TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 742, 26 August 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

• WELLINGTON. August 24. The steam tramway was formally opened to-day by his Excellency the Marquis of Normanby. The company having issued a great many invitations, three engines and five large carriages were placed on the line. The Governor and suite, with members of the Legislature occn/pied the carriage of honor, and all the others were filled by citizens and their wives. The trip from Government House to the tramway station was most successful, though nearly all the cabs in the city were continually driving with speed on both sides of the tramway carriages. About two hundred ladies and gentlemen sat down to a champagne luncheon. His Excellency in reply to the toast of his health, expressed his surprise at the rapid progress of Wellington during the last four years, and complimented it upon being the first city in the Australian Colonies to venture upon the experiment of a steam tramway. Mr. Kennedy M'Donald in returning thanks on behalf of the directors, said the line, engines, and carriages, with other expenses, had cost the company L 40,000, and that before they put Wellington in complete tramway communication they would have to spend another L 60,000. He also expressed the deep obligations of the company to the Bank of New Zealand for the very valuable pecuniary assistance which had been rendered them. The dny being very fine, the streets along the line were crowded with people. The whole affair was considered a great success.

CHRISTCHURCH. August 26. At a meeting of the Farmers' Club on Saturday, the following resolution was carried ;—'« That this meeting protests against the action of the Government in remitting the duty on imported grain and flour, while retaining, at the same time, the duties on timber, cornsacks, Abe, and t:.-ey also think that the duty will be very injurious to the fanners." A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce takes place to consider the same subject thi3 afternoon. At the same meeting of the Fanners' Club, it •• as shown that the brewing interest is .'deavoring to secure the aid of 'hur local industries in bringing about remission, of the beer tax. Special peace thanksgiving services were held yesterday in all the English churches. The Canterbury Football Team left Christchurch for Dunedin by the first train this morning, and the match is fixed for Wednesday. The following is the team chosen by the selection committee : Baker, Bolton, Chapman, Fields, Goodman, Hamilton, Hamersley, Hamerton, Lewin, Million, G. Potts, Reeves, Tavender, and Verity. Emergency ; M'Cardell, Jones, and Lock.

HOKITIKA. August 26. The steamer Waipara went ashore on the south side of the new channel this morning. She is discharging cargo, and will be got off at this ev -nine's tide. The Kennedy was off the bar at the time of the accident, and would not venture in, but rot-unit d northwards. a? LAWRENCE. August 25. A shock of earthquake was very distinctly felt hero yeste'rday at 2.50 p.m. <§. BLUFF. August 24. Two pniart shocks of earthquake were experienced ar 2.40 p.m., each of a minutu's duration. The houses were shaken violently. RLViiRTON. August 24. A violent shock of earthquake w;;s felt here at 2.45 p.m., direction between south-east and north-west, duration 12 or 14 seconds. Windows rattled, and buildings rocked.