TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 851, 7 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(FEB 1-KK-vS ASSOCIATION). WELLINGTON. January G. Tlic iron yacht Good Templar, 10 tons, which left Auckland on Christmas Day, put in to this port yesterday, having been tillable to make Lyttelton in time for the rcatta. She therefore wiil remain for the Wellington regatta on the 22nd. The Hon. ?.Ir. Waterhouse's sale to the Hon. Mr. Martin comprised 34,000 acres of land, fenced, &J,OQO sheep, 700 head of cattle, 40 horses, implements, etc. The price was L 85,000. The Hon. 3lr. Fox denies the authorship of a letter in an English paper, reflecting severely on the character of members of the House of Representative?.

A meeting of footballers is called to consider letters relative to the visit of an English team to the Colony. A post morlcm examination on the body of the man 31'E)wain, who died on Saturday, shows the eaus« was rupture of the heart. January 1.

At the Supreme Court to-day, the following sentences were passed : —George Smith (forgery), one year ; Win. Watson, alias Sutton (stealing from a dwelling), three years > Jam.es Murphy (indecent assault on a child), three yews and twentyfive lashes.

The footballers last night agreed to guarantee L2OO towards the expenses of a visit of an English team, or L 250 if required. Railway workshops are being erected at Petone, and a steam lathe fitted up.

DUNEDIN. January 6. A meeting was held at the Council Chambers to-day, ttf take step 3 to relieve the family of the late Captain Hughes, who was lost from the steamer Oreti at the Bluff, on Friday. Over LSO was subscribed in the room, and it was resolved to raise further money, and ask the aid of the Masonic body, to which deceased belonged. Lists will be forwarded to all ports °at which Captain Hughes was known.

At a meeting of the High School Board to-day, Miss Douglas, recently head mistress of the Girls' Jubilee School, Newcastle-on-Tyne, was appointed assistant mistress to the Dunedin Girls' High School. Mr. Charles Bright, the free thought lecturer, and the Rev. A. Green, Evangelistic preacher, meet to-night to arrange the terms, upon which they wijl discuss publicly some religious topic to be agreed upon. Arrangements .are being made by the friends of the controversialists to have the discussion fully reported and published in book form. January 7.

Margaret Barrett, for stealing a watch and appendages belonging to C. E. Haughton, late Under-Secretary for Immigration, was sentenced at the Supreme Court this morning to four years' imprisonment. Robert Angus, stealing a horse, five years' penal servitude. Hyam Metz received a comparatively light sentence for forgery, as the ofi'ence was liis first. His Honor, however, said the case was different from that of a half-educated man, suffering from drink, forging a cheque for a few pounds, and he was sentenced to two years, with hard labor. James Morgan, for forgery, received twelve months.

Gilligan's, the racer, money, believed to be L 70,000, falls to his brother, a draper's assistant in Dunedin. The latter leaves to-day for Wellington to claim his fortune.

George Brown, an elderly man, charged with indecently assaulting a girl eleven yeai-3 of age, in August last, was discharged at the Supreme Court, the evidence as to identity being inconclusive.

C'HPJSTCHURCH

January G

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court began to-day. George Muff pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary at Selwyn, and sentence was postponed at the request of Mr. Harner. George Brind pleaded guilty to a charge of housebreaking, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, with hard labor. Edward M'Kenna pleaded guilty to forging and uttering a cheque for L 7 30s at Kaiapoi. There being previous convictions, followed by a sentence of three years, just completed, he was sentenced to six years' penal servitude. J. M'Namara, the hotel proprietor who changed the cheque, was severely reprimanded by the judge, and prosecutor's costs were disallowed. Messrs. Cuff and Graham telegraphed to Mr. Mitclielson, of Kaipara, this morning, accepting the challenge of the Torea to sail the Alert for LIOO, on the conditions that the course should be the same as that sailed over on the regatta day, and the raoe sailed under tlxe same rules and regulations. Captain Grundy, who has got rid of the ballast from the vessel, and has the majority of the cargo for Auckland on board, says he is anxious to try conclusions with the Alert at any future time to be fixed, the race to be sailed outside the Heads. January 7.

On Friday morning, a conference of representatives of Counties and Boroughs situated between the Rangitata and the Hurunui will be hekl to consider the question of the Government proposals respecting Hospital and charitable aid. The total population in the districts I coming under the jurisdiction of tlie conference is 73,705. On the arrival of the Opawa with Government immigrants, on the 7th ult., two females, Meara, wife, and four children, and Langford, wife, and five children, were sent to the quarantine station, there being at the time infectious diseases amongst them. "iesterday. Hannah Langford, eighteen months old, died of the fatal complaints whooping cough and diarrhoea. The others have fully recovered. A little boy, only two days in the Colony, while playing on a fence near the railway station, fell, and broke his arm. He was taken to the Hospital. Another boy (Threlbury), thirteen years old, was playing with gunpowder, some of it exploded in his face, indicting serious injuries. He was taken to the Hospital. It is feared that he will lose the sight of one, if not of both, of his eyes. A week of united universal prayer was begun here last night, under the Evangelical Alliance, in the Wesleyan chapel. The meeting was presided over by the Rev. \V. Morlov. The preparations for the grand Hospital concert, to take place in the Theatre Royal on the 17th inst., are going forward well. The affair promises to be a great .success. Miss Amy Sherwin, Signora Venosta, and a host of local talent will take part. Before the Government Railway Benefit Society came into existence, a number of workmen employed oil the railway started a small Society of their own, which proved very successful in its operations. The balance-sheet just published shows the receipt of L 127 19s (id, and an expenditure of LBS 18s, including small honoraria to the principal officers. A novel feature is the payment of dividends to members. A large portion of the balance of L 35 5s at the end of the year is being devoted to this purpose, .and the balance, LG 15s lOd, will be carried forward. The Society numbers close upon 100 members.

AUCKLAND. January 0. The Customs revenue collected during last week was L 3415 7s lOd ; tlie amount collected on Saturday and to-day was LISSG 12s 7d.

The criniin.il sessions of the Supreme Court opened to-day before Mr. Justice Gillies. Robert Win. Boilers, charged with f;ilse pretences, pleaded guilty, but sentence was deferred. Wm. Brooke, for breaking entering, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 18 months. Tlieo. Alex. Cox, charged with larceny as a bailee, also pleaded guilty, and received nine months. January 7.

At the Supreme Court criminal sessions, Thomas Fidget, charged with placing obstructions on the railway line, was acquitted. The death of J. N. Crombie, at Melbourne, en- route for Auckland, is announced. He commenced business as a photographer in Nelson, in 1854. Came to Auckland, and for years carried on the same business. He subsequently realised a large fortune through Caledonian gold mine shares.

The third session of the Grand Lodge of Free Templars has been held at Hamilton, Waikato. A lad named William Mace, resident at Newton, fell from a tree, fracturing his thigh. The Taianaki team has left for the Tliajijes, and play the Goldfields Eleven to-morrow.

The police authorities are raiding public houses for gambling. William Meaples, of the Occidental Hotel, was fined LlO and costs. Sub-Inspector Purdy stated that, on the 4tli, gambling was continued all night by professional gamblers, and

that large sums changed hands.' The defendant pleaded guilty, and, in extenuation, said that gambling was practised by the former proprietor of the house, and he thought that the practice was legitimate. The Magistrate (Mr. Barstow) said licenses would certainly be forfeited in similar cases in future. The following bookmakers were subpoened : —Perkins, Drake, Gardiner, Butler, Gwyde, and Sargent. The Rev. Hassard has telegraphed from London his resignation of the charge of St. Mathew's Church, owing to the continued illness of his wife. NAPIER. January C. A heavy storm of thunder, lightning, and rain visited Napier yesterday afternoon. It cleared up towards evening, but the rain commenced again about 9 o'clock and continued at intervals until after day-break to-day. It is now very fine and bright. The rain was a godsend.

This morning the annual session of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand North 1.0. G.T., was opened in the Protestant Hall, the Hon. W. Fox, G.W.C.T., presiding. All the members of the executive were present, besides 28 representatives from all parts of the Colony. The morning was occupied with preliminary business.

WANGANUI. January 7. The schooner Arthur Wakefield having partly discharged her cargo, was warped to the edge of the channel, and then towed into the river by a steamer. She will re-load and come up to the wharf. The vessel is slightly shaken, but no serious damage is done. TIMAKU. January 6. Everyone is laughing at the land tax papers distributed to-day, and no one seems to have the slightest idea how to fill them up. The result will be endless confusion and ill-feeling. NEW PLYMOUTH. January 6.

Te "Wliiti having heard, a rumor that that the natives were assembling at Pariahaka to arrange for fresh fighting, lias sent messengers out to contradict the statement. They are authorised to tell the natives, and to make it generally known that there is to be no more fighting in the district.

Cobb's second coach from Inglewood to Hawera has arrived, and did the journey in eight hours. The driver says he will do it in four when the road is clear. Out of 81 sections offered at auction at the Government land sale, only 13 were sold. HOKITIKA. January G. The exports from here show an increase of L599G in 1878 over the preceding year. The total gold shipments for the past year amount to 50,705 ounces. GREYMOUTH. January 7. The now steam dredge, built by Messrs. Kincaid and M'Queen, of JJunedin, for deepening the Grey River, commenced work successfully yesterday. TNVERCARGILL. January G. In the police court r this morning, Jeffrey Gi'ant, Dan. Murray, and John Keid were charged with assaulting and wounding John Ryan, on the Ist inst. Grant was also charged with resisting the police while in the execution of their duty. It would appear from evidence given by Sergeant Tuohy that the row originated through a drunken brawl, and was of a serious character. His V. orship said that it was a very bad case, and had the police not arrived 011 the scene opportunely, a murder might have been committed.' Grant was sentenced to two months' hard labor for assault, and one month for resisting the police ; Reid to one month's hard labor, while Murray was discharged with a caution. A petition is going the rounds praying that the sentence of death recently passed on Welsh, the .Waikawa murderer, may be commuted to one of imprisonment for life.

Mr Mitchell, on behalf of the Premier, telegraphs to a townsman that instructions have been given for trains to be run for a short time at reduced rates on the occasion of the opening of through communication by rail between Christehurch and Invercargill.

[per rr.ESS agency.]

AUCKLAND.

January 7.

William Maples, of the Occidental Hotel, for a second offence, was fined LlO and costs for permitting gambling in his house. The Inspector said the men engaged gambling on the night in question were all professionals. Tiie system had a bad effect upon the young men of the city. A man was drawn into the vortex of ruin through its influences. The City of JSTew York, from Sydney, was delayed by a strong easterly gale. Passengers for New Zealand—Hon. J. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Graham, Hon. Tarlton Waterhouse, and Mr. T. L. Richardson. She has also 30 saloon and 2G steerage passengers, and 40 tons of cargo, with four saloon and seven steerage passengers for California.