TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 731, 13 August 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

TIMARU. August 13. A portion of the Rangitata railway bridge was found to be on fire this morning. It delayed the first train from Ashburton for a short time from arriving here. It is supposed to have caught fire last night when the engine passed over it, and to have smouldered. A few piles were burnt. The damage can be repaired in two or three days. It will not interfere much with the traffic over the bridge.

CHRISTCHURCH. August 12. At the Resident Magistrates' Court, today, J. M. Connell, who assaulted Mr. Thomas, solicitor, in the public streets on Saturday, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labor, and ordered to find sureties for his good behaviour at the expiration of that time. Prom his apnearance in Court, Thomas seemed very heavily punished. The affair arose out of a bankruptcy case. Connell asserted that he took a man named Moss, about to become bankrupt, to Thomas, and that Thomas, in undertaking to put Moss through the Court, promised to see that Connell's claim was paid, but afterwards Thomas refused to pay him. Thomas said lie made no auoh promise, and that Connell had not the slightest claim on the estate of Moss. Connell, who was very violent in Court, said he had pome all the way from Wellington to assault Thomas. The Chamber of Commerce held a meeting to-day, to consider the question of railway communication witli the West Coast, and passed resolutions thanking the Canterbury members for the action taken, and in effect that the route via Ainberley would be best and cheapest ; they also resolved to ask tije of the AssemMy to support the Canterbury members >.■; their endeavor tq get that r,Vt;f.„ u,.lu 1 /.jd :

At n, public meeting ie the West Ooast railway, held to-night, there were about 200 persons present, It was resolved — ''l. That this meeting desires to urge upon the Government the desirability of connecting the East and West Coasts of the Island by railway with as little delay as possible, in order that the productions and nfineral resources of both sides of the island may be inter-ehanged, to the mutual advantage of each." »'S. That in tlje opinion cf this meeting the mojit dir-ept and cheapest route will be via Amber-ley and Ahaura, and that the Mayor be requested to forward these resolutions to tho Hon, the Premier." A meeting fyeld for the purpose has resolved to telegraph a congratulatory address to Earl TJcacousfieid,

NEW PLYMOUTH. August 12. The Taranaki Jockey Club Races will be hi-Id mi the sth and Gth December. The following is the programme : —First dav : Handicap Hurdle, LIQ ; Maiden Plate, L-IO; Taranaki Cup, LOO; Hack Pace, Lij ; Taranaki Jockey Club Handicap, Ll5O. Second day : Handicap Steeplechase, LCO ; Hack Hurdle Race, L4O ; Autumn Handicap, LBO ; Harbor Stakes, L4O ; Railway Plate, L3O ; Consolation Stakes, L2O.

{CO MARA, August V2. A crowded meeting re the railway was held here to-day ; the Mayor in the chair. The resolutions urging on the Government the desirability of connecting the East and W<\st Coast were carried unanimously. The line from Greymouth to Christchureh, rin Amburley, was strongly advocated by several speakers, and very favorably received here.

AUCKLAND. August 12. At a meeting of Licensed Victuallers to-day, the action of brewers in raising the price of beer a half-penny above the tariff was strongly condemed, and the following resolution carried :■ — This meeting is of opinion that the price of beer cannot be raised to the consumers, and as the Licensed Victuallers are already heavily burdened, they request the brewers to reconsider their recent resolution, and supply beer at the old price. Dickenson, an undertaker, has been committed for trial, on a charge of fraudulent bankruptcy by concealing goods in an adjoining house.

August 13.

Arthur Gerald Manning, a young man well connected in Queensland, has been arrested on a charge of stealing LIOO from the Bank of New Zealand at Christchurch. He has been remanded to Christchureh, and goes there by the Wauaka tliis afternoon.