TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 999, 3 July 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(per. press association.) WELLINGTON. July 3. The Hutt election, yesterday, resulted as follows :—Jackson, IS3 ; Mason, 84. Majority for Jackson, 99. Two men, named Ewen and M'Arthur, were injured on board the Rangatira, yesterday, through the gelti' carrying away, while taking pile-driving machinery on board. It is feared their spines are hurt.

The men in the iron trade have agreed to work this week at a reduced scale, and when they see how it affects them, on pay-day they will meet again. The D'Urville Island Copper. Qompany lias shipped large quantifies of ore for Newcastle, to be smelted.

The Government have received information that the Maoris intend ploughing at Waiiii to-day. Titokowaru will organise a party. A tangi has been held over the appointed ploughmen, as if they were going to their death.

AUCKLAND. July 2. The contractors for raising the Taupo finally abandoned the wreck to-day. Preparations for a final attempt at raising her were made, and tlic work was just commenced when a heavy sea, coming in with the tide, carried away a portion of the gear, rendering all their work useless, this being the third time the sea has damaged the gear.

July 3. The mail fit-earner took 2<ioßozs. of a'o'd for the Bank of New Zealand. She'had a number of through passengers for the Sydney Exhibition. The Ecv. George Brown, the Now Guinea missionary, is expected hero by the Hero. He is recovering from an attack of coast fever.

A martial spirit exists among the Waikato settlers' sons. One hundred have offered to act as Armed Constabulary at Cambridge. Colonel Lion has accepted 35 of them. All are men in gr.od employment, and enlist, not for pay, but for the love of adventure.

DUNE-DIN. July 2. The damage caused to the rail ways north and south of Dunedin by the recent floods is being repaired with praiseworthy despatch. Through communication with Oamaru was established to-day, and the line between Dunedin and Invercargill is now open for traffic. There is a small break bet-ween Mosgiel and Waihola, but that is to be bridged over by coaches, so that passengers can now proceed either way.

ASHBUBTON. July 2. Very little damage lias been done here by the • recent floods as gompared with other jDortions of Canterbury. The County Council has accepted W. Benham's tender of L 2935 for a bridge over the north branch of the Ashburton river, on the Mount Somers road.

The Council liavo decided to erect chambers, &c., at an estimated cost of about L3OOO.

WANGANUI. July 3. Zvlr. Bryce addressed his constituents at Wanganui last niglit. There was a crowded attendance, and the meeting was most enthusiastic. He said he was not a party man in any way, and, while attacking the policy and administration of the Government hist session, he would yet give them credit where such was due. The present Ministry were entitled to credit for recognising the claims of the district for a fair share of the expenditure on public works by pushing oil railways. Mr. .Bryce then divided the declared policy of the Government into four parts —retrenchment, electoral reform, change of incidence of taxation, and improved management of native affairs. Retrenchment liad not been carried out ; electoral reform, which was considered so pressing by 'the Government, was dropped, because the Legislative Council very properly refused to consent to the Maori dual vote. The change in the incidence of taxation finally consisted of taking away LIOO,OOO from the Customs duties, where it was easily collected and was causing no hardship, and attempting to replace it by a land tax, in conjunction with a companies' tax and beer duty. He was most completely sold when lie found that the Government had surrendered the two last-mentioned measures, and intended going on with the land tax. The attempt to improve the management of native affairs lias been a most miserable failure.. Mr. Bryce went at great length into the question of native management, and vigorous]}" denounced the action of the Government. He then referred to the disruption in the Cabinet, and said that the remission of the timber duties had endangered Sir G, Grey's popularity in Auckland. The Premier had managed to shift all the responsibility 011 io the [ Treasurer, and was prepared to offer him up as a vicarious sacrifice to appease the wrath of A uckland. He had grossly insulted Mr. Ballance, giving that gentleman no alternative but to resign. After several questions had been put, a vote of confidence was carried unanimoiisly.

TIMARU. July 2. A Court of Inquiry was held this morning before the Collector of Customs ancl T. V, r . Hall. Nautical Assessor, ra the stranding of the schooner Pelican. The evidence showed clearly that had she notbeen disabled by the barquentine George Noble fouling her, she would never have come ashore. Although the local Court cannot give any formal decision, it is understood they will recommend that Captain Mimro bo not only allowed to retain his certificate, but that he should be complimented on the smart and able manner in which he handled his vessel after she was disabled,

At an inquest on the bodj' of James M'Ewan, a sailor of the steamer Beautiful Star, who was drowned by the capsizing of a boat on Saturday, a verdict of accidental death was returned, a rider being added that the Harbormaster should hoist a special signal when it is unsafe for ships, boat to hand.