SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 855, 11 January 1879, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

(FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON. January 10. It appears, judging from the specimen of immigrants which arrived by the Femglen that judiciousness is not exercised fn the selection, and that whoever are charged with the passing of the immigrants have been very lax in their duty. The Customs revenue returns from all the principal ports for last quarter have been received, those not yet in being only a few from some unimportant ports north of Auckland, the combined revenue of which amounts to only a few hundreds in the quarter. The total for the quarter (estimating the amounts of the small ports referred to at the rates usually collected there) was L 316,590. The amount for the previous quarter was L3C5,494, or a total for the first half of the current financial year of L 682,084. This amount would, of course, have been somewhat larger had not the merchants and others refrained for some time past from paying duty on tea and sugar in anticipation of the reduced rates on those articles, which came into force on the Ist inst. The amount the Colonial Treasurer estimated from customs, without taking into account the reduction in the tariff, that is to say the amount which he considered would be received for the year under the then existing tariff was L 1,320,000. The amount actually received for the halfyear, it will be seen, was about L 22,000 in excess of the estimate.

The New Zealand Shipping Companyhave received telegraphic advices to the effect that the ship Piako, which put into Port Pernambuco on fire, had left Pernambuco on the 29th ult, to continue her voyage to Lyttclton. It was ascertained that°the fire had been confined to the cargo in the forehold, and the hull of the ship was uninjured. It was found necessary to scuttle her, but she was raised m three days without having sustained any damage in the process, her passengers meanwhile being put on board the Loch Doon. It is not knowji positively whether or not thev were subsequently returned to the Piako, or whether the Loch Doon took them on, but it is believed that they are again on board the Piako, and that she is°bringing them to New Zealand. The half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand Shipping Company will be held shortly. It is understood to be probable Miat a dividend to the same amount si.s that of last year will be declared, viz., 4 per cent, for the half-year, being at the rate of 8 per cent per annum.

DUNEDIN. January 10. The inquest on the late murderous attack has been adjourned till the 10th inst. for the production of Mrs. Waldreon. January 11.

Complaints are made of the Industrial School being greatly over-crowded. The .master stated that, at the present rates of commitment, the institution in two years would contain 500. There are now 0n1y227. . On checking the scores in the rine match it was found that the City Guards and the North Dunedin Rifles had each made 402.

IMVERCARGILL. January 11. The polling re water supply loan attracts little attention. The townspeople's endorsement of the Council's action was regarded as a certainty. An active minority has, however, whipped up every opponent. Most of these are propertied men, with votes in each of the four wards. The loan, however, was carried by 155 for, 107 against—majority 48, or 21 more than necessary under the Municipal Act. Mr. J. T. Thomson, Surveyor-General, is now here. He intends to erect a magnificent block of buildings in Esk and Deo streets, rivalling Langlands' handsome block at the other side of the latter street. There is great indignation at the number of the Miitaura electors resident in the suburban municipalities through their town clerks having failed to register them bv sending registration officers informal lists, bad descriptions, &c. One hundred and fifty have been disfranchised in this way.

PORT CHALMERS. January 11. Arrived—Maori, from Tiinaru ; Star of the South, from Wanganui via Timaru. The ship Invercargill sails to-day, with fourteen passengers and the following cai-f'o, for London :—Wool, 5100 bales (L 102.000) ; wheat, 18G5 bags; meats, 11(18 cases; 2330 sundries. Total value, L10G.251.