TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 835, 17 December 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. December 16

A vei-yisatisfactory trial of a fire escape sheet belonging to the Wanganni Brigade was made here at the Occidental Hotel, and the Wellington Brigade intend to order one. The Son. Mr. Sheehan has obtained from the natives all the£-lands necessary ior. the Hutt-Waikanae railway, the construction of which is .'-".to be "commenced as soon as possible. : ■ \.iy.-'s *-.-'\ s ;'-\- : The v Oovenim"ent-have received intimation that the- wife of'the suspected murderer Hiroki died last night from grief at her husband's'position. In deference to the wishes of the public regarding the railway station site, arrangements, it is said, will be made. by the Government to, reserve a site near Mills' foundry. It is stated that the Government have intimated to the" Mayor that* they will be prepared to bring down and support, next session, such measures as will make immigration of Chinese to the Colony practically impossible. •■■■- Some time ago. a -boy was seriously injured by a rocket fired from 'on board the Zealandia, and tire" captain was sued for damages. Mr. Mansford, R.M., in giving judgment,-thought the owners of the vessel ought to have been joined in the plaint, and had not Captain Sellars been about to leave the Colony, he would have given a nonsuit on this point, but as he believed the rocket was fired by the first mate of the Zealaddia, he would give judgment for the plaintiff for j LSO damages. Defendant's counsel said he would appeal. ■ * j AUCKLAND. December 16. | Mr. Stewart, the District Engineer, accompanies the Minister to the North Raglan road, which has been ordered to be immediately proceeded with. Sir Geo. Grey visits Makctu on his return in connection with the grand trunk railway. The mayor elect gives a banquet to the councillors on Wednesday. Tenders, receivable until the 21st prox., arc invited for the reclamation for the central railway station. o ■ DUNEDIN. December 16. A lad named Alfred Hitchmouth this afternoon sustained such serjous injuries to his hand that amputation was found necessary. In consequence of the absence of Mr. Macandrew, who is to be present on the occasion, the Attorney-General has postponed addressing his constituents till tho beginning of next month. CHRISTCHURCH. December 16. To-day was the 2Sth anniversary of the settlement of the Province of Canterbury. The weather was glorious. The celebration commenced with a special service in the cathedral to welcome the return of the bishop from England. There was a full choral service. A grand banquet was given to the visiting members of the Volunteer Fire Brigades from Dunodin. Port Chalmers, Waimate. Mornington, Xaiapoi, Timaru, Rangiora, and Lyttelton. The anniversary sports in Haglcy Park were a great success, 14,0' 0 being on the ground. The tug of war against the visiting brigades was won in every instance by Christ-church. To-night there will bo a torchlight procession and a grand pyrotechnic display, BALCLUTHA. December 16. The section of Railway next Balclutha, now being carried out by day labor, is not behindhand, and will cause no delay in opening the line by to-morrow. A train can pass over it. Fascines of scrub and other material have been got ready for the past few days to check the encroachments of the river behind tho township, and will be placed to-morrow, when the efl'ect will be seen. ♦ ALEXANDRA. J& December 16. Major Marrf"who returned here on Wednesday last, has been cordially welcomed by the natives anil by a number, of chiefs, including To Heuhu, Tapihana and others, Mr. W. H. Grace is also kept continuously busy by visitors, 4, GRAHAMSTOWN. December 16. The Thames Borough Council have had a splendid site given them for an Orphan Home, and, having taken over the charge of the destitute children and old men and women, intend to erect a building, and advertise for masters and matrons, to commence in January. WESTPORT. December 16, News has been received from Lyell of extraordinary rich stone being struck in the uprise of a claim equalling tho S2>eeimcns sent to the Exhibition some time since. The find is supposed to be the continuation of the original rich Leno. INVERCAHGILL. December 16. The Supreme Court was occupied to-day with a libel case, Jeffries v. Kerr, before a special jury. The facts were that Jeffries was barman for several years at the Club Hotel, during the proprietorship of Louis Hume. That subsequently Hume sold out to the present proprietor, Stevens. That another barkeeper "was then engaged. Meeting Hume last February. Kerr, who was managing the Union Bank of Australia, said, "I am glad to see that Stevens lias got rid of Jeffries. Don't you know that at the bar he made a great deal more than you have done." From this it was inferred that plaintiff had been dishonest, and hence the action. Mr. T. M. M'Donald appeared for defendant, and Messrs. Finn and Harvey for plaintiff, Mr, Hume, examined, said he wa>> quite satisfied with Jeffries' services, and had no occasion to suspect him, and that Kerr had remarked as stated in the indictment ; and that he (Hume) had replied he was not aware of the fact, and that, as he was not in the habit of speaking about his private business, ho was at a loss to account upon what authority such a remark could have been made. Mr. Kerr then said that the person that ought to be first to hear was often the last. Mr. Kerr, examined, admitted bavin > remarked that Stevens had done well in getting rid of Jeffries, and engaging a barmaid, but he did not remember using the words imputed to him, and believed he did not use them. He did not call witnesses. The jury at first .could not agree, but subsequently found for plaintiff damages, LSO. The foreman called the attention of the Judge to the inadequacy of the accommodation for the jury. The retiring room was too open. The Judge said he was aware of it, and had represented it to tho Government, and would again do so. -™rr^-= —«■ =~ HOKITIKA. December 16. The Board of Education is driven to extreme measures for want of funds. The banks will not grant any money unless guaranteed by the Government ; consequently, the creditors have been threatening to sue the Board. The members meet tomorrow, with the object of considering the advisability of rosigning. An overdraft of L4OOO is required to carry the Board over the financial year, but the banks are unwilling to make advances, a portion of the money being long overdue by the Board. BLUFF. December 17. The Ringarooma, Captain Clarke, left Melbourne on the 11th ; called at Hobart Town on the 13th ; and arrived at the Bluff at 4 o'clock this morning. Ha.d fine weather on the passage. She sails at 4 p.m. fpr Dunedin.