TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 871, 30 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. January 29. The wreck of the ship City of Auckland was sold to-day by auction by Mr. Wallace for Ll5O, Mr. Cooper being the purchaser. The sails were sold to Captain Williams for L6O, and the cargo of pig-iron to Mr. Boonstra for Ll2 10s. DUNEDIN. January 29. Mr. Battray was elected a director of the Colonial Bank at a meeting to-day. More votes were recorded at this election than at any previous one.

Two charges of perjury have been lodged by Andrew Reid against Mrs. Johnstone, on account of the evidence she gave in the perjury case against Mrs. Reid.

Telegrams re Mr. Coiryers are not so favorable. The doctors say they cannot speak definitely as to Mr. Conyors's state for a few days. January 30. The Balclutlia householders having committed the absurdity of electing nine instead of seven members for the School Committee, the Education Board has decided that a new election must take place. A heavy storm of wind, with slight showers, swept over the city to-day, doing some damage to fences and roofs of buildings. At about 4 o'clock this morning, a man was arrested for burglariously entering the house of a Corporation laborer. He alarmed the inmates by projecting half his body through the bedroom window, which faces Stafford-street. At first he gave the name of Tim Flaherty, but, on being interrogated by the police and Bench, he reluctantly acknowledged that his genuine name was Mathew Delaney. The Bench committed him for trial. An able-bodied man was arrested dining the night with a fowl in his possession, and, on his own admission that he had stolen it, received seven clays' imprisonment.

INVERCARGILL. January 20. Last advices from Gore report Mr. Conyers better this evening than he w-as in the morning, and better than he was yesterday. The doctors say he has arrived at a most critical stage, and that the next 24 hours will, in all probability, decide his case. Some samples of coal taken from Crown lands at Wairoa were brought into town to-day. They present an excellent appearance, being solid, of good color, and clean. The coal has been tested and burns freely. The crops, taken altogether, are not really good. Turnips, owing to the ravages of a fly, suffered considerably, and the second crop, that was in some instances sown, has not flourished in consequence of the dry season. Grain i. short, light, and late. The area of potatoes sown will scarcely supply loca-. con sumption. Pasture is unusually luxuriant.

TIMARU. .January 20. It is probable that steps will be taken shortly to form a company in Timaru for he purchase of one or more steamers to jarry on the rapidly increasing trade of this port. CHMSTCHURCR. January 29. At the Police Court, to-day, a railway guard was charged with embezzling money which he had received from passengers who bought tickets in the train. When the evidence had been given, Mr. Izard, who defended him, pointed out that the case had broken down completely. It had been shown, on behalf of the prosecution, that certain sums had not been enerccl by the guard in a book provided for die purpose, and that he was supposed to have a nightly settlement with the stationmaster at Kaiapoi. Strangely enough, although the stationmaster was in Court, lie was not called, and the most material link in the chain of evidence having been omitted, the case broke down. His Worship said, that as the matter at present stood, the case had been closed on the mere fact that, as there was no entry in the book there could not be a conviction. The case had better be re-opened. Mr. Izard could not and would not consent to this. His worship would agree with Mr. [zard that there had been a grave omission. Probably the best course vvould he to dismiss the case and allow a fresh information to be laid. The case was accordingly dismissed. A fresh information was at once laid, and, in order to comply Avith it, accused was allowed to leave the precincts of the Court, and was then re-arrested.

NAPIER, January 29. Sergeant Kelsall, drill instructor, who was accidentally shot in the leg at the rifle range on Saturday afternoon, died last night. An inquest was held to-day, and a verdict of accidental death returned, without attributing blame to anyone. An accommodation-house, Woodville, that was owned by the murdered man Ollard and his partner Thomson, was burnt last night. The fire was supposed to be occasioned by sparks from the bush, which was burning all round. - The funeral of Sergeant Kelsall, drill instructor, took place this afternoon with military honors. There was a large attendance of Volunteers and others. BLENHEIM. January 29. News from Wakamarina states that the tunnel at Mountain Camp Creek fell in, burying three men—John Sweeney, Robt. Diamont, and William Dorsett. The Express' Havelock correspondent telegraphs this morning, re the accident, that the miners only succeeded in extricating Dorsett at dark last night. He was much injured, but is improving, Diamont was choked by the pressure of a slab against his neck. Although relays of miners worked desperately, Sweeney's body was only excavated at 4 o'clock this morning, frightfully mangled. Robert Nesbit had a narrow escape inside the tunnel.