TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 529, 11 January 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

_ « WELLINGTON. January 11. Mr. John Ballance was sworn in this morning as a member of the Ministry. His portfolio lias not yet been decided upon, but the matter is expected to be settled some time to-day. CHRISTCHURCH. January 10.

A private meeting of railway employe's is being held this evening, the business being to consider the redress of their grievances. There is a crowded attendance, and evidently strong excitement. Several very old hands have been recently dismissed on what would appear to outsiders trivial grounds, and the railway employe's complain of other matters in the general conduct of railway work. At a meeting of the Loan and Investment Company of New Zealand, held yesterday, a resolution for winding up the affairs of the Company was confirmed. The chairman saw that a settlement with the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand would be completed in a few days, and that the liquidators had calculated for a full distribution of the assets upon the basis of a bonus of 11 [- per cent, iu addition to the paid up capital.

LYTTELTON. January 10. Tiio schooner Cora, from Oamaru to Fox ton, has put in hero wind bound.

AUCKLAND. January 10. The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company propose to increase their capita by the l-.a-nu of shares amounting to a million, making the capital two million:.'.

J. J:i. Ti'vair;. for r-\po at Coromandcl, was sentenced to .seven yoai-.s' penal servitude and two floggings. "William King, a Fijian, charged with burglarously entering a house with the apparent object to commit rape, was acquitted. Arrived—Southern Cross, from Napier. The Auckland Steam Packet Company sold their plant to-day, at the following prices : Southern Cross, L 7.000 ; GoAhead, L 2,500 i Pretty Jane, L 2.350 ; hulk Cantero. 1,300 ; coals on board, LS4— total, L 12.234. The vessels were purchased by the newly-formed Auckland Company. A new steamer for the North Shore was launched to-day—length, 115 ft; width, loft. <► HOKITIKA. January 11. The police brought to town a very large copper still, found in the bush at Bealcy Gorge, a considerable distance from the road. It is the most valuable and largest still ever seen on the West Coast. The Malvern Superintendent of Police and the Bealey constable have been in search of this still for months. It Game from the Oamaru district, and additional information having reached the Inspector here, he went in search and made the discovery. It is reported here that two miners have sold seven pounds weight of gold obtained in three months from a claim near ELumara.

The Customs returns at this port show a large increase in trade for 1877 over 1876. The value of gold exported has increased by over L 70,000. The imports, exports, and customs dutie3 have all increased by several thousand pounds.