TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 783, 15 October 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. October 14. The official opening of the Featherston Railway will take place on Wednesday next. A special train leaves Wellington at 8.45 a.m., getting to Featherston about 1 p.m.; leaving there on the return joui'ney at 3 p.m., and arriving at Wellington about 7 p.m. The new time-table comes into operation on Thursday. The Governor has promised to attend. Guthrie and Larnaeh's tender for the Napier rolling stock was L77G3, not L9OOO as telegraphed. ♦ QTAKI (Wellington). October 14. On Mpnday a party of Europeans and Natives searched the beach, but have not yet found any of the bodies of those drowned when leaving the wreck of the Felix Stowe. The vessel had slightly changed her position. The second officer and crew are living aboard. The main-topmast is sprung, but in other sespects the vessel appears to be uninjured, and likely to be easily floated with some assistance, ♦ 5FOXTON. October 15. The barque Felix Stowe is breaking up. Her back is broken.

♦ AUCKLAND. October 14. The South British Insurance Co.'s halfyearly meeting was held to-day. The report shows the premiums amount to L 68,964 —an increase of L 10.402 on the corresponding period of last year. The total income, including L 9,675 brought forward, was L 84,925 ; losses, L 36,554 ; re-insurance expenses, L 25.254 ; balance to credit at end pf half-year, L23,086i of which LIOOO is carried to the reserve fund, leaving LJO.OOO (?) available for a dividend at the rate of 15 per cent, per annum. Investments, L 777,952 ; assets, LI 83,086. CHRISTCHUECH. October 15. Arrangements have been made to run a special train from Invercargill to Christchurch on the occasion of the forthcoming races and agricultural show, on the sth, 6th, 7th, and 9th of November. At a preliminary meeting re the floods in Otago yesterday, only two gentlemen were present—Mr. John Giliyier and the Mayor. A telegram was read from the Mayor of Dunedin, stating that it had been decided not to go outside the province of Otago for aid.

All the rivers have subsided, but a great deal of daniase has been done in various ways. Eailway communication with Kaiapoi will probably be interrupted for a week. The damage to the Eangitata bridge has been so far repaired that passengers can today cross on foot to meet the connecting trains.

, '• ~ ' ' " October 14. One of the piers near the centre of the ordinary traffic bridge here went this morning at nine.o'clock, and the platform dropped with.a crash into the river. \The wire ropes are still holding, and no part platform has gone. The piers next to that gone seem likely to go with the severe strain and weight. All communication by the bridge is of course stopped. M'Neill's house, below the bridge, has gone since last night. Seventl"piers- of the -viaduct-are, loose, and out altogether. The Inch Clutha Church is still standing, and no other buildings have been-washed away. The river isstill falling, and a small portion of the main street fs now clear of water. The hole in the street at the post office has increased, and owing to the banks of silt, neither boats or horses can get to the office safely. The postmaster had a narrow escape from drowning this morning. He was on horseback, with a portion of the mails from train, when the horse fell. Both got out, and the mails were saved and sent on. LAWRENCE. .-.,:•■ October 12. A stable, on Greenfield's estate, three miles from the home station, was burnt to the ground with 42 horses in it. Twentyone of them and a large quantity of harness were burnt to cinders. ♦ REEFTON. October 15. A fire broke out here last night, destroying five shops and other premises. The fire was arrested before getting to Master's, wholesale ironmonger, who is insured, while the others were not.