TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1169, 15 January 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(per press association.) WELLINGTON. January 14. The Mayor has received a telegram stating that the distress in Ireland is increasing, and aid .is urgently required. The Evening Post"has opened a subscription list in aid of the Irish distress, and its proprietors, Messrs. Elundell Bros., have headed the list with L 25, Messrs. Thompson, Shannon, and Co. giving a similar amount. Other subscriptions are coming in freely. The following telegram has just been received from London by Dr. Lemon, Superintendent of the Telegraph Department, from the Chairman of the Rowland Hill Mansion House Committee :—" The Chairman sends from the Lord Mayor of London to the Mayor of every municipality which can be reached by our system the following telegram, a response to which will be telegraphed free. Will you kindly hand the same to the press agencies for publication, and also a copy to the Mayor of Wellington, asking him if he will communicate with the chief magistrates of the New Zealand towns upon the subject : —' London, Jan. Bth.—To-day, the 40th anniversary of the introduction of the penny postage system, founded by Sir Rowland Hill, a Mansion House Committee has now been formed to commemorate the event by an international memorial. Looking at the immense commercial, intellectual, and social advantages derived by the world at large through this reform, might I claim your hearty sympathy and support in this movement by placing it before our countrymen.'" January 15. The half-yearly meeting of the Working Men's Club was held last night, when the report and balance-sheet showed a satisfactory result. Colonel Scratchley inspects the whole of the Wellington Volunteers to-night. The ship Zealandia cleared for London this morning, with a cargo valued at L 71,392.

DUNEDIN. January 14. At the Waste Land Board to-day it was decided unanimously, on the motion of Mr. Bastings, that in the case of all deferred payment land having been opened for three years and not taken up, and any cancelled licenses that have been reopened and not applied for, the necessary steps shall be taken to have the same proclaimed open for sale by auction at 20s per acre. The Harbor Board to-day decided to increase the pilot dues twopence per ton, making them the same as at Lyttelton. December 15. Mr. Justice Williams to-day heard the case of Davidson v, Davidson and Cameron. It is the wife's petition for a judicial separation, and is likely to last a couple of days.

AUCKLAND. January 14. Peter Walker, of Hamilton, accidentally shot himself while drawing his gun after him through a wire fence. The bullet entered his chin and can;e out at the crown of the head. Deceased was a mason and Sergeant-Major of the Hamilton cavalry. He was married, but leaves no family A meeting of the creditors of T. Hood, of the Masonic Hotel, has been called.

His liabilities amount to Ll2lO 5s 9d, and his assets L9O. A fire broke out in the house of James Baker, residing at Kihikihi, which resulted in the total destruction, of everything. Act old man, 70 years.of age, fell asleep with a dandle hurning by his side. The curtains: caught fire, and the house was sobn in a blaze. The fire was first discovered by Mr. Baker,, who after great difficulty rescued the old man from a horrible death. The house was not insured. V -'K . ... - January 15. A large number of the late employes of Dempsey, contractor, who has failed in the railway reclamation contract, obtained judgment for their wages at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day. ' CHRISTCHURCH. January 15. At the request of the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, the closing of the Suez mail has been extended to admit of answers being sent via Suez to the letters received via San Francisco this morning. The Union Steam Company has been requested to postpone the Ringaroqma's departure from the Bluff until Saturday. For the post of Clerk to the Mount Somers Road Board ninety-two applications. were received.

Captain Slater, of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, has resigned owing to the Defence Office declining to take notice of his repeated, applications for a drill instructor for the corps. At a meeting of members of the New Zealand Rifle Association last evening, Major Lean, who was in the chair, said that as the first meeting of the Association at Nelson was so great a success, it would be a pity if Canterbury did not contribute to the, success of the second meeting in the same degree as it had to the other. During" the evening the Engineer and Artillery Companies promised five guineas each, and eventually a Committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions in aid of the March meeting.

The session of the Primitive Methodist Conference closed yesterday. The following appointments of ministers were made for the ensuing year: —New Plymouth, Rev. J. Sharp.; Wellington, Revs. D. Dutton and W. S. Potter ; Auckland, Revs, J. Long and J. Nixon ; Invercargill, Rev. C. E. Ward ; Timaru, Rev. J. Dumbell; Thames, Rev. T. W. Adamson ; Dunedin, Revs. J. Ward, D. G. Ford, and G. Smith; Greendale, Rev. J. Guy; Chrisi church, Rev. J. Clover; Manawatu, Revs. P. W. Jones and J. H. Luke ; Ashburton, Rev. A. G. Smith; Geraldine, Rev. T. Saddler; Oamaru, Rev. C. B. Barley. Student Examiners, Revs. D. Dutton and C. E. Barley. The next district session will be held at Dunedin in January, 1881.

GRAHAMSTOWN. January 14. Some Maoris came into Grahamstown to demand the bodies of a half-caste and a native who had died a violent death, they having heard that Government had authorised an inquest, and believing the bodies had been taken charge of. Tha Maori, it seems, was jealous of his wife's fidelity and killed her with a billet of wood, and hanged himself the next minute. The native officers said it would be injudicious to interfere, and no inquiry v.'a 3 held.

January 15. The Star opened a , subscription list yesterday in aid of the Irish distress. A fire broke out yesterday in a tworoomed cottage, which was consumed with contents. The fire originated through carelessness. Sir George Grey will visit the Thames after the opening of the Auckland College. Pastor Chiniquy will charter the Rotomahana for self and Auckland friends, in order to visit the Thames. I TAURAiSTGA. January 14 : The consignment of ova for here was landed at 1 p.m. The box was opened, and the ova was found in splendid condition.

WAITARA. January 14. The Hannah Mokau returned from Mokau this morning, bringing twenty tons of coal. The steamer went up twenty-two miles, and anchored in five fathoms. Owing to snags in the river she was unable to proceed further with safety. The coal was brought from a distance of six iniles in canoes. The mine is immediately alongside the river bank, and vessels could lie alongside and take in their cargoes. The engineer states it is of excellent quality, and far superior to the Bay of Islands coal.

NELSON. January 14. A young woman named Clara Palmer, a patient in the Hospital, attempted to strangle herself yesterday. She has been examined by two medical men to-day, and committed to the Lunatic Asylum.

NEW PLYMOUTH. January 14. A native named Te Taki was burned to death in liis whare at Waihi last Friday night. The price of grass seed has fallen very considerably since last season. Ten thousand bushels have been offered, and. refused at 3d per lb. It is said that the price for grass seed will be as low as 2Jd this season.

TIMARU. January 15. A man last night walked into the Police Station enquiring for the post-office. He was locked up for being drunk, and fined, five shillings this morning. Mr. Guinness, the Resident Magistrate at Temuka, has announced his determination to fine the owners of cattle trespassing on the railways in the maximum penalty of five pounds. His brother magistrate at Waimate is content with a penalty of five shillings. A singular case of supposed suicide was reported this morning. William Willis, a farm and station laborer, arrived in Timaru from Albury last Friday, and took up his quarters in the Old Bank Hotel. Early oil Monday evening, after drinking a glass of gin and bitters, he retired to his room apparently in excellennfc spirits. Nothing more was seen of him, and the landlord supposed that he had left the house till last evening about midnight, When the" landlord went to the room to get a bed for a lodger and found the door locked. A servant girl then stated that she had been unable to get into the room for two days. The -police were sent for, and on the door being burst open Willis was found dead, resting on his knees and leaning on the bed. An empty two-ounce chlorodyne bottle was on the floor beside him. An offensive smell showed that decomposition had set in. The deiceased was about 38 years of age, very temperate in his habits, and industrious. It is supposed he committed suicide through some love affair.

BALCLUTHA. January 14. At the Resident Magistrate's Court today, Robert Sellar, for assaulting Robert Dickson with an axe, at Kaitangata, on the 26th December, was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court.