TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 876, 5 February 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(rER PUESS ASSOCIATION). WELLINGTON. February 4. M'Kcnzic, who was burned out on Saturday night at Taita, was collector for the Hutt Local Board, and L4O of their money and the books were destroyed. A subscription was started. February 5. Lady Normanby's ill health will detain the Governor here till the 17th. Mr. Collis has been appointed secretary to the Exhibition Commissioner. There were twenty-six applicants. A man named Collier has been killed in a gravel pit at Fielding.

DUNEDIX. February 4. The latest telegram from Gore states that Mr. Conyers is still progressing favorably. A conference of ministers yesterday approved of the constitution of the proposed New Zealand alliance. The Mayor to-day received a telegram from the Governor's secretary, stating that his Excellencj- will leave Wellington on the 17th, and arrive in Duncdin on the 10th. He will hold an undress levee here and proceed the same day, per Hiiigarooma, for Victoria. The Mayor lias been requested by the leading citizens to call a meeting to see what steps can be taken to give his Excellency a suitable reception.

CHRISTCHURCIT. February 4. The total Customs revenue for the past month is L 22,023 2s 2d, of which the six lar"est items arc—spirits, L 5573 3s od ; t.dwcco, LIS7S lis (id; tea, L 2020 2s lOd : sugar, L2!)!>!> 10 ; goods by weight, LIOBO ; and ad valorem, L 4834 lis 3d. A railway pass to each paper will be issued to-morrow, but not to weekly editions of daily papers. AUCKLAND. February 4. Mr. J. S. Macfarlanc has commenced proceedings against Mr. Rees, M.H.R., for LIOOO damages for slander and malicious defamation in connection with Captain Read's estate at Povcrt3 T Bay. Messrs. Whitakcr and Russell have been retained by the plaintiff. Mr. M'Cosh Clark is to be asked to contest City West. Mr. J. S. Macfarlanc has distributed this season among country libraries in the district he represents over 900 volumes of select books. The cost of the whole is about one-half more than the whole amount of his honorarium. February 5. A man named Thos. Rosser, of Newton, while oiling the journals of some machinery, got his clothes entangled, but fortunately his clothing gave way, and he escaped with a few bruises. Tlios. Isitt, alias Fidgett, was charged with wheat burning at Otahuhu. After hearing the evidence, the Magistrate reserved his decision for a week. Inquiries will be made as to his sanity. There arc rumors of a dispute between Ronald M'Donald and the authorities of the Thames Catholic Church, which will probably be brought before the Supreme Court. Money matters ai-e said to be the cause of the dispute.

INVERCARGILL. February 4. The immigrants ex Western Monarch have all been cleared out, having all been locally hired except one family, which was sent to Christchurch. The Hon. Messrs. Ballance and Stout were extensively interviewed at Riverton yesterday. They left for Queenstown to-day. TIMARU. February 4. The shipping community here are complaining bitterly of the high insurance rates charged on vessels frequenting the roadstead. The rates amount now to 2\ per cent. There is little doubt that insurance agents at Christchurch and Dunedin have increased the rate on purpose to still further handicap the port. The potato pest is rapidly spreading, and its ravages are heard of now from all directions. It is supoosed to be the larvse of a cockchafer or beetle,

HOKITIKA. February 4. Tenders have been called for the first section of the Hokitika and Grey railway, to close on the 4th March.