Messrs. Cox, Toogood, Parker, Faber, Candy, Kyse, and Reynolds. Napier, Tuesday. Sergeant-Major Kebsall, who was wounded while marking at the rifle butts on Saturday afternoon, died last night, mortification having set in late yrsterday afternoon. The accident occurred as follows ;—Kebsall, while marking for some members of the Rifle Association who were practising at the Tutaeknri range, seeing the members walking away from the 400 yards range, concluded that the practice was over, and came in front of the target without exhibiting the danger flag. One of the members, Walter Newton, resolved to have a couple of shots from the 500 yards range, and it was not until after he had fired the first shot that the marker was observed running to the cover of the butt. It was not thought at that time that Sergeant-Major Kebsall had been hit. Newton then fired his second shot, and the usual signal was then put up to intimate to the marker that the firing had ceased. No answering flag being raised, the party waited a short time, when the danger flag was seen at the butts to be waving, nud the marker to crawl out on his hands and knees. An immediate rush was made to the target, where they discovered that Kebsall had been shot clean through the upper part of the calf of his leg. Measures were taken to stop the flow of blood, and one of the party proceeded to obtain medical assistance and a conveyance. The deceased has been drill-instructor here for several years. He leaves a wife and large family. A lexandra, Tuesday.

Hayes and Benhamo’s Circus company played here last night to a good house. Tutawhiao, the king’s son, and a large number of natives, were present, who were half mad with delight at the wonders exhibited. They play again to-night.

Paeroa Te Haere and a Kanaka chief are here, who proceed to Hikurangi at once, to meet the King, who telegraphed for them to come up and arrange tor a meeting with Grey and the Native Minister.

Auckland, Tuesday.

The captain of the schooner Prinafute, which left the Ellice Group on Christmas Day, and arrived by the Gale from Kotaumalo to-day, reports that at that time the vessel was onalabor cruise for the Hawaiian Government, and had a cargo of niggers on board. All were safely landed on the island. He proceeds to Honolulu to procure another vessel. The natives were fighting on the Kings well Group. Lyttelton, Tuesday.

Andrew Errickson, a seaman, this morning fell from the foreyard of the schooner CJio to the deck. He fell upon his feet, smashing his right leg into a pulp, afterwards bounding forward upon his face and fracturing his skull. He was dead when he was brought ashore a few minutes afterwards, and was taken to the morgue.

Christchurch, Tuesday.

The Governor will visit Christchurch on the 12th February, and hold a farewell levee on the 13fcb, leaving same day. Prior to his departure he will be presented with an address by the City Council. A public meeting is to be called to consider the state of distress now existing in Glasgow iu consequence of the bank failure. At a largely attended meeting of the Temperance Hotel Coidpauy, held this evening, it was stated that 6000 shares had been taken, and that in all probability another 5000 would be taken as soon as the company commenced operations. The company was then formed, and the directory was appointed. A good deal of discussion took place on the proposed name of tho hotel, and amongst those who objected to its being •ailed the Temperance Hotel were the Very Rev. the Dean and the Kev. H. C. Matson.

The drapers and clothiers to-day had a most successful picnic. Over 250 attended. A man fell from the masthead of a schooner at the port to-day and was instantly killed. His name was Andrew Errickson, a Swede, 28 years of age. Edgar Bastings, formerly a railway clerk, who was brought from Wellington on a charge of forging and uttering, was again remanded to-day until the general manager's arrival in Christchurch.

The present month has been the worst ever known in and around Christchurch for sickness and death. Up to the present time over 90 deaths have been registered, the average mortality being 50. It is known that several have not been registered. The Inspector of Nuisances this morning commenced issuing notices for the citizens to abolish cess-pits.

Invercargill, Tuesday,

A man named Wm. Ohas. Bartlett was arrested to-day on the charge of obtaining goods and money by passing valueless cheques He was brought before the Resident Magistrate this afternoon, and pleaded justification in using the cheques, and that he could produce letters in justification thereof. Ho also had general expectations. At the request of the police the case was remanded for eight days for the production of evidence. A curiosity in native history was discovered on the banks of the Maraoroa River about a week since. It consisted of a bird closely resembling the tokohe, or, as Dr. Baker described it, notonoirs. The bird, which had apparently been killed by rabbiting dogs, is in good preservation, and is the possession of Mr. Connor, manager of Captain Hankinson's station. This bird belongs to a class only two specimens of which have been discovered in the world, and they are in the British Museum.

Dunedin, Tuesday. Two deputations waited on members of the Government to-day. The chief question discussed was that of increased school accommodation for Dunedin.

At the meeting of the City Council to-day an employe of the Corporation complained that he bad been dismissed from his position because he had been summoned as a juror. The Council decided to inquire into the matter.

The annual picnic of the railway employes has been indefinitely postponed, in consequence of the illness of Mr. Conyers. Goue, Tuesday.

The doctor says Mr. Conyers continues to progress favorably. He is somewhat weaker this afternoon, but is regaining strength and consciousness, and is completely free from any fever, and with good stimulants will soon pick up strength. 10 p.m.

Conyers is not quite so well this evening. A slight relapse of fever came on this afternoon, but the symptoms are improving again now.

Balclutha, Tuesday,

A staff of surveyors is now at work laying off the first section of the Balclutha to Catli’ns railway. NELSON, Tuesday.

At a large meeting of householders, under the Education Act, a strong opinion was expressed against vesting the appointment of teachers m the District Board, instead of thb local committees, ,