TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5736, 18 August 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Saturday. Natives are to be employed upon the construction of the authorised section of the Thames-Valley railway. Christchurch, Saturday. A fire broke out at the house of T. Draper, at Waltham, this morning at 4.15. The fire, which cannot be accounted for, broke out in the parlor, next the shop, and the inmates scarcely had time to escape before the entire building was in flames. The building was soon burnt to the ground. The insurances are given as follows : —House, £4OO in the London aud Lancaster ; stock and furniture, £4OO in the Colonial office. Mr. Steer, the proprietor of the store, estimates his loss over and above what was covered by insurances at £3OO.

No traces have as yet been found of the missing man George Vennel, although a strict search was made along by the river. If he was drowned in the river the body will probably be found at New Brighton. The new morgue at the Police Depot, a stone building, is finished, and the key has been handed over to the police. Strange to say no furniture, not even a table, has been provided for within the dead-house or the dissectingroom. A room to hold inquests in is also wanted, there being ns room at the depot. Preliminary steps have been taken to form a Ratepayers’ Association. A provisional com mittee has been appointed, aud a meeting of members has been fixed for Wednesday. It is intended to use influence to return good men at the municipal elections. Timaru, Saturday.

A serious accident, but one in which the result might have been much worse, occurred today about 2 p.m. Some six feet of the top of the end wall of the new High School toppled over, carrying away the scaffolding and precipitating four workmen to the ground, to a distance of nearly thirty feet. One of the men, named Payett, was nearly buried, and sustained injuries from which he is not likely to recover. The others, as well as the boy who was standing underneath at the time, escaped with slight injuries. All the men but one belong to Dunedin. It is supposed that the heavy frost of last night, following several days rain, caused an expansion of the joints, and that the sun melting the frost, allowed the upper part of the building, which is of brick, to settle unevenly again. Napier, Saturday. A sharp shook of earthquake occurred this morning at 6.25. A new evening paper will start here on Monday in the interest of the Liberal party. It is to be named the Evening Star, and will be printed at the Hciald office, but not in connection with that paper. Funds have been subscribed for the paper among several of the Ministerial party. A half-holiday has been proclaimed for Tuesday, when the first pile of the Port Ahuriri Bridge will be driven by Colonel Whitmore. Mr. Sheehan will take part in the ceremony, and will address a public meeting in the evening. Donbdin, Saturday. Mr. H. Hawkins, charged with embezzlement, was admitted to bail to-day. It is reported that Grant, of the Land Office, has got clear off to South America. He is charged with forgery. Local money-lenders will be the chief sufferers.

The gaol is almost quite full in consequence of the number of Maoris and embezzlers. Chalmers Reid was again brought up at the Police Court, and after hearing evidence the ease was adjourned to this day week. Air.. Watt said that owing to the scandalous way in which the prisoner’s books were kept the case would probably occupy about 10 or 15 days. An application for a reduction of bail was refused, and the prisoner was therefore lodged in gaol. An accident occurred at the Extended Company’s claim, Blue Spur, by which a young man named Thos. Kitto lost his life, a quantity of cement having fallen upon him. A fatal accident occurred at Blue Skin yesterday to a little boy, five years old, named Smith. He stepped into the Waitake, and was carried down the stream. Another boy who saw him ran and told his father, wdio at once jumped in where the boy had last been seen, but could not find any trace of him. The body was found about half an hour afterwards. Ten insolvencies were filed this week. All are small estates, except John B. Lukes, hotelkeeper, of Dunedin, whose liabilities are £■1162, and assets £4584. The decision re Benares was till Wednesday. It is rumored that there is a dispute with the assessors about their remuneration, and hence the delay.