TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 713, 23 July 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. July 23. A -Imputation, consisting of Messrs. Gis'o .rue. Wnolcock, and George, waited on the Hon. Mr. Macandrew, re connecting the East and West Coasts by railway. Mr. Macandrew said that the Government were so impressed with the importance of the scheme, that they would not hesitate one moment in undertaking the work at once, but that other works of more immediate necessity required their attention. In the meantime, provision had been made for attending to the line from Amberley. In reply to the suggestion by the deputation that the Government should subsidise a steamer for Hokitika, Mr. Macandrew said that this was a ■natter the Government could not undertake, as such questions were left to Harbor Boards..

I A large fire occurred at Masterton early this morning, by which the following ! buildings were destroyed :—Williams, j Wyllie, Pirdleston, Sellars, and Haye's j stores, and the W r aiarapa registry office. The fire began in the latter, but the origin is not known. It is suspected to be the work, of an incendiary, J*reyiou,s to the fire being discovered,- an explosion was heard in the Register office, then the flames spread rapidly. The estimated L«s is between twenty and thirty thousand pounds. Some of the goods from Sellar'j and Hayes' stores wer-e' saved \ but they were much damaged by Tain. The rest were totally lost. The following are the insurances, so far as has been ascertained : Stock : South British, L 2350 ; reinsured in Imperial for LSOO ; Victoria, L6OO. Buildings : Union, L 75 0; North British, L 750; Victoria, L 1750 ; New Zealand, L 250 ; Standard, L 325 ; Phcenii, LbaO • Royal, LSOO : Colonial, L&od.

CHRISTCHURCH. July 23. Mr. W. S. Moorhouse, M.H.R., has been appointed to represent Christclmrch at the SVelbngton Municipal Conference. Miss Oolvifie appeared, after a long absence, at the theatre last night, and was accorded an enthusiastic reception.

The committee appointed to take legal action against the Government respecting the non-payment of the land fund, continue to receive promise-of support from the Eoad Boards in various parts of the Province. -■ - ♦ AUCKLAND. July 22. Sothern is drawing good houses in "Our American Cousin." Reliable information from America states that Steinberger boasts of having got 150,000 dols. from the British Government, and that he expects to get 750,000 more in full settlement.

Judge Prpn'lergast relieves Judge Gillies for a short period, as the latter is suffering from an affection of the eyes. Captain Fairchild, having been instructed to consult the convenience of the Auckland members as to the date of their departure for Wellington, the members meet to-morrow to fix the time. It is not settled whether the Hinemoa calls at New Plymouth. A large wooden bnildine. belonging to Mrs. Stevenson, Upper Victoria-street, was burnt down early this morning. It is insured for L 450. A large quantity of goods and furniture were destroyed. James Crowe has been committed for trial for brutally assaulting Harry Broome. A young man named Joseph Fail was drowned at Rangitupuma on Saturday. . » NELSON. July 22. As footballers were leaving the ground on Saturday afternoon, a carriage containing a number of them, knocked down and ran over a little boy, the son of Mr. E. Levy, a painter ; the wheels passing over its stomach. He died at 1 p.m.

INVERCARGILL. July 22. The Mayoral election to-day was keenly contested, and resulted as follows : Lnmsden, 277 ; Hatch (retiring Mayor), 237.

The members of the local Bar, through Mr. T. M. M'Donald, expressed regret, in the District Court, to-day, at Judge Ward's withdrawal from this circuit. In reply, Judge "Ward said, "It is unnecessary for me to say that the change was wholly unsought by me. I have some kind friends here, and have learned to love the place to whieh I have been a frequent visitor, but the exigencies of the public service take precedence of private inclinations, and forasmuch as the proposed arrangements enable the Governmriit to constitute a new District Court at Christchurch, without the appointment of another Judge, it is clear that the public is a gainer thereby. As to my services, no one can be more sensible of my shortcomings than myself. It is true that there has been no appeal from my decisions, but this only shows that my mistakes if discovered were not deemed sufficiently important to require correction. It is pleasant, however', at the close of twentyrSix years of office to feel that during so long a time no cloud has ever for one moment dimmed the cordial understanding between the Bar and the Bench, but no one knows better than I that whatever success my presidency here may have had is due for the most part to the frank and loyal support which I have ever received from the Bar of Invercargill, for which I now return my heartiest thanks."