TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 861, 18 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(per press association). WELLINGTON. January 17. The Hon. H. J. Miller and Mr. S. E. Shrimski have been appointed Governors of the Waitaki High School. It is understood that the New Zealand Shipping Company will declare a 10 per cent, dividend. The National Bank has declared an interim dividend at the rate of G per cent, per annum for the half-year ending 30fch September. Messrs. Ballance and Macandrew leave in the Hinemoa for Dunedin direct tomorrow evening. Mr. Ballance will accompany Mr. Stout on his tour through Otago. The Government have received a petition in favor of commuting the sentence on Walsh, and also a certificate from a doctor that Walsh is, and has been, suffering from mania. A commission of three other medical men is appointed to examine and report on the case. . January 18. A woman named Hickey has been arrested for abducting two girls (sisters) under 13 years of age, for the purposes of prostitution. The Education Commissioner has appointed the following committees : —A University committee on secondary schools, a committee on professional and technical schools, and an endowment and financial committee. The Hinemoa, after leaving Ministers in Dunedin goes, to Puysegur Point to test the new lighthouse. DUNEDIN. January 17.

At the Synod to-day, a discussion took place on the Rev. Dr. Copland's motion, asking the Synod to adopt measures to secure the daily reading of the Bible in the public schools. On the motion of Mr. Bannerman, the discussion was adjourned, and a committee was appointed to frame a resolution expressive of the mind of the Synod on the subject. The Rev. Mr. Summers was admitted as an ordained minister, and Mr. Lothian as a probationer. During the discussion of the question of the Bible in schools, the Rev. Mr. Bannerman said if the people of Otago were polled to-morrow, it would be found that 19-20ths—he might say 99-100fchs—-of them would vote for the restoration of the Bible to the schools. If the secularists did not compromise, and join with them, the denominational party would triumph over a divided host, and gain the victory. The secularists would consequently have to choose between them and the denominationalists. The case of Macdonald v. Procter was concluded this evening, the jury giving plaintiff LSO damages. At a meeting to-night re the Bible in schools, about eighty persons were present. The meeting was addressed by Mr. E. B. Cargill, the Rev. L. Mackie, Messrs. J. A. Connell, A. C. Begg, and Thomas Dick, all in support of the motion, which was carried unanimously "That the daily reading of the Bible in public schools be established by law." A committee was formed to forward the resolution.

AUCKLAND. January 17. The sixth annual meeting of the Wesleyan Conference commenced its sittings this evening, at Pitt-street Church. There was a large gathering of ministers from different parts of the Colony. The following office-bearers were elected : —Rev. W. Morley, President ; Rev. R. Bavin, Secretary ; Rev.* J. Richards, Assistant-Secre-tory ; Rev. W. A. Lee, Journal Secretary ; Rev. H. Bull, Corresponding Secretary. January 18. The immigrants by the Marveille have arrived. The single girls and men are a fine healthy lot, but the bulk of the married people are past the prime of life. Orchard robbing has become a science. A boy named Gibbons, charged with this offence, got off scot free owing to the anxiety of the Justices to have him flogged, and he was remanded after pleading guilty, and had, of course to be discharged.

CHRISTCHURCH. January 17. Messrs. J. T. Ford and Co. sold Gilligan's horses Laertes and Javelin to-day. The former is entered for the Wellington Cup, Napier Handicap, and Dunedin Publicans' Handicap. After a spirited competition, he was knocked down to Mr. P. Butler for 450 guineas. Javelin was sold to Mr. Delamaine for 300 guineas. Jangler, the property of Mr. Williams, was "also offered, but wis passed in at 450 guineas. Mr. John Grigg, of Long Beach, has bought one of the heifers imported by Mr. Simpson from Victoria for 400 guineas. The heifer was calved on July 25, 1878, and is by Oxford Cherry Duke, 32,016 E. Herdbook, dam Moss Rose IV. Four cases of typhoid fever have been reported from Papanui. The Health Officer reports that the health of Christchurch has been, on the whole, very satisfactory during the past year. The mortality has been low, and the cases of zymotic disease few. The alleged fraudulent debtor of Rangiora -was remanded till Wednesday, bail being allowed. Remand was granted to give time for some important evidence in favor of accused to be adduced. By the San Francisco mail Mr. Conyers sent an order to Baldwins Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, for six powerful ■mods engines and tenders, known as the " Consolikation'"' engines. They are designed to draw enormous loads on light rails, at a low rate of speed, and aTe far more powerful than the Yankee engines at present in use on these lines. PORT CHALMERS. January IS. The New Zealand Shipping Company's barque Mataura sails this afternoon, for London, with 3981 bales wool, valued at L70,G20 ; 10 casks sealskins, L3OO ; 32 casks tallow, L 360 ; 100 sacks flour, Ll2O ; 7 packages sundries, L 259 ; 2 boxes gold, L12,i188. The total value of the cargo is L03,(338. She takes 8 passengers. TIMARU. January 17. The valuation of the Borough of Timaru for 1870 amounts to L 45,800, being an increase of L 10,300 on last year. The schooner Alert sailed for Wellington to-day, to take part in the regatta there. A marked improvement has taken place in the crops during the last fortnight or

three weeks, and on the higher grounds some splendid paddocks are now noticeable. It is believed that the yield on the whole, partly owing to increased area sown, will be fully equal to last season. LNVERCARGILL. January 17. The official declaration of the poll for the election of a member for Matauratook place to-day, when Mr. Shanks was; declared elected by a majority of 59. Both candidates addressed the electors, but only local matters were referred to. Mr.'Kiriross, the defeated candidate, bitterly attacked his opponent and Messrs. Feldwick and Joyce, M.H.R.'s. ■ An inquest was held at Otaiti to-day, on the body of a man named Hayes, who had been killed by a dray passing over him. A verdict of accidental death was returned. January 18. The Rev. Mr. Byng, of Dunedin, opened the new Invercargill Theatre last evening with a lecture on " The Archives o,f the Universe." The building has a handsome interior, the decorations being of papier mache\ It is capable of seating from 1000 to 1500 persons. A man named John Hayes was killed at Oreti bush by a dray wheel passing over his body. He was discharging firewood, and his horse becoming restive, he ran to his head. Slipping in a foot-hole, he tripped and fell: hence the accident. The Horticultural Society, for the first time for years, have a balance in hand after paying all the prizes. The Show! this season was wonderfully successful. I The ship Waitara sails from the Bluff to-day with a full cargo for London. KUMARA. January 18. The following houses were destroyed by fire last night in the main street: —Reefton Hotel, Dangare and O'Brien's Hotel, and the Bee-hive Store. The whole street is in danger, but a splendidly working Fire Brigade confined the fire. Insurances— Reefton Hotel, LIOO in the South British ; Dangare and O'Brien's, L4OO in the South British ; Bee-hive Store, L2OO, office unknown.