TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 830, 11 December 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. December 10. The Government, replying to ihe Benevolent Society, as to their refusing to -undertake the distribution of charitable aid, state that distributions of relief by the police must cease on the Ist of January. The amount they usually distribute is about L7OO per annum. Judgment was given this morning in the Southminster enquiry. The Court held that the loss of the ship was attributable to the set of a flood tide on the coast, of which the master had no knowledge, and regarding which appears a note on the Admiralty chart stating there is no tide. They thought the ship might have been saved if the anchor bad been let go in 25 fathoms, but, with the oiling the ship had and the wind, the master was justified in keeping his course, which would have carried him clear but for the adverse circumstances. They thought all due precaution and diligence had been exercised by tho master, who was on deck nearly the whole time from Lyttclton. Under the circumstances, the Court did not consider that the certificates of the master and his officers should be retained. The Court directed the attention of the Government to the incorrect information (according to Capt. i Eraser's evidence) in the charts published by the Admiralty in ISSO and IS7O, and now in use.

A respectable-looking man named isfoakes, arrested by Detective Farrell some days ago on a charge of indecent exposure, was yesterday tried and acquitted. He now intends to proceed with a civil action against Detective Farrell, The Zealandia is ready for sea, with a cargo of colonial produce, including 50 tons Oamaru flour. The cargo is valued at over LlOO.OOo! The captain finds great difficulty in obtaining seamen, who appear to have come to some understanding to stand out for very high wages. It is probable that the vessel will be delayed in consequence. The men refuse L 7 per month. Mr. Justice Richmond has gone to the hot springs for the benefit of his health. The New Zealander says Mr. Wood, the member for Mataura, is to be called to the Upper House, and that Sir W. Fitzherbert will be offered the speakership of the Upper Chamber. December 11.

A meeting convened by the Mayor of Wellington will shortly be held for considering the question of the introduction of Chinese to the Colony. Mr. Shoehan is expected to arrive in Wellington in a few days, and Mr. Stout, back from the South about Christmas time. Further changes arc about to be made in the police, Sergt. Smith being about to be transferred to Dunedin. This is said to be in consequence of some unpleasantness between Detective Farrell and the rest of the Il\!£Av2s! i 'i are scarcely upon speaking terms, in Court and in the ment commenced an enquiry into the cause yesterday. Proceedings, however, are kept private. 'Die Times ventures to think that Mr. Wood, of Mataura, will get into a. dihjculty by accepting a nomination to the Legislative Council until twelve months have lapsed after he has ceased to be a member of the House of Representatives. His call will shortly be gazetted. Amongst other vessels sighted by the Otaki, was the ship Huruni, bound to Lyttelton. She also sighted on the 3rd, a barque steering for New Zealand, expected to be the Corina, from London, now overdue.

CHRISTCHURCH. December 10. A jockey named M'C'onechy was kicked in the breast" on Monday by one of Mr. Redwood's horses, and he nw lies in a critical condition. The people of Akaroa have invited the Hons. .John Hall, W. Robinson, E. Gray, and Mr, W. Montgomery, M.H.R., to a banquet on the Sth January in recognition of their services in connection with the Akaroa Railway.

Some large stones were found on the line near Flaxton last Saturday, which had evidently been placed there with the intention to wreck the train. Fortunately they were s?en and removed in time. The police have the matter in hand.

The Canterbury team of riflemen left for Dunedin this morning. Mr Apjileby |has been elected captain. At the City Council meeting last night the Mayor said lie considered Hospital Sunday a mean way of robbing the churches. Notice was given to dispense with the services of the city solicitor after a long and acrimonious discussion.

I December 11. | At a meeting of the Hospital Board last night, it was disclosed that the interior management of the hospital is in a thorough state of disorganisation, through divided authority. No one seemed to know what his or her duty was. It was resolved to hold a special meeting to consider the whole question. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Government to say that if the members of the Board were not gazetted in accordance with a request previously expressed they would decline to act any further, as they considered the neglect of the Government to gazette them was an insult to the whole Board. Altogether the entire meeting was most acrimonious, and Mr. Montgomery said if such unpleasantness was to prevail he should certainly resign. The Inspector of Telegraphs and the Postr master-General yesterday visited the Telegraph Offices at Lyttelton and Christchurch. It was decided that the business should in future be done on the ground floor. Judge Johnston returned from Welington yesterday.

TAURANGA. December 11. A numerous and influentially-signed address was presented to Captain Malcolm oa his leaving per Wanaka for the sojuth this morning, O ■■ — AUCKLAND. December 10. Reynolds, charged with the murder of Captain Moiler, was brought up at the Police Court to-day. The counsel raised the question of jurisdiction, and the magistrate remanded the ease to consider the question. The horses Ariel and Beppo arrived per Rotorua, for the Auckland races. The grocers have agreed to give three months' trial to the Saturday afternoon closing. I A fire at Kyber Pass road destroyed the residence of Mr. King, commission agent. The furniture was insui-ed in the Norwich, I

Union for Ll5O ; piano, LSO ; the house in the New Zealand Company for L4OO. China news from Hong Kong, received via Cooktown, states that Hoffman, the clerk of the court at Hong Kong, has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for embezzlement. A mutiny has occurred at Taking, Son Chow, the second city of Hainan, which was besieged by 20,000 rebels. The officials fled from the city, which was pillaged, and numbers were massacred. Arnold Pagin, an American geologist, has been engaged to prospect North China for gold. A nine-roomed house occupied by Mr. Fredk. King, Symonds-street, was totally destroyed by fire. Very little furniture waß saved. It was insured for L2OO. The house was owned by Mr. Guthrie. At a meeting of grocers' assistants in favor of early closing, a report was read showing that 69 masters had signed in favor of the Saturday half-holiday after 2 o'clock. Father Henneberry has closed his mission, having collected LI 100 for church purposes. The mail steamer Australia arrived from Sydney with the outward mails for San Francisco after a passage of four days eight hours. «. TIMARU. December 10. At a meeting of the Geraldine County Council, held at Temnka to-day, Mr. Alex. Wilson, senr., was elected chairman. The meeting adjourned till the 31st December. It is understood that members are in favor of adopting the whole of the Counties Act. NELSON. December 10. In reply to a letter from the Mayor, the Public Works Department state that plans and specifications for the extension of the main trunk railway from Foxhill will be ready for tenders to be invited in Febauary. The Good Templar Lodge was engaged all the afternoon in discussing reports of officers.

NAPIER. December 10. Charles Stewart was convicted to-day of misdemeanor, by neglecting to deliver up at the post-office a letter, when the same was demanded of him. He said it had been delivered to him in mistake. He was sentenced to two years' hard labor. o GREYMOUTH. December 10.

The Bendigo Gas Company of Victoria have accepted the tender of the Brunner Coal Company to supply them with 3000 tons of coal per annum, at an advance of four shillings per ton on what Newcastle coal could be delivered at Bendigo for.