TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1140, 10 December 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. December 10.

The following are amendments made in the Property Assessment Bill: —The clause relating to tax on shipping wa3 struck out. All property is to be valued at the price it would bring at auction for cash. The Governor is empowered by order in Council to suspend the operation of the Land Tax Act. Major Atkinson promised that he would, before the third read reading, state the amount of tax proposed to be imposed. Murray, Itoborts and Co. have received the following cablegram from London : The wool sales closed with moderate attendance in the sale rooms. The total amount catalogued during the sales was 130,000 bales, and 5500 bales were withdrawn. There was no material change in prices, which closed on an average equal to the opening rates of the season. CHEISTCHURCH. December 10. The first sod of the first contract of the city tramways will be turned to-morrow. The Bishop of Chrisrehurch and Mrs. Harper will celebrate their golden wedding on Friday next. Tenders have been called for by the City Council for sinking an experimental artesian well to a lower- stratum in Cathedral Square.

A small animal called the Indian snakekiller, which was exhibited here during race time, escaped the other evouing. from where the owner was lodging, hear the railway station. It has since made great havoc in the poultry"yards of the neighborhood. A .large number of ducks have been found- torn 'to shreds, and fowls

with deep incisions in their bodies. The animal is still at large. The Ohvistchurqh roll of shareholders of the company formed for a settlement on the Waimate Plains numbers 500 heads of families, representing 3000 souls. It is proposed to amalgamate the Wellington Small Farm Association, and two delegates will be sent to Wellington to interview the Government on the matter. GRAHAMSTOWN. Tli.nomhor 10. Afire broke out this morning at.two o'clock in Pollen-street, and destroyed I'rien's (furniture dealer) and Wood's (fruiterer) shops. The supposed cause is tiiat a girl at Brien's left a caudle burning on going to bed. Brien was insured in the ltoj-al for Ll5O, and Wood in the Norwich Union for LSO.

Five Naval Brigade bandsmen will .be tried by court martial next week for refusing to attend a church parade. DUNEDIN. December 0. To-night's Star says : £! We hear that, on the return of Mr. .Justice Williams from Invercargill, Mr. M'Duiiald, acting for Messrs. 'J. C. Williamson, Gilbert, and Sullivan, intend applying for nil injunction to restrain the' Juvenile Troubadours from playing ' Pinafore '.. It also stated that proceedings are to be taken against Messrs. Towle and Ogden for an infringement of the Authors' Copyright Act."

The Committee of the Oiago Cricket Association met last evening at 5 o'clock to receive a letter from the Christchurch Association, fixing Monday, January 12, for the commencement of the Interprovincial match. It was resolved to request Canterbury to agree to an alteration so as to include a Saturday in the days of play. The weather to-day has been very unpleasant, and the- farmers in,the country districts are beginning to complain of too much rain. • BLENHEIM. December 10. In the Supreme Court yesterday the cases of Kirwin, ,Goff, and Goune, foxcattle stealing, arid Yates, for assault with intent on a youijg girl,- were dismissed. At a sitting of the court in the case of Earle v. Doherty for libel, Mr. Travers, who appeared for the defendant, made a special plea' alleging tlie allegations in the libel to be true, and'that Earle had actually seduced his niece during the past two years, and, further, that the alleged libel was made with a view of having the allegations inquired int<s for tlie public benefit. .. ~ AUCKLAND. December 10. At one a.m. a fire broke out on the premises of Rafton, a basket maker. The fire brigade were promptly on the ground, arid suppressed it after some damage had been done. The origin is unknown. The stbek and furniture were insured in the Colonial for LgOO. The building was owned by Leighton, bookbinder, and was infinred in the South British. At an entertainment given in aid of the sufferers by the recent explosion on the naval brigade pinnace, Captain Leroy presented the petty officer of the Maori .with a medal in recognition of his gallantry "m saving life on that occasion.