TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 598, 2 April 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. April 1. Mr. Carruthers, Engineer-in-Chief, has resigned. It has been arranged to appoint two gentlemen in his place—one for the North and one for the South Island. The Customs revenue for March was L 18.783, against L 15,578 for March, 1877. The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court commenced to-day, before Judge Richmond. The calendar was a full one, but the Judge said the district was to be congratulated upon the fewness of crimes of violence in proportion to the population. Several gentlemen, who with their partners happened to be called as Grand Jurors, pointed out to his Honor the hardship of such a case. Justice Richmond released one of the partners in each case, saying it was not usual to compel two'members of a partnership to serve. True bills were found in all cases but that of arson against John Partridge, who had been occupying the Railway Hotel just before it was burnt. The bill was thrown out. The calendar comprised the following offences :—jh-auduieiit bankruptcy, horse stealing, obtaining goods on false pretences, rape, larceny, and felony. The first case is not yet concluded. April 2.

Mr. Stephenson, mate of the Hawea, who met with an accident last night while the vessel was going down the Harbour by a block falling on his head, died at eight o'clock this morning, having never recovered coiiciousnesß.

CHRISTCHURCH. April 1. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened this morning, Judge Williams, in the absence of Judge Johnston,'presiding. Judge Williams, in his charge, said, "The calendar on the present occasion is, T regret to state, exceedingly heavy. There have been, in all, twenty-four persons committed for trial : four for criminal assaults on children, seven for forgery, eight for thefts of various kinds, three for conspiracy to defraud, one for perjury, one for unlawfully wounding a horse, and one for manslaughter. Such a mass of crime is alto/etlier out of proportion to the population ■if the district. It may be that the occurrence of so much crime is an entirely exceptional circumstance. I hops it is so. If, however, it is not, and if the same state of things may be expected to recur, it affords matter for graver consideration. Li would be difficult in any country, in any period of history, to find such a general well-being and so wide spread a diffusion, of material prosperity as exists in tins district. If prosperity and crime are to go hand in 'hand, the outlook for the future is anything but satisfactory." He then proceeded to refer to the cases in detail.

Ellen Fitzgerald, for larceny, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment ; Robert William Jones, for larceny, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment ; Robert William Junes, for larceny, to eighteen months ; John Levetf, for manslaughter during a light, was found guilty— sentence deferred. It is proposed to hold a l'ace meeting at Ashburtou in ~Mny ne>r.

The Corn Exchange Committee have resolved to form a limited liability company for erecting and managing grain stores in various parts of Canterbury, for the convenience of farmers.

The continued lint dry weather is having a serious effect on the grass. Mr. H. Milner, of Longbeach, Aslibnrton County, obtained 1040 bushels of wheat from 2Si acres. In some places the yield was over 100 bushels an acre. The census returns for Christcnurch municipality in 1.874 were : —Males, 5330 ; females, 40fi4 : total, 10,294. In 1878: Males, OSB4 : females, GSIS ; total, 13.402. The returns for Timani, in 1878, were 4908.

AUCKLAND. April 1. In reply to a deputation from the Highway Boards, the Colonial Secretary promised to expend the money in hand from tolls on the Great South Road. Rewi sent a letter to the Governor regretting that he did not see him at Waikato. He invites the Governor to come to Orakau, where thw last fight took place, and shake hands. Some difficultieshave vet to be arranged before the N'ative meeting comes off at Hikurangi ; if successfully overcome, Sir G. Grey will leave for the King Country on Thursday. Mr. Sheehan has returned from the Thames.

The Napuhi tribe have sent an invitation to the Governor to visit them, The Ngatimaniapotos are said to be very indignant- at the probable demands by the Ngatihaua if Te Ngakau attempts to assume the lead at the forthcoming meeting. It is doubtful whether Rewi will attend. The first shipment of sulphur from White Island was sent per Hero. The Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court opened this morning. Judge Gillies, in Charging the Grand Jury, said he had again to congratulate them upon thelightwss of the calendar. When he looked round other judicial districts inthe Colony, he found serious crinies requiring the action of the Supreme Court ?nuchlighterin the Auckland district than elsewhere. This could nut arise from prosperity, for prosperity generally had a tendency tq.lessen crime ;"it could not arise ft" un' vpant of intelligence or activity on the part "of the police," he .did not hear of crimes going undetected. It was more probable the verv vigilence of the police tended to lessen crime. Only seven prisoners were committed from Auckland. The judire then reviewed each ense. Walter Bullwand u!iax 'Bennett, for forgery and uttering was sentenc.-dto 18 months with hard labor ; Haini Waka, for pig stealing and horse stealing, was found guilty, sentence deferred : James Williams, stealing a waka from Mayo, one year ; David Hamilton, t*o charges of fraudulent insolvency, pleaded guilty, sentenced to one year's imprisonment. -

NAPIER. April 1. Mr. M. S. Miller lias sold, on account of Mr. Ford, his Wlianau leasehold property, ahout 30 miles from Napier, X5,(500 acres, rent L2OO, eleven years unexpired, with 12.000 mixed sheep and station plant, to Mr. E. E. Beemish for 1/13,500: and aiso his Kereru freehold, 14,300 acres, plant, and £6.000 sheep, to Messrs. J, and J. Harding for L28,00P ;

TIMARU. April 1. The Customsjrevenue for March wa3 L 1585. GRAHAMSTOWN. April 1. The Customs revenue collected here for March was L 2251, against L 539 for March, 1877. A good-looking reef was cut in the Kuranui Company's ground to-day from the 640 ft. level. No gold was seen. HOKITIKA. April 1. : At the Supreme Court to-day, before the Chief Justice and a jury, Thomas Ryan was indicted for having, on or about Bth March, 1877, murdered one Joseph Daniels. The Crown Prosecutor, who had with him Messrs. Button and Guiness, appeared for the Crown. The prisoner, who pleaded " Not Guilty," was defended by Mr. Purkiss. The Court was crowded all day. The evidence of two surveyors, with respect to the ground where the body was found, and the medical evidence, occupied a greater part of of the day. Two boys, named Calk well, proved the finding of the body, covered with scrub, close to Kumara. The trial is'expected to occupv several days.

RIVERTON. April 1. A large influential meeting was held on Saturday night, the Mayor in the chair, to consider claims on the Goverment for assistance to open up the Long wood and Western Ranges as goldfields, when the following resolution, moved by Mr, T. Daniel, was unanimously passed, ( - That in the opinion of this meeting a certain amount of the vote passed for the development of goldfields should be granted towards the Longwood to make tracks, etc., to facilitate the work of surveyors, prospectors, and geologists in opening the same, as this meeting "believes permanent goldfields will be discovered, which will be followed by the settlement of the waste lands to the westward, a copy of the resolution to be forwarded to the Government by post, A fire brigade was successfully organised here on Saturday night ; officers were api ointed, and a large number of members were enrolled.

At a meeting of the Wallace County Council it was resolved that the members he paid travelling expenses at the rate of one shilling per mile one way.