TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1122, 22 November 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

j (TKi: I'r.KSS AS.-nCIATION'). t WELLINGTON. November 21. i A meeting of fruit importers was held | last niu'lit to consider the propost.il duty l of 15 per u.'i fn;ir. Opinions were I expressed tin;, "win.; t». a lanje quantity i beirtg lost in tr.nt.^i: T i: would be unfair I to levy the pr-i>-.-d itu-v on shippers' I v::hie3, with 10 lu-r vtrjir. nutied on arrival t here. I'ltiiiKiicly :i >:ep"ita:i ;ll was ap- [ pointed to wait on ihr (.'"Hector of Cusf toiti3 to ascertain on v.h;.t principle the duty would be assessed. The deputation waited on the Collector of Customs this morning, asking that damaged fruit should be exempt from duty. The Collector replied that all damaged fruit would be assessed by the landing waiters. The fruiterers met this afternoon to prepare a petition to be presented to the Tariff Committee, praying fhafc grapes and all stone fruit be exempt fr-.m duty. Another resolution was t-arri-i' t:i:tt two members of the trade wait rn '.he TnriH' Committee to give evidence sbmii.i : ?io Committee require it. 15., th have been forwarded to Mr, W. LJ. Levin, the senior meiiibeir for the ni:y. The funeral of the victims of tho late tragedy took place this morning. Arclir deacon Stock performed the burial service. The Government have refused the services of Fi:s'ii<.'!' Guards, a new Volunteer cniii..:.;/ intended to have been formed here. The second meeting of tho Now Zealand Ritlc Association will be held at Nelson on Monday, 2nd March. At a largely attended meeting to-day, tho tobacconists have decLtLed to raise the price of tobacco and cigars in consequence of the recent increase in duties.

A German named John Francis Willhoir was arrested this evening, for larceny at Oamaru.

CHMBTCHURCH. November 21. At a incetjng of the Chamber of Commerce to-day Mr. Nathan brought up the question of sending ft vessel to look for the Knowsley Hall, now long overdue. It i 3 thought that she may have shared the fate of the Strathmore, and been wrecked on the Crozets or some other island, and it was resolved to ask the Government ta »end a cablegram to the English Government, asl'ing them to send 3 vessel from the nearest station to look for her.

.November 22. Ti'ie Wanaka, with tiw S;>n Francisco mail, did not arrive at Lyttelton ujjtil 9.45 to-day. Tinuru and Oamaru portions will be despatched by the 11.50 Timaru train, and a special will tafro the Oamaru portion on to-night. Duncdin and Jnvercargill mails go by stc-anjer.

AUCKLAND. November 21. Albert Halson, for attempting to black mail Samuel Coombes, by demanding by letter certain money on pain .of certain exposures, has been senteueed to three months.

At the artists' exhibition, a water color picture by a Waikato Maori, Te Ketingatakaitata, "Spanish lady playing the guitar," is not devoid of talent. November 22. John Toms, formerly ofticer in charge of the Commissariat Department here, died in the Provincial Hospital, after a chequered career. i An alarm of fire, believed to have been

caused by a tnper going home, was raised last night. Water pressure was turned on from the reservoir, and burst a main and tore up the roadway. Charges of forgery and perjury against Oliver Macey Quintal, solicitor, have been withdrawn by the prosecutor.

TIMARTJ. November 22. Public opinion here is strongly against the property tax. The sea lias gone down a good deal. The permanent work of the breakwater has not „ been affected, but .some of the blpcfcsjN temporarily •• Kavq: subsided, the shingjfe';TMyhing|gfct fnotQ 1