TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1168, 14 January 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

fik(nil: I'll HNS ASSOCIATION.) WKIYI/I.NOTON. January IK. ('nlonel Scratohley inspect!) the Wellington Harbor before proceeding'south. lie nia<le a trip round the harbor in the Stella to-day, but the weather wan unfavorable. She malum another to-morrow. A private meeting of the Wellington .•diureiiolderu in the Napier Clad Company was field to-day, when they recommended a sale of the Napier (liwworkn to : fchu Nnpiof Municipal Uorpomtlon for L20,R00 oi- thereabouts.

January 14. The continuous rain that has fallen since Saturday night is doing serious injury to the crops. At a public meeting held in the Jewish schoolroom last night, a Committee was appointed to collect subscriptions,, to alleviate the prevalent distress'in Jerusalem.,-?. y .. At 'two o'clock --this; morning the jury in tiie case of. Bath v. Williams, an action to recover LSOO for alleged false imprisonment-,; brought in a verdict for the defendant. ' '"'ii

• At.. the Police Court to-day the charge of perjury against P. P. Watty, commission agent, for an alleged false declaration before the deputy-commissioner of stamps, was dismissed. It is believed that lie intends to prosecute those who laid-tlie information;for false prosecution.

r DUNEDIN. January 13. Twenty-three . delegates' from other .places will attend the annual meeting of the United Fire Brigade Association on the 20fch inst. •

•The Star says We learn on good authority that a gentleman who is a,bout proceeding to the Home country has left the munificent sum of LSOOO to be divided amongst the local charities." January 14. It is raining heavily, and floods are feared.

The Coroner's jury returned a verdict of incendiarism by some persons unknown in respect to the fire which destroyed Arthur O'Neill's dwelling at Tuapeka east last month.

At the City Police Court to-day, Thomas Parker was fined L's for obstructing the tramway, and L 5 for assaulting the engine driver.

- ... NEW PLYMOUTH. January 13. The Waitara bridge has been nearly burned. Some men passing early in the morning found the floor burning, and succeeded in extinguishing it, but a large hole was burned.

AUCKLAND. January 13. The Riccardi Opera Company inaugurated their second musical season at the Theatre Royal with the production of a new version of " Girofie Girofla," arranged and adapted bv Leopold. ; The Mayor (Mr. Peacock) has started a fund for the relief of Irish distress, and headed the list with LlO.

The schooner Mary Anderson has arrived from Samoa. While on a labor cruise, and working round Cape Cumberland, a Penticost native named Puddy became inad, and killed two natives and wounded a boy ; and Charley, one of the ship's crew, having vainly tried to secure him, as he was armed and attempted the lives of those on board, one of the ship's crew, Peter Fabricus, a native who had been in Queensland, took a rifle and shot him. An inquiry into the above affair took place at Aguia, Samoa, before Mr. Swanton, Deputy High Commissioner, under an Order-in-Council, and the master and crew were acquitted, the act being regarded as one of justifiable homicide.

M. F. J. Moss addressed the electors of Parnell to-night. Mr. Moss defended the Grey administration, and denounced the Hall Ministry. He said there were more jobs perpetrated by the latter in two months than by any other administration in two years. Unless a more extended and powerful local self-government were <rivcn, the Colony would break down under the weight of centralism. The Grey Government had at least the merit of being patriotic, but the Hall Government could prefer no claim to public respect or esteem. Yotes of thanks and confidence were carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. James Wrigley, the following resolution was carried by acclamation, "That the taxation imposed bv the present Government is impolitic, inquisitorial, and oppressive." The following is the allotment of the -.vhiteSsli ova. The shipments for the South have been packed in ice-chests : Auckland, 90,000 : Taupo and Tarawera, 45,000 ; Napier, 50,000 ; Christchurch, 500,000; Opawa, 100,000; Dunedin, 250,000; Invercargill, 300,000 ; Wakatipu, 250,000 ; Nelson, 250,000. January 14.

The thirty-eighth half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the New Zealand Insurance Company was held at 2 o'clock. The depression in trade and the keen competition which exists have had their effect upon the Company's business, rendering additional caution necessary in the selection and amounts of risks. This has to some extent operated in the production of its profits. The fire losses have been unprecedented! y heavy. After making allowances for ascertained losses at the date of closing the boobs, there remains to credit of the profit and loss account the sum of L 7523 17s 6d ; but with this the directors are enabled to declare a dividend at the rate of five per cent, per annum, leaving to be carried forward to the next account a balance of L 253 17s 6d. The profit and loss account to the 30th November shows the following figures Debtor : To dividend for the half yearending 31st May, 1879, LIO,OOO ; Commissioners' salaries and other expenses, L 22,000 2s 8d ; fire and marine losses, L 56.771 12s 4d ; appropriation for unpaid losses, L25,0p3 ; balance, L 523 17s 6d: Total, L 121,368 12s 6d. Creditor :By balance from last half-year, L 11,523 5s ; appropriation from last half year, L 27.044 ; fire and marine premium (less insurance), L71,G3615s sd; interest, rents, and transfer, L 10,553 12s : Total, L 121,368 12s 6d. . 1 A man named Henry Dargon attempted to commit suicide this morning, while drunk, with a clasp knife. He sawed at his throat and abdomen, and inflicted several slight cuts on the wind-pipe and abdomen. There were thirty marks on his stomach, but none of them were of a fatal nature. He was given into the charge of the police 1 y two men and brought up at the Police Court. Ho was remanded for eight days. At tlx? meeting of the If arbor Board yesterday tho report of a Committee on Pilot James' conduct recommended his dismissal. It was alleged by a member of the Board that several other pilots had been to blame, and the report was referred back to the Committee for fujl enquiry in{;o the whple question of tho conduct of the Pilot Service. Attention >vas also drawn to the silting up of the harbor from the unprotected reclamation works by a gale oti Tuesday morning, and it was agreed that tho Government should be communicated with. Mr. Sheehan is expected hero on Friday, and will proceed to Cambridge to attend tiic Native LandOourt. Tho early closing mooting last night lapsed for tho want of a quorum.

CHRISTOHUROn: January 12. Tho trial of tho rioters was concluded Into to-day. Murphy was acquitted, but tho others wore found gujlty. Tho Judge, in sentencing thorn, drew a distinction, and' gave Hanloy, Guddily, Stephen, Barrett, and M'Avoy eighteen months each, and tho other woven a yoav a piece, with hard labor. ft filarted 1.0 vain early this morning, ami luiy rained pretty heavily all day. January 3>l. A large a took of hay, tho property of Mi-. Hugh M'.lnland, of Tvimbovly, wan burnt to tho ground on Saturday. The lire was eauNcnl by a little boy playing with inatohtni near tho irtaek. A tarpaulin and actum agrioulfcuml machinery vita also burnt. All tho pwpwfcy diHitvoyed was uninaimid. A htable and giwimvy weve tnvmfc- (v few daya ago at Ms. J, ivinloy's, Flivxton, ftiwl

weae not insured. The damage done amounted to Ll3O. The new Heathcote Racing Club, recently started, now numbers 5() members. They are in treaty for a lease of a block of land for a racecourse, and at the meeting last evening they sketched out a programme for the next race meeting. The -principal event is to be the Heathcote Cup. It is still raining heavily, and the worst fears are now being felt for the heavv crops. - •The s.s. Waitaki left Wellington; with .the southern mails at 11.15 a.m. to-day. The southern portion will be forwarded by the express train to-morrow morning. • The Secretary of the Acclimatisation Society has received a telegram from the President of the Auckland Society, saying that the Hinemoa is only leaving there tonight with boxes of white fish ova for the south. • A trial of Wood's reaper and string binder, fixed to take place this morning, had to be postponed on account of the rain. William Connolly, alias Molloy, on remand for riot, was discharged this morning at the Police Court. The case was positively shown to be one of mistaken identity. The rain stopped at half-past twelve, and there is every appearance now of fine weather.

NAPIER. January 13. Sub-Superintendent Spence and Foreman Gilberd have been appointed to represent Napier at the forthcoming conference of Fire Brigades at Dnnedin. The Rev. D'Arcy Irvine, who resigned the head mastership of the Grammar School, proceeds to New South Wales, where an incumbency has been offered him. Heavy rain is now falling, which has put a stop to harvest operations. A singular disease among catt-e on the plains is attracting attention ; the animals drop dead without any warning. A post mortem examination shows a clot of congested blood on the brain, all the other organs being healthy. Mr. Power, Inspector of Sheep, says it is a sort of apoplexy, and recommends frequent change of pasture ; others think it due to the old pasture containing a large proportion of ammonia from continual stocking, the recent rains having made ammonia more active. Whatever the cause, over fifty head, including seventeen owned by the mission, have died.

GRAHAMSTOWK January 14. An attempt is being made to oust Mr. Wilkinson, editor of the Advertiser, who was returned by one vote in the South Ward Borough election, on the ground of his having been a contractor for stationery to the Council in December. A telegram from Mr. Rolleston has been received by the Thames Land Association, stating that 13,000 acres more land will be offered on the deferred-payment system in areas of from 10 to 320 acres. The telegram states that the terms will be as good as the Government can offer under the settlement clauses of the Land Act. A meeting of the Railway Committee this morning appointed a deputation to proceed to Auckland to interview the Hon. Mr. Whitaker re the construction of a railway from the Thames end. Ripe peaches are in the market grown on the Thames.

TAURANGA. January 13. While the steamer Penguin, from Auckland, was coming in this morning she was blown on to a sand bank, opposite to where the Taupo lies, by a strong gale. The steamer Staffa was immediately despatched to render assistance, and on her arriving at the spot she took on board the passengers and mails, and brought them to town safely. Efforts were then made to get the Penguin off, which were successful, and the vessel is now riding at anchor in the harbor. She sustained no injury, and should the weather moderate, will leave for the south this evening. January 14. The steamer Penguin was got off the

sand hillocks at 11 o'clock this morning, with the assistance of the tender Staffa. No damage was done, and it was found that neither the cargo nor coal had moved. Her light kedges came home or else she would have been got off when she first touched.

WESTPORT. January 13. Another perjury action —J. Johnson v. E. J. O'Connor—was commenced at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, and adjourned, owing to the latter's absence at Kaiamea. An application for the arrest of O'Connor on the ground of tampering with witnesses with intent to evade the service of the information was refused. The perjury case of O'Connor and Johnson is now pending in the Reefton Court. The litigation between the two persons, which commenced over three cattle, has so far .cost some LSOO, and is not yet finished.