TELEGRAMS

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 873, 1 February 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS

(I'F.K I'KESS ASSOCIATION). WELLINGTON. January 31. Thomas Williams, late Treasurer of the Foresters" Lodge, was committed for trial for embezzlement. There were 57 deaths registered this month ; 37 were from diarrhoea, of whom f32 were children. The principal doctors have published opinions that the prevalence of disease is owing to the impure water fr« m the reservoir. Danebury continues a firm favorite for the Cup at 3 to 1. Plans are being prepared for the erection of new Post and Telegraph Offices in brick here, on the present site. The total receipts on the New Zealand railways for the four weeks ending Dec. 14 was L 57,357 8s <Sd. The total amount of money orders for the December quarter was L'iS.5H5 lSs 3d, as against L 85,877 12s 2-i for ihe corresponding quarter. La*t year's .Savings Bank returns show ;m excess of withdrawals over deposits oi L 10.34!) 15s 9d in the corresponding quarter. Last week the deposits exceeded the withdrawals by L 15,724 2s 7d. February 1.

The schooner ashore at the mouth of the Manawatu is the Pelican, owned by Mr. H. Aitken,of Oamaru,and chartered by Mr. Williams, of Wellington. She is coal-laden, and was bound from Greymouth to Foxton. She will probably be got oil". The Wellington and Hutt Building Society shows a profit of L 3225 17s Gd for the year, which is equal to nearly L 3 per share. Last } - ear the profit was only LI ">3 lOd per share. The dwelling-house of Phillip Gooden, Carterton, was burnt, with contents. The origin of the fire is unknown. It was insured in the New Zealand Office for Ll5O.

DUNEDIN. January 31. Mr. Conycrs is about the same as yesterday. The Duncdin Prices Current announces, on reliable authority, that there seems a fair prospect of an arrangement being made between the Banks, whereby the present keen competition for deposits will cease, and that negotiations, as to a general and defined basis upon which banking operations are to be conducted, are being carried on, with an evident desire to arrive at a satisfactory determination. John Thomas, a quarryman, had both legs broken this afternoon, by a stone falling on him when at work at Anderson's Bay. It is understood that the Rev. A. R. Fitchett, lately Wesleyan minister, having been ordained by the Bishop of Melbourne, will preach in St. Paul's Church on Sunday. February 1. A telegram just received from Gore states that Mr. Conyers passed a restless night. His condition is unaltered, but he is very drowsy, and conscious only at intervals. CHRIBTCHURCH, January 31. The velocity of the wind on Thursday during 24 hours was 533 miles, but at the height of the gale the speed was double this. A large willow, fifteen years old, was snapped in two by the force of the gale, and the whole town was strewn with boughs. To-day the gale continued, but less severe}-. Strangely enough, the weather was quite warm, and the sky free from clouds nearly the whole time, although a sou'-wester is almost invariably accompanied by heavy rain. The births registered during January were 188, against 146 last year ; and the marriages, 55 against 44. The deaths, however, show an enormous increase, no less than 104 having been registered during the month, against 53 last year.

This is the largest number ever recorded in one month. During February, 1876, there were 90 deaths, and, with that exception, 75 has been the highest number ever recorded, and that in a notoriously sickly season. The average number per ( month has hitherto been about 49.

AUCKLAND. - February 1. The candidates spoken, of for City West Vacancy are—J. Dignan (sblioitor), David Goldie, and W. J. Hurst. The Rev. Charles Dents, late of Glasgow, is appointed minister of St. David's Presbyterian Church, Symond's-street. The ketch Adah has been awaded the regatta champion prize. INVERCARGILL. February 1. Mr. Stout will address a meeting on political subjects to-night. It is understood that he will go with Mr. Ballance to Riverton on Monday. Great interest is taken in the Harbor Board election. Four candidates are nominated for the two seats for Invercargill, and yesterday two were nominated for one seat for the suburban Municipalities. The Southland Times complains of the delay in the transit of merchants' goods on the railway, and blames the Dunedin station. The travelling Dost office attached to the express train is much appreciated. NEW PLYMOUTH. January 31. Mr. Shore, jun., of Mokau, who accompanied Dr. Hector overland to Waikato, was accidentally drowned yesterday in the Whakatino river, in returning on horseback from New Plymouth along with his wife and family. The natives had warned him that the river was too high. The bodj T is not yet recovered, TIMARU. January 31. The total Customs receipts of Timaru for January amount to LI9GS 10s 9d. For January, 1878, the total was LI4BB 10s lOd. The vital statistics for the month of January are as follows .-—Marriages, 11 ; births, 31 ; deaths, 17. There were only five deaths during the month of December last. The increase of fatal cases is due to the drought and the scarcity of water. This morning the wind changed round from south-west to south-east, and drove a heavy sea into the roadstead. The Harbormaster ordered the vessels to sea, and all went but the George Noble and Beautiful Star. This evening the wind and sea have gone down in shore, but a mountainous sea is running outside. It is feared that the ketch Huon Belle, which put to sea with the other vessels will, owing to the wind dropping, be driven ashore somewhere on the Ninety-Mile Beach. The breakwater is standing the sea magnificently. ASHBURTON. January 31. The relationship between Mr. Campbell, the Police Magistrate, and members of the bar has long been unpleasant. To-day it culminated in one of the barristers, Mr. Ireland, leaving the Court, alleging that Mr. Campbell was biassed in favor of the police. It is understood that all the lawyers will memorialise the Government on the subject of Mr. Campbell's administration of Justice.