WELLINGTON.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 643, 25 May 1878, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

May 24. The following despatch is published : " Downing-street, 14th February, 1878. My Lord,—l have not failed to notice, with the greatest satisfaction, the accounts which have reached me, chiefly from unofficial sources, of the munificence which has been displayed in so many of Her Majesty's Colonial possessions, in contributions which have been made towards the funds for the relief of the sufferers by the famine in India. The liberality which has been shown in the Colonies has, I believe, far exceeded even thatevinced 011 previous occasions, when calls of humanity have made themselves heard throughout the most distant portions of the British Empire, and is peculiarly gratifying as an act springing from the spontaneous generosity of all classes of Her Majesty's subjects, and I shall be obliged if you will be so good as to inform me what has been the actual amount contributed by the Colony under your government, and supply me at the same time with any information on the subject which you may consider to be of interest. (Signed) M. G. Hicks-Beach." Lieut-. F. Le Patonrelhas been gazetted Private Secretary, • vice Captain Maling, resigned. It is stated that Mr. Carruthers, late Engineer-in-Chief, has finally severed his connection with the Government, and has received LllsO, being one year's sala-iy, in lieu of a year's notice.