TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 739, 22 August 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

♦ WELLINGTON. August 21. A deputating representing the brewers of Nelson, Dnnedin, Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and Wanganui, waited on tho Hon. Mr. Ballance this morning, and submitted a long series of reasons against the beer tax. After a long discussion, Mr. Ballance asked if they would like the tax reduced on English beer, which was higher hrrp than in any other of the Australian Colonies. The Government had this in view when imposing the tax, and while willing to pive every consideration to the recommendations of the brewers, they felt bti'.n.d under the present circumstances to adhere to thvjir decision. He promised to consider the qiu-stion of nb.ite on stock. Tiieiv sin mid also be a provision to pruveni private brewing, except for household purposes. August 22.

The new streat tramway will be formally opened on Saturday, xtnder the auspices of his Excellency the Governor. A trial of the engine and carriages was made yesterday, and the result wa3 most successful. e CHRIS I'CHURCH. . August 21 Mr. Henry Thomson, the Mayor, intends to give a grand haiiquet to the Government, tiie members iif both Houses, and to his brother Mayors of Municipalities, on the arrival of the Hinemoa. During his term of oflic-j he haa not given the usual Mayoral banquet, and it is expected that the approaching dinner will

swallow up nearly the whole of his yearly allowance, L3OO. * : AUCKLAND. August 21. In consequence nf the resolution passed i.y the Duiiediii Chamber of Oniim-ive ab.iit Tim tax 'Hi flour, Mr. Firth addr ssed the following leuvrto Mr. Stout : 'I liope you will »"t give way to the ivpr.'sentariou of the Dutiodiu Chamber of Commerce re the tax on flour and

The Government have wisely rt.-3-.ivtd to abolish both, and I hope they will not be influenced to withdraw from a resolution at once most statesmanlike and wise." He received the following reply relay : " Have replied to Diiiiediu Ciambcr tha", New Zealand, being a L'rain-growing and food-producing country '?oes not require Government aid to pi'- ;:C the C"!"!uv against foreign grown ..j'.d.—Rokf.kt Stout." Cai/". M'Kenzie, of the Anne Mokan, ivpoiis thai he did not see or hear any signals of distress from, the steamer Go-a-head. The captain of the Go-ahead writ»s :- " From what I know of Captain M'Kcr.z c. lie would be the last to pass a vessel in distress."

The rresbyteiy to-day initiated measures for eataolisliiiiLr u sustontation fund throughout the Auckland district. The Hinemoa, with 200 passengers and 130 tons of baggage belonging to the Kati Kati immigrants, leaves for Tauranga at 10 o'clock to-nigi.t. She sails thence for Wellington direct. e „ NELSON. August 22. A fire occurred last night that totally destroyed Newton's Livery Stables, in Hardy-street. It broke out in a loft which was full of hay, and the whole of the stables were in a muss of blaze when first discovered. Five horses were burnt to death and two so seriously injured that they had to be shot. One of the latter broke adrift with its cloth burning, galloped wildly down Trafalgar-street, and made a. dssh at the door of the Club, siiiTis'iing the gWs entiir-.es. The har:i.<s :v.A sa'h.iovv wore all di'Strovod. Tii.-y. with i;..i>: •;."-..■!■. in-ur-d for L3OO t•.:•.' Natloriiji, ;f:ii L.'iiiG in t.ho Norwich C7:iio)i. Ov-.'i ■iter's huusg and furnir>siv. which Wv-r-j totally destroyed, were uninsured.

POUT CHALMERS. August 22. Arrived —The barque Rokeby Hall, last night, 102 days from London. She brings 22 passengers and 1600 tons of cargo. When crossing the Indian Ocean she experienced adverse N.E. to N.W. winds, with high breaking sea aud low barometer. . ♦ QUEENSTOWN. August 21. Several portions of the skeleton of a large bird, supposed to be the nioa, have found here. Judging from the appearance of the skin and feathers the bird could not have been dead many years. All those who have seen the remains pronounce the bones to be thosa of a dinornis.

HOKITIKA, August 21. Another public meeting on the railway question was held last evening, the Mayor in the chair. It was resolved unanimously to earnestly urge on the Government, and the representatives for Hokitika and Totara, the necessity for the Cunsrruction of the Hokitika and Greymonth railway without delay, the work to be commenced simultaneously at both ends.

Referring to the settlers who recently left Jackson's Bay settlement the Resident Agent there, in his annual report to the Government, says the departure of tiiose adults who have left the settlement for good will be no loss to the settlement, and it would be a gain to the Colony if they left to-morrow. The report speaks favorably of the ultimate prospects of the settlement, but complains of the Italian immigrants as totally unfit for pioneers, owing to the climatic influence and their previous habit of life. The report concludes " There are some good men amongst them, as amongst other settlers, but the proportion is very small. The settlement has boon heavily handicapped by having such material to work with, but notwithstanding, I have not the least doubt of its ultimate success, and the operation of the inevitable law of natural selection will no doubt result in the survival of the fittest." O TIMARU. August 21. The football match Christchurch College boys v. Timaru, was won by the latter by five touchdowns to nothing. A trotting match to-day botween Mr. Williamson's grey horse and Mr. Jonns' mare Fan, L-50 a side, 5 miles, was won by the former by nearly half a mile. The R-JV-. James Preston turned up all right. When he loft Geraldine he did not go to Burke's Pass, but stayed on the road at another place.