TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 781, 12 October 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

o WELLINGTON". October 11. At a meeting of the Rifle Association— Major Baillie in the chair—it was announced that the Governor had agreed to becomi: patron of the Society. It was decided that the next prize firing be held at Nelson, at the end of January next or beginning of February. It was resolved to subscribe to-t-he National Eifle Association of England and thereby obtain the Association's medal for New Zealand competitors. The holder of this medal will be entitled to compete for the Queen's prize in the international contests in England, The Victorian Government having arranged with the P. and O. Company that their steamers will in future not coal at King George's Sound on the homeward passage, a saving of one day is thereby effected, and this will admit of the Suez mails from New Zealand and Australia being despatched one day later than the time table dates from all ports. October 12. The successful tenderers for the mantifaci ture of rolling stock, are : —No. 1, Amberley ; to Bluff, J. Anderson, Christchurch, L 13.371 ; No. 2, Auckland, Guthrie and . Larnach, Dunedin, L 5931 ; No. 3, Welj lington, Guthrie and Larnach, Dunedin, j LSOSS ; No. 4, Napier, Guthrie and Larnach, j Dunedin. L 9763 ; No. 5, Wanganui, Guthrie j and Larnach, Dunedin, L 12,436. i The railway to Featherston, Wairarapa, ! opened to-day. The Governor, ministers,

I and about 230 invited guests, left the Wei* | hngton station at 9 o'clock this morning, j but on the arrival of the party at Kaitoki, j about 30 miles from town, it was found that the late rains had brought down slips which blocked the line, and that it would take, three days to clear the line. The party has just returned to town. The s.s. Australia, with the London mails of Sept. 12, left San Francisco on the 30th Sept:, the-contract date. The City of New York, which left Auckland Sept. 17, arrived .on the Bth October, two days in advance of her contract time. -. ♦— . CHRISTCHURCH. October 11. In the case of E. Hoff, charged with the murder of his wife, the jury, after a brief deliberation, returned into coxirt with a verdict of " wilful murder," accompanied by a strong recommendation to mercy. The Judge passed sentence of death, and' said he would forward the recommendation, with which he agreed, to the proper quarter. Bad accounts of the floods are coining in from all quarters. There ia a heavy flood at the Bealey, with continuous heavy rain. A hot wind yesterday and to-day, accomEanied by heavy j-ain, had the usual effect of ooding the Waimakariri, the Rangitata Bridge, or at least seven piles of it, was carried away early this morning, and railway communication betweeen Christchurch and Dunedin cut off. All goods train traffic is suspended, and passengers cross the bridge on foot, exchanging trains on the other side. The river is reported to be very high, and danger is anticipated for the whole of the bridge, both ends being weakened. Through communication is "again suspended on the North line, and the Waimakariri is said to be rising at an alarming rate. The Rakaia |is rising rapidly. The General Manager left i'or the Rangitata this morning, and a gang of men are in readiness to repair the ballasting near the Waimakariri, *— ASHBURTOISf. October 11. Further floods have occurred in the Ashhurton and Rangitata rivers through the snow melting in the mountains. The Ashburton broke through its northern bank about two miles from the town in two places. Getting into an old watercourse the current "found its way into town, which would have been flooded to a considerable •jxtent had not the Borough Council got men Lo confine it to West-street by means of a channel especially cut. As it was the Staiionmaster's house was completely surrounded and the occupants of several small olaces were flooded out. Another span in the Rangitata bridge has given way, and the trains cannot cross. Mails and passengers however, are taken to and fro over the bridge by means of trollies, thus little delay takes place in the traffic. «, _ BALCLUTHA. October 11. In consequence of the hot winds and rain up country, the Molyneux commenced rising again rapidly early this morning, and has -•.ontinued to rise throughout the day. It is anticipated that the flood will exceed the big flood of Monday last. Almost the whole :opulation have left the township, and very ,'ew will remain over night. The river has made a channel through the township, along (Jordon-street, near the end of the Presbyterian Church. This relieves the rest of the '.own considerably. A strong hot wind is Mowing. ♦ GREYMOUTH. October 11. A trial of 2cwt. of quartz, not picked, ram Bodse's Lease, next Langdon's, was rushed yesterday at the foundry, and gave ■\ return of over two ounces to the ton. It has been blowing a strong gale from the iorth-west since last night, with heavy rain. The steamer Wallabi crossed the bar this "iiorning from Wanganui, stock laden. After ■retting inside she was blown right back, and narrowly escaped stranding in the surf, but ultimately got to sea. 7007 ozs. of gold were shipped yesterday :)sr Alhambra from Greymouth. There is every probability of a big flood. #• . AHAURA. October 11. It has been raining heavily, accompanied l>y a strong wind, during the last twenty•'oiir hours, and there is no appearance of its breaking up. The rivers are rising rapidly, traffic is suspended and a flood is expected.