SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 847, 2 January 1879, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

(FKOSI OCR OWN COBBBSPOSDENT.) WELLINGTON. December 31. The barque Conner returned from New Guinea to-day with the New Zealand expedition. The affair was a dead failure. The vessel was purchased from the American (Stanwood) for L4OOO by Wellington and Dunedin capitalists, and left on the 27th October in charge of Capt. Moore, who represented Wellington interests, and 13 hands; Mr Allen (Dunedin interests) and two post traders. They were induced to buy the vessel by Stanwood representing that he had been trading to New Guinea 14 years, and had three trading posts established in the Astrolabe Gulf, and that a large business could be done with the natives. He also promised to meet the expedition, and having secured the cash, he went to Sydney. He never turned up again. The expedition found no trading posts, and the natives had no idea of trade. They possessed nothing that they could exchange, except bows and arrows. All the produce that could be obtained was one piece of green ginger, weighing half an ounce, and a sugar cane, nine inches long. Intercourse could only be carried on by signs, the natives not understanding the language. The climate was intensely hot, a number of the crew, including the captain, suffering from low fever. Mr Allen prospected, but did not find the slightest trace of gold, or other valuable minerals. Near the sea flat are mango swamps. Cocoanuts grow at the back of the flat land, and the hills are apparently impassable, six or seven thousand feet high. Traces of the schooner Dove, which was fitted out at Sydney, were found, her name being discovered carved on the trees. They could not understand the natives whether they had seen the vessel or not. The natives are very friendly, and showed fair intelligence. They did not attempt to steal anything. The anchorage is very bad. The expedition after remaining a fortnight, finding nothing to be done, left. CHRISTCHURCH. January 2. The Lyttclton regatta yesterday was a great success, and was attended by 10,000 people. The damage to the Rangitata bridge is very serious, and it will be a week or ten days ere communication is restored with the South. The opening of the Invercargill extension is postponed in consequence. There was a fire this morning at Kingsland, which destroyed the stables and outbuildings of Poole's new hotel, valued at L2OO. AUCKLAND. January 2. Mr O. M. Reed has arrived, en route for England. He visited the Lake, and came overland to Auckland from Napier. He met with a buggy accident, but escaped unhurt. Messrs Thornton, Smith, and Firth have reduced Crown brand flour to Ll3 10s. At the races to-day there was a very large attendance. The trains and coaches were crammed. In the first race (Marcs Produce Stakes of 100 sovs) Buckland's Omega was the only entry, and had a walk over. The following is the result of the Auckland Plate, of 100 sovs, with sweepstake of 3 sovs each added:—Pinfire, 1 ; Tom Finn, 2 ; The Don, 3.