TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 510, 18 December 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(froii the ritESS agency.) * ■■ ~TWELLINGTON. December 17. The Port Darwin land line at Powell's Creek, about 1,400 miles from Adelaide and 500 from Port Darwin, has been down ainoe early this morning. It is understood that Minister hayc advised His Excellency that they do not purpose that New Zealand shall be represented at the Paris Exhibition.

It is probable that on and after the Ist January, the following ohanges will be made in the Police and Armed Constabulary forces. The latter are to be a purely military body, with Colonel Lyon in command, with his head-quarters in the Waikato distiupt. The police of both islands will revert to their purely civil functions, under Commissioner Shearman for the North, and Commissioner Weldon for the Middle Island. Colonel Moule will probably retire.

AUCKLAND. December IT. Connelly, the artist whose sketches and luggage were seized by the Hauhaus, is painting at Taupo whilst awaiting the restoration of his goods. He ascended Tongairiro mountain and explored the summit. He has only been in bed two nights out of fifteen, and has not seen or heard for nine days of his three guides. Most of the chiefs are anxious to return his luggage, but one pbstinate savage holds out. The natives will consider the case at the forthcoming meeting. It is believed that the reason the natives robbed him is that Tongariro is tapu.

The Customs to-day seized gunpowder being shipped by Mqrrin and Co., their employe's having shipped mftre than mini r mum quantity by mistake. The result of the cricket match.—Auckland v. Thames—was that Auckland won with 5 wickets to spare.

Mr. Staines called a meeting of woVkthg siien Jn the domain on Sunday afternoon, jw denounce what he regarded a? an tettempt to confine the reception of Sir George Grey to a class, shutting out the working men. Only about 20 working men attended. The proceedinge were orderly. The body of a young woman was found on Shelly Beach under mysterious circumstances. The body was lying below high water mark, evidently left by the receding tide. There were only a few contusions m the forehead, caused by a concussion with the rooks. The deceased had no reason to commit suicide. The inquest to-day revealed no explanation of tho cause of death. The only supposition is that the girl fell over the cliffs. GREYMOUTH. December 17. On Saturday a seaman named Charles Stanley, belonging to the schooner Eliza Firth, when going on board, slipped off '. the gangway between the ship and tho wharf, and was drowned. The body is not yet recovered. CHRISTCHURCH. December 18.

The anniversary proceedings yesterday were most successful, and the weather fine. The athletic sports were attended by about 10,000 people. They© were numerous entries for aU the events, and most of the contests were very good. In tho two-mile walking handicap Fraser won. He had 45 yards start of Rowley, the champion, who started at scratch, but failed to. get a place, He finished a good fourth, and received a special prize. Time, 14min. 34] sec, There was a grand ui-playaud torchlight procession and iiroworks in the evening. The latter were witnessed by about 15,000 people.