TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 904, 10 March 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. March 8. The arrears due to the Government on June 30th, 1873, on account of assisted nominated immigrants, amounted to L41,9G8. Keturns show that 144,478 tons of coal, volute L 244.412, were imported into New Zealand from Newcastle during last finaneiat year. DL*NEDIN. March 10. The missing parent named James Turner was arrested the other day for drunkenness, and was ordered to-day to contribute eleven shillings weekly for the srtpport of his two children, who are in the Industrial School. A well-known betting man is said to have paid LT)O in settlement of an assault and da-map; to a fashionable house in Stuart-street. CHRISTCHURCH. March S. The Committee of the Corn Exchange have passed a resolution calling the attention of the general manager to the difference in the tariff on the Victorian and Canterbury lines. They point out that there the minimum is one penny per ton per mile, with one shilling per ton terminal charge, while here the minimum is 2Sd per ton, with terminal charge of 3s. 'M. The Committee also ask that the rebate of 9d a ton, formerly granted to private sidings he again allowed. The New Zealand Shipping Company have received advices of the arrival of the Orari and Waitangi, both from Lyttelton. The tatter has made the run in 72 days. J. Hartland and Sect-elan, both wellknown Canterbury cricketers, to-day, made 211 in a tirst-clas3 match before the first wicket fell. There is no record of this feat previously, and it has rarely been done in Australia. BLENHEIM. March 8. The Coroner's inquiry into the cause of the late fire terminated last night in the following verdict:—"Thebuildings known as Walls' Buildings were destroyed by a fire, which arose at the back part of the premises occupied by Mr. Jensen, but how it originated there is no evidence to show." AUCKLAND. March 0. A correspondent writing from Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, on the sth inst., states:—'"* The news of the explosion at the Kaitangata mine has very naturally caused some talk, and not a few afiirm that such a catastrophe may occur in the Bay of Islands coal-mine at any moment. It is rumored that such flashes of firedamp have lately been witnessed, and in some parts the ventilation is so defective as to prevent the miners working longer than one or two hours at a time." The land tax is likely to be a failure in this part of the Colony. In one district it has been ascertained that the capital value of property is Ll'.<o,olo. The value of improvements, L3Q,0.-jI; and the net value of the land, Lloo,si;C>. The number of properties in the district over I'OOO acres are owned by some <«00 people Out of this only 43 arc liable to tax ; and the amount of tax leviable upon thisLloo,Oi;r» worth of property is only Lit 12s 2jd. The individual amounts payable range from Is !»id to L 5 10s. In some cases where tlte tax would otherwise have been leviable, part of the property has been conveyed to the wife, thus largely reducing the cases upon which the tax can be- levied. Much has been said and written for many months upon the respective merits of what is known as the coastal and the inland line for the extension of the railway from Auckland to Hiveihead. Many advocate the coastal line as passing over more level ground than the inland line, and for being more direct as part of the main line t«»"the northern districts. The chief advocates of the inland line are settlers in the Wnttakerci district, and they have urge-d the immense timber resources of the Waitakerei Itunges as providing an immediate return for taking the line over spurs of these mountains. The assessment valuation has thrown strange light upon the value of these timber resources. The principal block »f bush in that district is owned by Mr. J. Smith, and is ISOO acres in extent.

Four men left Dargavilk>. Northern f»r Aratipu. " V.'iu-n half way the f«r '-If a man named William Willis slipped from the rowlock and floated away. Willis leaped after it, and swam with the oar hack to the hoat. He again leaped overVard, and, against all remonstrances, refused to come in. At last, getting alarmed. Latham jumped in after him, but Willis, giving a shout, disappeared instantaneously. Latham dived unavailingly, Latham in turn refused to come in" "to th»j beat, diving, shouting, and swimming about. -Another man jumped after him, and he was pulled in ; but. again attempting to leap over, he had to be held down by main force. Willis was a native of the North of Ireland, and has got a brother in Auckland. An inquest will bring out the details. The tenders of the Insurance Companies for the public school buildings were treated as confidential. The New Zealajid and South Uritish were lowest, and their tenders were accepted. The Star will appear in an enlarged f.>nn this evening. The Herald will appear in a few days the same sizo as the Svdney Herald. March 10. A movement is on foot in Auckland to petition the Government to re-open the Taupo inquiry. Captain Johnston, of the Marine Department, has visited Kohimaraina Training School. Late escapees were examined as to the motives for deserting, and freedom from restraint was given as the principal reason. To-day tanks and casks will be sent down fr<".m here by the Hawea for a final effort to float the Taupo. GREYMOL'TH. March S. In consequence of the financial muddle of the Westland Education Board, it is the intention of some of the best teachers to resign. No salaries have been paid since the beginning of the year, and in some cases money due to teachers as far back as November remains yet unpaid.