TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1143, 13 December 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

CHHLSTCni RCll. December 13.

A severe hailstorm was experienced at Oxford on Thursday last. The stones were exceptionally large, but ao there was 110 wind, very little damage was done. The subscription list for the o: era season here is fast Hlliiiir "p. The inmatc3of the Lyttelton Orphanage will over to Quail Island to-day, and rentain for a fortnight. The twenty-nine children in the institution who had a slight attack of diphtheria are now convaitscent. During their absence tjie place will be thoroughly cleansed and drained. The distribution of prizes at the Girls' Higli School nnd varimi# district schools took place yesterday. Examiners' roports s>ate that good progress has been nmdo in ihe various schools dnri-ig the year.

PU-XEDJLV

December 12. The Rev. Mr. M'Nicot expired suddenly at Waihola 011 Wednesday evening, deceased went out into a field for the purpose of mowing smiie i;r.i»a, and some time elapsing without his returning, Mrs. M'i<icol went in search of hiin.

AUCKLAND. December 13 ;

At a meeting of the Working Men's Polit'cal Association a resolution was carried urging exemption of stock-in-trade and machinery from the property tax. The number of criminal cases for trial at the Supreme Court is already over the average. Nineteen are set down, out of which three are civil libel cases aud one case pf reduction. Labor i 3 getting scarce in the countiy districts. The fabulous prices of kauri gum are clearing out men fop the gum fields.

NEW PLYMOUTH. December 13.

Mr. Joseph Beale, officer in charge of the telegraph station here since it was first opened, died this morning. He was universally respected, and was a most obliging officer. He leaves a widow and two small children. Mr. Beale came here fp'in ijr.itj; where the members of his family arc now living.

TI.MAUU

December 12. Tho forgery caso against Manning in ihe Sumoine Co::rt to-day created intense in'treat. Af.ur lasting till 0.30 p.m., the rase broke down 011 a law point raised by Mr. Stout, under an Act of Henry YIIL Manning and Saunders were at once acquitted. Edward James, the disputed owner of the land to which the alleged forged deed of conveyance was signed, and who pleaded ,-ui:ty to forrery yesterday and received a sentence of two years, ",v.is again placed in tite dock, and .Judge Johnston said that af;>:r the result of the case against Manning, he should advise the Crown to arrest the sentence.

INYERCAHGILL. December 12. The nnmtal shew, jjnderthe auspices of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, waa held yesterday, ana continued to-day, proving a great success, the stock exhibits being first-class.