SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 169, 4 November 1876, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

[FROM OUB OWN CORBESPONDB«T."] ■ **• '::■ DunedLsV #&niday. THE HON. DR. MENZIES AND THE CONVENTION. The Hon. Dr. Menzies writes to Mr. Macandrew as follows :—" I may say at once that, viewing as I do, suppression of the Provincial form of Government in favor of the county and borough system as a step in the right direction of localising the administration of matters purely local, I do not recognise as " evil " the results, leading in that direction, that are likely to flow from the Abolition of the Provinces, and if such should appear imminent, as your Honor seems to anticipate, the local Bill authorises County and Borough Councils, etc., which will be the proper and most competent bodies to deal with the difficulties that may arise. The present occasion may, no doubt, be considered critical, because our institutions are undergoing a change ; but I apprehend that the legally-constituted authorities will be the proper parties to consider and make such recommendations as may appear necessary for executive action if that should be required, and for such further legislation as will be wanted ; and in carrying out their functions they will deserve, and should receivs, the hearty support of all residents in the Province whose' character and position gave them an influence among their fellow-settlers. Your Honor will see that, holding thesa viiws, I cannot concur in the opinion that a private convention, such as that contemplated, is an advisable proceeding; or that in the absence <jf any stand of o.'ficial authority, any positive benefit will be likely to accrue from its assemblage."

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' DISPENSARY. It is proposed to establish a Dispensary in connection with the Friendly Societies' !iere. MR. DAVIE AND THE TREASURERSHIP. Mr. Davie will consult the Executive before doing anything. It is unlikely in any case that he will consent lo act as Treasurer, as he has been desirous of resigning for some time past. COUNTY BOUNDARIES. Instructions have been given to Mr. M'Kerrow to proceed with the work of denning boundaries of ridings of the different Counties preparatory to elections. CONVENTION DELEGATES. The Cavjrsham School Committee appoints a delegate to the Convention, but Port Chalmers declines. KUMARA RUSH. The Star's special reporter at Kuinara telegraphs that the results of the prospecting on the extension lead are very unfavorable. There has been fresh discoveries made, and many of the miners are leaving.

A new sansation has been found for London pleasure-seekers. Some gentlemen have invented a ilre-proof dress, and another gentleman practically advertises its merits by aj>pearing clad in it in the midst of a burning fiery furnace at the Alexandra Palace, walks through the dames, and finally sits down on a burning chair and smokes a cigar. In fact, it is ciie idea of the Boynton exhibition transferred from one element to another. An x-j.tsmunt of another kind . was forthcoming for a Dublin audience on 7th August. " Madame Lulu," the gymnast, tailed in her flight through the air to catch the trapeze, fell into the net, and was believed to have fractured her spine. It turns out, however, that she is not very seriously hurt. Meantime, there is a chance that the votaries of Cremorne may at any time enjoy a sensation of almost unparallelled magnitude. A Madam?. Sanyeah not only goes through a series oLthe most astounding feats with the trapeze', but makes the most perilous leaps blindfold, with her head in a sack, and finally whirls her husband in mid-air, who is suspended from her mouth by» a gutta-percha hook—herself hanging by iier legs from a slender bar, some 30ft. from the ground. It will be remembered that at the trial

of the muruerers of the unforlunate olhcers of tiie ship Lannie, Mr.. Justice Brett spoke in very high tenns of the courageous conduct of the steward, Constant Van Hoydonck, imd regretted that he had no power to coufer a personal decoration upon him. In consequence ef these remarks by the Lamed Judge, it was resolved at a recent meeting of the Chapter of the Ord,er of St. John of Jerusalem, Lord Ley a (in the absence of the Duke of .Manchester) presiding to pr.sent Van Hoydonck with the silver medal, and the boy Henri Trousallot with the bronzs medal of the Order. 'These-medals will be forwarded to *he r.spacfcive recipients through the Netherlands''a|idj[Belgian i Ministers. ? : "': |'