TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 542, 26 January 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(per press agency.) ♦ WELLINGTON.

January 25,

According to the report of Mr. Ames, City Valuator, not yet published, there! are 4390 rateable properties in the city, being an increase of 354 over last year. 3334 of these are dwellings, and the number of dwellings in the city last year having been 2003, this year's return shows an increase of 431. There are 298 stores, breweries, offices, and other mercantile premises against 237 of lastyear. Government buildings, churches, schools, police barracks, hospital, asylum, gaol, and college are not included in the last category. Ho estimated the population at 20,000, or six persons to each house, which he considered not a high average, as lie frequently found as many as three families occupying cottages of four and five Tooms, in consequence of high rents. By adding the occupants of public institutions, such as the gaol and hospital (about 500), and the crews of ships in the harbour, the Valuator brings the population to 21,000. Mr. Travel's goes Home. He will be absent about eight months. It is understood that Mr. Pearce, a former member for the city, will be a candidate for the vacant seat. The last Government Gazette contains a notification that the Hon. John Ballance has been appointed Minister to have charge of Administration of Naval Training Schools,

The railways working account shows the revenue and expenditure per mile for a period of twelve months for the different railways of the Colony, now open, as follows ; —Kaipara—revenue, per mile, (in round numbers), L 19 3; expenditure, L 271. Auckland—revenue, L 427 ; expenditure, L 327. Napier—revenue, L 374; expenditure, L 302. Wellington—revenue, L 649 ; .'expenditure, L 547. Fox ton—revenue, L 233 ; expenditure, L 347. Wanganui—revenue, LBS ; expenditure, L 192. New; Plymouth—revenue, LIBB ; expenditure, L 219. Greymouth revenue, L 715 ; expenditure, L 678. Westport—revenue, LlO2 ; expenditure, Lll4. Nel- | SO n—revenue, L 259 ; expenditure, L 298. Picton revenue, L 232 ; expenditure, L 284. Christ-church—revenue, LGO4 ; expenditure, L 491. Dnnedin revenue, L 987 ; expenditure, L 846. Invercanjill—revenue, L 285; expenditure, L 239. Results of Westport and Wanganui are considered abnormal—neither line is yet doincr its proper traffic ; and in the followin!! lines the revenue from wharves is not included Auckland Kaipara, Foxton, New Plymouth, Greymouth, Pioton, Westport, Mr. Travers sent in his resignation to the Speaker to-day. At the Wesleyan Conference, the Revs. Harper, Berry, and Purchase received the consent of the Conference to retire from active duty of the ministry for one year, on account of ill-health. Messrs. Salter, Martin, Billon, and Wells were accepted as candidates for the ministry, they having received the required training at the COll- - College. The Revs. Armitage, Fairclough, and Hammond, having fulfilled their probation satisfactorily, were admitted into full ministerial connexion. Messrs. Fee and Brittle were appointed to the circuits. The pastoral address shows 3524 Church members in the Colony, being an increase of 181 during the past year ; 762 communicants ; 339 catechumens. The Revs. Armitage, and Hammond were ordained by the imposition of hands at Manners-street church.

At the Wesley an Conference to-day it was reported that the total amount ex-> pended during- the year in the erection of new Wesleyan Churches wns LGG7B ; parsonages, IY;8nu: schools, LI2BO. Fourteen new sites for church purposes had been procured, and it was proposed to erect eight new churches as soon as possible. The Registrar reports value of ooruiexional church property, Lll3-984 ; income for Supernumerary and Ministers' Widow Fund for the year is L 730 ; Contingent Fund, L3G3. The ship Mataura sailed for London today witli a cargo of wool, tallow, and sundries, valued ?vt 184,869,

AUCKLAND. January 25 Mr. "Ruckland reports hides, best quality, 31s 4d : lambs' woo], Sd to Did ; sheep, fair prices obtained ; two sum 11 pens stud ew- s. L 4 15s and L 3 respectively \ lnnir-woolled ewes. 2and 4 tooth, 9s to lambs, 8s to Us ; a'red ewes. 3« fid to 8s ; hmihs, 3s Gd to Gs ; about 1200 lambs, 300 ewes were withdrawn : 600 sheep were ■sold—trond cattle 28s per 1031b5.. fat sheep 2d to 2Ad.

Mr. Binnev reports Adelaide flour 1,17, Bnnwl n and Clirisfohurch Ll4. Oamaru Ll4 10s ; oats, 4s ;• bran, L 5 10s ; pollard, 5s 10d ; oatmeal, LI9 ; bacon—hams. Bid ; Auckland wheat, 6s : barley, no demand ; buyers, Bank of New Zealand, L 23 10s ; Union Insurance, 12s 61 ; sellers, National Bank, 72s Gd ; sales, Caledonian, GOs ; Tookey, 5s ; Piako, 4s 3d ; Alburnia, G7s 6d ; buyers, Queen of Beauty, 9s ; Red Queen, ls4d ; Hurunr.i, 16s ; sellers, Moanatairi. 82s Gd ; Cure, 5s 6d.

LYTTELTON. January 25. At a meeting of the Harbour Board this afternoon it was decided to mirage the services of nil engineer to prepn.ru plans and specifications for the construction of a graving dock. NAPIER, January 25. The opening of the extension of the Napier line to Kopna to-day was made the occasion of a general holiday. 111 Napier all the banks and places of business were closed. An excursion train at five shillings return took a very large number of passengers ; it consisted of 22 carriages quite filled. INVERCARGILL. January 25.

Mr. Larnacli returned to Invercargill this afternoon, and received several deputations on local matters, A muff orioket match was played this afternoon in aid of the funds of the newly-established Benevolent Institution. Messrs. Larnacli, Carrutliers, Blair, and Conyers took part in the game, which was most amusing, a number of the leading men of Invercargill being also in it. About 400 people were pi-esent. The banquet is postponed till this even- «, MASTERTON. January 25. Sir George Grey and party arrived this afternoon. About 150 Europeans and a considerable number of Maoris were, present. Addresses in English and M-iori were delivered, and several deputations are to wait upon the Premier this afternoon. DUNEDIN. January 25. A man named Lewis, an undertaker, was brought up to-day 011 an affiliation charge by a pretty young girl named Eustace. The evidence was that t'ie defendant seduced the girl while his wife was at Oamaru. The defendant is the father of eight children, and denied the charge, which was dismissed in the absence of any corroborative testimony.