TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5767, 23 September 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(per press agenct.) Auckland, Monday. A telegraphist named Beale observed some smoke issuing from the cellar of Messrs. Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co.’s drug store tonight. He gave the alarm, and tha bells sounded, causing great excitement. The fire brigades turned out aud water was turned on to the smoke. An examination made subsequently showed that a jar of phosphorus had been broken, and the fumes were mistaken for fire. Slight damage was done by water, but nothing serious. The Government steamer Hinemoa sailed at one o’clock with the following members of the General Assembly on board :—Hons. Dr. Pollen, Dlgnan, Chamberlin, Henderson, and Paterson (Dunedin). Lower House—Messrs. Hurst and Wallis (City West), O’Rorke (Onehunga), Swanson (Newton), Speight (City East), Whitaker (Waipa), Whyte (Waikato), Hamlin and Harris (Franklin), Tole (Eden), Colbeck (Marsden), Macdonald (East Coast), Reader Wood (Waitemata), Moss (Parnell), Shrimski (Waitaki), Murray (Bruce), Hone Nahi Tawhai (Northern Maori), and Major Te Wheoro (Western Maori). Tupotahi (ilewi’s representative), and Rev. A. Barton were also nn beard. Just as the vessel was about :•>■ v:eg off a youthful limb of the law, from the office of Hesketh and Richmond, burned on- board and presented the chosen of City West with an official envelope e«cb. It was ascertained tha’; both gentlemen had been subpenned as witnesses in the prosecution of M, Machattie, under the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act.

U.M.S. Cormorant has arrive ! hero. She landed Sir Art! ar Gordon, Governor of Fiji, at Levuka, after his return from England. He was heartily welcomed. Captain Kilgour, of the schooner Mysterv, has been fined £IOO for burning a native village nt Toiia, when recovering a boat taken from his vt-ss-ri in the previous year. The treaty signed between England and Samoa guaranU-s to British subjects »U the rights granted to the most favored nation. Samoa relieves them of all military requisition, and guarantees them p-i-ession of land purchased. It also provides that British subject' shall be tried by the High Commissioners' Court for Polynesia. The treaty gives England the right to establish a coaling or naval station in Samoa. Seven seamen of the ship Minister of Marine, including Gale, who brought the charge of cruelty against the captain, and most of his witnesses, were sentenced to three months' imprisonment to-day for insubordination. Mastertos, Monday. A new firm of auctioneers, Messrs. Tilly Browne and Co., have started in business here. New I’lv.moutc, Monday. Edward Evans, a respectable settler residing in the bush, went homo intoxicated on Saturday night and fired three barrels of a revolver at his wife and family, but did them no injury. He was brought before the Resident Magistrate this morning, and remanded till to-morrow. Dunedin, Monday. In connection with the fire which has taken place at Dean's stables at the Two Rivers Hotel, Waihomo, it has been reported to the police that a servant girl, on leaving the hot»l the same night, was seized by a man in disgaiise, gagged and bound, and her clothes set fire to. The man returned, extinguished the fire, and ran away. Her impression is that he had mistaken her for some one else. A school of wrestling was opened here this evening. The cricket clubs are preparing for the forthcoming season. Mr. Watt, R.M., attended at the gaol to-day, and remanded Waters, accused of incendiarism, for a week. There is a disposition to abandon the Police Court case against Waters. Mr. Dennistou, his counsel, affirms that he has obtained important additional evidence favorable to accused, and is anxious to bring it forward. A man named Mason was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment at the Police Court for assuring a creditor of his that he had never been bankrupt nor had a bill of sale on his property. These statements were false, and induced the creditor to give prisoner extended credit. A batch of sly grog cases were heard before the Resident Magistrate at Lawrence to-day, and the following accused were fined :—Oni Ring, Chinese camp, £lO ; Bulfin Ter Tiu, Tuapeka West, £2O ; Clydemar, Mount Stewart, £SO ; and Dufin, Waitahuna Gully, £lO. One case was dismissed, and another adjourned. In the Supreme Court to-day application was made against George Capstick, trustee in a bankrupt estate, for disobeying an order of the District Court to pay £B6 realised out of the bankrupt estate into the estate account. A rule nisi was granted. “ Prison versus Free Labor ” is at present exercising the Dunedin working men’s minds. They complain that the prisoners are allowed to compete with free labor. Ashburton, Monday. James Oaims, a farmer, was killed on Saturday near Ashburton through falling from his dray and the wheel passing over his head and chest. Robertson, the panorama lecturer, who was discharged for passing valueless cheques here on Friday, was re-arrested for a similar offence at Christchurch on Saturday. Nelson, Monday. A tremendous rain has been falling here since yesterday, causing land slips in all directions. Five inches of rain fell between six oa Saturday night and nine this morning. Christchurch, Monday. The committee of the unemployed waited on the different corporate bodies to-day in reference to the prevailing depression. At the Public Works Office a piece of work on the Weka Pass Railway was offered to them, and about 50 meu accepted the chance. The committee say they represent 500 unemployed. Waiting on the Drainage Board, they were told that work could immediately be opened up to meet the urgency of the case. A farmer named Jas. Cairns, residing near Waterton, Ashburton district, was killed on Saturday- He and some others were riding on a grain-loaded dray, when deceased fell off, and a wheel passed over his head. At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned.

Dr. Florence died suddenly yesterday —it is supposed of apoplexy. At the Loftus entertainment to-night, a man, name unknown, was forced by the crush in the gallery over the stairway, and fell heavily against the door. He was picked up insensible, and conveyed home. At the meeting of the City Council to-night, it was resolved to put several works in hand to give employment to those requiring it. The Council have decided not to award any premium for the designs for the Town Hall, etc., but to select one to be recommended to the ratepayers to carry out. The Loftus troupe are drawing large houses. TiMAKtJ, Monday. Although Mr. Turnbull distinctly stated at the public meeting prior to election that he ■would be one of the first to request Sir George Grey to resign the leadership of the Ministerial party he has since denied it, and there is no little doubt that he intends to support Grey above everybody. Many of the electors here are greatly enraged at his saying one thing before election and another after it, as there are not half a dozen sensible people in the plaee who believe in Grey personally. Very stormy weather has prevailed during the last twenty-four hours, a strong southerly gale, with a perfect downpour of rain, having been felt all over the district. The rivers are rising rapidly. There is no sign of improvement, but rather the contrary. Mormon missionaries have been actively canvassing for proselytes in Timaru, for the last fortnight, but so far only one convert is heard of.

Mr. James Sullivan, proprietor of the Royal Hotel, had a narrow escape yesterday. He was crossing Arowhenua river, which was in flood, and when in the middle of the river, his horse refused to proceed, and became entangled in the wheel of the trap, _ and was drowned. Mr. Sullivan had to stick to the trap for several hours, but was at last rescued by a horseman. The river was rising rapidly all the while.

David Leach was arrested at Temuka to. day for arson, in connection with the house burnt down on Saturday. Invercargill, Monday.

To-night the seventh anniversary of the Southern Cross 1.0.G.T. Lodge was commemorated by a service and concert. Addresses were delivered by Mr. Jago, G.W.C.T., and others. The secretary’s report showed that the lodge is in a sound state financially, and the membership is over 200. At the District Court to-day there were onlv two cases, one of which was adjourned, and the other was unimportant.

When the District judge next returns he will lay the foundation stone of the new Hall of Justice, with Masonic honors.