TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5581, 17 February 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENOT). Auckland, Saturday. A mile race in connection with the recent athletic sports was run over again to-day, in accordance with the decision of the committee, on a protest received. Thirteen started. The race resulted as follows:—McCarthy, J. Edge, 2nd; Jas. Hendry, 3rd. Time, smins, ssecs. The commissioner of higher education is taking evidence on the question of the establishment of a school of agriculture. A child named Alexander Munro, living at Wairoa, has been burnt to death owing to his clothing igniting. Bush fires have done considerable damage north of Auckland. GrahamstOWH, Saturday. Professors Ulrich and Brown and Dr. Hector arrived here last night from Auckland, They will make an examination of the strata at the low level of the big pump shaft, to see whether gold exists in its vicinity. Dr. Payne, Health Officer, has made a careful examination of the water in the reservoir supplying the town. He reports it most impure, being crowded both with animal and vegetable organisms. Detective Brennan, for eleven years here, leaves this morning for Auckland. Farrel, late of Wellington, is his successor. * New Plymouth, Saturday. The Harbor Board met this morning. Major Atkinson was appointed chairman, and Mr. Wells treasurer. Mr. irvine was re-appointed engineer, and was instructed to survey a line of railway from New Plymouth to the Sugarloaaes, pending the arrival of Sir John Code’s report. Ghetto wn, Saturday.

At a meeting of the stewards of the Wairarapa Jockey Club, which was held on the the course at Tauherinikau, after the second day’s races, it was unanimously decided to disqualify Philip Murtagh from running any horse at any of the club’s meetings for a period of three years, owing to gross insolvence to the stewards. Masterton, Saturday. Tenders are called for a new police station. On Friday a watch was stolen. There was no constable in the town to go after the thief. There are great complaints of the inefficient police and court arrangements. While at Featherston two clerks are employed there is none at Masterton.

The local Servants’ Registry Office reports : —Female cooks, general servants, housemaids, and nurse girls, in great demand. Engagements are now open for about thirty first-class servants. Wages—Cooks, £4O to £SO; general servants, £3O to £4O ; housemaids, £4O to £45 ; nurse girls, £lO to £2O. Married couples for stations are in good demand ; wages, from £75 to £IOO. Station and farm hands engaged this week from 20s to 255. Good ploughmen are getting from £65 to £75. There is a good demand for fencers and men clearing bush. Wanganui, Saturday. The preliminary enquiry into the charge against George Buckland Worgan, of uttering a forged cheque of £75, purporting to be drawn by James Mackay,_ closed to-day. Worgan was committed for trial. Blenheim, Sunday. H. 11. Cundy, hotelkeeper, Blenheim, has filed'a declaration of his inability to meet his engagements with his creditors, Westport, Saturday. Some indignation is expressed at the suspension of Constable Marshall, who pave evidence before the Commission of Inquiry into the charge of habitual intemperance brought against the Resident Magistrate. He was a new hand here, but was well liked and respected The evidence has not been made public vet. The whole affair will probably form the subject of a petition to Parliament. Dunedin, Sunday. On Valentine’s Day 7992 letters passed through the post office here. Invercargill, Saturday. _ The sale of the West Plains estate this afternoon attracted a crowd of farmers and others, the property being exceptionally valuable. The bidding was lively, but did not fetch the reserve figure of £2O per acre, the highest offer being £l9 per acre. The estate was accordingly withdrawn, and is likely to be disposed of privately. A hangman has been engaged for Walsh’s execution. Oamaru, Saturday. A waggoner named Jacob Jenkins, employed by Allan and Stumbles in carting material from Duntroon railway-station for a new bridge over the Maerewhenua River, was killed last night through his waggon passing over him. When ho left Duntroon be was sober, but he took a bottle of whisky with him. A settler at Maerewhenua named Pryde had a house burned down yesterday. He and about twenty men were engaged harvesting. Some of the men were engaged harvesting some distance from the house, the only occupant of which at the time of the fire was the cook. The flames got such hold that little or nothing was saved. The house was not insured. The cause of the origin of the fire has not yet transpired. Mr. E. Downes’ greyhounds Tasman, Ophelia, and Rose —were sold by auction to-day. The first-named realised 10 guineas, but the two sluts only fetched £5 each. Balclutha, Sunday.

The Government have telegraphed to the chairman of the Clutha County Council that the Attorney-General has given an opinion upon the case submitted to him from the Councils of Bruce and Clutha and the borough of Balclutha —that Bruce Council can legally expend the rates of the county in erecting the bridge at Balclutha. It is presumed, therefore, the work will at once be proceeded with.

John McNeil's house of twelve rooms, adjoining a shop, built six months ago, was destroyed by fire this morning. The house was magnificently furnished, and the whole furniture also consumed, with the exceptain of a piano and six chairs, and a little bedding and female clothing. The fire occurred at halfpast three, when Mrs. McNeil noticed a smell of fire, and wakened her husband. He came down stairs, and found the kitchen in flames, and the whole building was speedily destroyed. The origin of the fire is quite unaccountable. The estimated loss is upwards of £2OOO, no part being'insured. At a meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday afternoon, it was resolved to ask the engineer in charge of the Middle Island to report within a week what is necessary to throw a due proportion of water down the Koan branch of the Clutha River, with a view to works being undertaken immediately. A committee was also appointed to report upon the character of Nineby part of Board Reserve, which falls in in May, 1880, with a view of sale. The inhabitants and landowners in Kaitangata district are subscribing funds to employ an engineer to report upon the state of the river in that quarter. At a soiree at Ahuriri last night, Alfred Jowibb, chairman of the Clutha County Council, was presented with a gold watch in recognition of his public services. Christchurch, Saturday. The manager of the “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin ” Combination has announced that, in deference to the expressed wish of the clergy, the next Sunday evening performance will not take place. After paying all expenses the railway committee have a balance in hand of £35. Dominica Mullalo, for indecent exposure, received six months’ imprisonment, with hard labor. . . The educational statistics give the following figures: Number of schools, 110 , teachers ■ males, 158 ; females, 176 : sewing mistresses, 30; number on roll at the beginning of quarter, 12,393 ; at end of quarter, 13,647, namely—--7087 males and 6560 females ; average attendance, 9943 ; working average, 10,076, namely, 6330 males and 4746 females. The average attendance of boys was 753 of the number on the roll, being as nearly as possible 3 per cent, better than that of the girls.