TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 895, 27 February 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND. February 20. A Maori now in Mount Eden gaol has stated that Winiata, the murderer of Packer, left the Maori King's territory, and went to Raglan, and thence to the Manukau, and that he is now employed at bush work in the Knipara or Hokianga district. The Waikato and Raglan natives are about to celebrate the formation of a road between these places over the ranges by a great feast on Friday afternoon. A large number of invitations have been sent out l>v the Maoris. The road is not yet finished, but is passable for wheeled vehicles, and iliey cannot wait longer before expressing their views on the benefits of roadmaking. February 27. Tiie Mayor has telegraphed to the Mayor of Duiicdin expressing sympathy rr the Kaitangata catastrophe, and ottering his hearty co-operation in raising relief funds. Deans" Minstrel Company gave a performance in aid of Superintendent Hughes, of the Fire Brigade, Captain Butler, of the Salvage Corps, also co-operating. A new lodge, called the National Independent Order of Oddfellows, has been onened at Newmarket. *A Regatta Club has been formed at I'onsonby. INV'KUCARGir.L. Februaiy 2G At Wallacetown to-day there was a compet.itive exhibition between the "Wood, Osborne, M'Cormick, Mid Marsh, reapers and binders. The field selected to be operated upon was a field of oats. The artair ciild hardly be called a competition : it was simply an exhibition, and at the outset it was agreed that no ballot as to the respective merits of the machines should be taken. One and a-lialf acres of :•. Itidit crop was allotted to each machine. Unfortunately, neither the Wood nor the Marsh worked well, but the others were really excellent. The opinion amongst experts as to their relative merits was about equal. M'C'crmick's was first to finish, but this was owing to the fact of the horses being much quicker than those ~{ Osborne's, while the driver was a skilled hand, and had driven the machine ;it trials elsewhere. Thedriver of Osborne's was a local farmer. The binding of the latter was generally regarded as the best. The agent for Osborne's (Mr. G. T. Martin)succeednd in disposing of three on the mound. M'Cormick's was also much admired. There was a very large attendance, including a number from Invercaririll. Messrs. Macrorie and Cuthbertson tod'iv sold the S'l-atho.irii Estate. The sections realised from L 3-1 to L7O each. ! NELSON. February 20. Several Rifle Association's representatives have already arrived. More of the northern representatives arc expected on Thursday, and the southern on Saturday '.nonitng. An influential reception committee lias been formed, and the arrangements are progressing favorably. It was intended that the local companies should receive the visitors, but as the steamers arrive at inconvenient hours, this has been abandoned. GISBORNE. February 20. A man named North, a carpenter and ferryman at Tolago Bay, committed suicide by hanging himself yesterday. WELLINGTON". . February 20. The Kaitangata Relief Fund is being liberally subscribed to. The Uncle Tom Company have offered an afternoon performance for it- Cliief Justice Prendcrg:ist has sent Lio. Six guns for harlior defence, three of 7 tons and three 04-pouudeis, and the material for a drill shed, are on board the ship Lorraine, now daily expected from England. February 27. It is stated that .the Government do not intend to bring the Regulation of Mines Act of last session into force, but propose introducing a new measure on the subject next session. The mate of the steamer Patca has been washed overboard.. His name is not given in the telegram received. He leaves a wife and three children.

I The Maketu correspenent of the New I Zcalandor telegraphed yesterday that Mr. [Goldsmith, Mr. Young (Crown Agent), [ Mr. Warbrick and party will cut the line I on one side of the boundary of the Te Puku reserve and part of the river frontage this morning early. The same party began to chain the lino and take bearings. A numbecof -women, instigated by Main T» Rangakihakej Kota, Rangitora, and other native assessors of the other tribes, triocl to take the chain, but the prompt j action of the pakehas and a number of I woman who came -to assist the surve3* part}', completely stopped, after a severe struggle, the endeavour to prevent the survey, and Mr. Goldsmith proceeded without further violence. The survey, it is hoped, will now proceed, notwithstanding the interference of the wily chief. Mahi and party returned -to Maketu, with the news of their own defeat. • V -■".;. DUNEDINVFebruary 20. The heavy ordnance for the defence of the port of Dunedin has been shipped by the Benares, which sailed from London on the 25th December. There are three 7-ton guns and tliree G4-pounders (converted). . A number of important railway extensions are now open for tender, including the first section of the Otago Central Railway. A contract is now in progress for the construction of eleven miles of line in Southland, between Riverton and Otautau, and a survey of the branch line from Edendale to Fortrose is almost completed, and tenders will soon be called. Money is coming in freely for the Kaitangata Relief Fund from all classes of the community. The second report of Guthrie and Larnach's New Zealand Timber and Woodware Factories Company, Limited, is to be

submitted to the-meeting of shareholders on Monday. It shows a net profit oh the working for the nine months ending 31st December last to beLi24,033 3s 6d, which ■is .recommended to be appropriated as follows :—Dividend ar rate of 10 der cent., lMs2(r:Sa 7d; bonus at the rate of 2\ pep cent"; L3248-18s carried to the reserve fund, L7OOO ;' balance carried forthen stand at L 12,000. -TheaCompany's trade continues to be steadily progressing. NAPIER. February 26. The Hawke's Bay Herald's Wairoa correspondent telegraphs as follows: —" Te Kooti has warned the natives, of Orepoto, Lake Waikapouana, not to eat or sleep in their settlements for a month, or they will be destroyed by pestilence. The natives in consequence left their kaingas in a body, and are camped out on the banks of the Waikareki awaiting orders. At present there are only five men and a sergeant stationed at Orepoto. It certainly seems like tempting Providence to leave an important post in the heart of the Uriwera country, where Te Kooti's word is law, so weakly garrisoned. The long-continued drought is becoming alarming. * (PER PRESS AGENCY.) AUCKLAND. February 20. Referring to the difference in the Cabinet on Mr. Luckie's appointment, the Herald says :—" It would be indeed quite ridiculous if there should be a break up over such a matter as this, where merely a departmental office is concerned, and which involves no question of general policy. So far it appears that the Premier ought to yield, for the appointment was formally made."