TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1170, 16 January 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(pee press association.) WELLINGTON. January 15. It is understood that his Honor Justice Johnston and Mr. W. Reed, SolicitorGeneral, have been appointed commissioners to consolidate the statutes of the Colony. It is reported that Sir Francis Dillon Bell and Sir W. Fox have definitely accepted seats on the Royal Commission on Native Affairs.

A notification of the relinquishment by Her Majesty of negotiations for the purchase of certain lands in the North Island appears in the Gazette. The treaty of friendship between Great Britain and Tonga appears in the Gazette. Colonel Whitmore lias been appointed colonel of the New Zealand Regiment of Artillery. At the Supreme Court the case of O'Grady v. Johnston and Co. was heard. This was an action to recover L3OOO dajiiages- for alleged breach of agreement on the part of the defendantsin not endorsinga promissory note after havingpromised to do so.; The jury entered a verdict for plaintiff for LlO. ■ r . January 16.

At the Supreme Court, in the case of Piatt v. Moody and Smith, claiming LIOOO for a breach of contract, a verdict was given for L 920. The plaintiff will will only rank as a creditor in the estate. DUNEDIN. December 15. Lieut. D. Christie, East Taieri, has entered for the matches in connection with, the New Zealand Rifle Association's meeting at Nelson in March next. A cable message dated London, January 13, was received in town to-day, giving the following particulars of the advance in iron :—H°op iron, L 9 block l l; common 30s ; Clyde pigs, 75s ; Lynight orb, G.C. iron; 26 guage, L 24 ; No. 8 wire advanced L2 per. ton. With reference to the statement in the Wellington Chronicle that Mr. Robert Stout had been offered a Supreme Court Judgeship by the Government, Mr. Stout has authorised the Times to say that no such offer has ever been made ; that, had it been made, it would not have been accepted ; aud that he does not intend to allow his political opponents to put him on the shelf quite so soon. Very little damage appears to have been done to the crops by the late rain, and the weather to-day has been splendid.

PORT CHALMERS. January 16. Two accidents have occurred at the railway pier. The first was to George Wilson, who was jammed between a case of machinery and the side of a truck, inflicting several bruises on the lower part of his body. The second was of a more serious nature, and occurred to William Rummall. While loading casks from the

ship Marlborough the sling broke, inflicting serious injuries on his head and face. He was at once taken home and attended to by Doctors Drysdale' and Hastings, and great fears are entertained for his recovery. January 16. The workmen on the " unemployed section" of the Central Railway held a meeting over their grievances, and decided to petition the Government for an increase of pay and regular payments. Alexander Forbes, a miner, was killed by a fall of earth in a claim near Naseby last night. The Justices decline to act at the City Police Court till better accommodation is provided. Mr. Fish is to be presented on Monday with a subscription of L 230. Three insolvents have filed, including Simon (hotel-keeper), with liabilities unstated. CHRISTCHURCH. January 15. The King of Italy has conferred upon Professor Yon Haast, director of our Museum, the knighthood of the Order of the Crown of Italy. The insignia and necessary documents were received by yesterday's mail. January 16.

At a meeting of the Licensed Victuallers Association last night a Committee was appointed to revise the by-laws of the Association. A charge of L 5 made by the Association's solicitor for making an application for the transfer of a license from one house to another was mentioned, and a hope expressed that the matter would be laid before the Standing Committee of the Association.

At a meeting last night of the Association for encouraging local industries, the President stated that Mr. Watson, of the firm of Messrs. Watson, Gow, and Co., large ironfounders in Glasgow, during his recent visit to Christchurch called upon him. In the course of conversation he stated that, after seeing the locally-manu-factured stove at the foundry of Messrs. Scott Brothers, it would be useless to send any more stoves to this part of the Colony as they could not compete at Home with such articles.

The s,s. Ringarooma, carrying the outward Suez mail, will not leave the Blufi until 6 o'clock to-morrow morning. The Christchurch letters left by this morning's express train to connect at Dunedin with the express which leaves there to-night with mails and passengers for the steamer. Bust has made its appearance in the crops at Doyleston aud other parts of the Ellesmere district.

Messrs. H. P. Murray-Aynsley and Fulbert Archer have been appointed the Christchurch agents of the Australian and New Zealand Mortgage Company recently formed in London.

AUCKLAND. January 15. On the return of the Rotomahana to this port an inquiry will be held by the R.M. into the accident which occurred to her off the Great Barrier Island.

The barque Aberdeen has sailed for Sew York, with a cargo of gum valued at L 16,500. Mr. Hesketh has been appointed Royal Commissioner by the Government for the purpose of investigating claims at Kakaka block, being part of Te Aroha land. In the case W. Brandon v. City Council, claim i 500 for injury to property through improvements, Judge Gillies and a majority of the assessors awarded L4OO, and costs L 25.

General J. G. Bartlett, late Premier of the Samoa Government, and Mr. Lord, representative of the American Polynesian Company, arrived by the schooner Midge from Tonga. They leave for United States per mail steamer. January 16.

The Hon. Mr. Bryce is expected in Auckland about the end of the month to confer with the Hon. Mr. Whitaker as to local matters.

There are some merchants here heavily weightel with Godeffroy's paper. Waste lands to the value of five thousand pounds will be offered for sale on Monday next, principally in the Waikato district.

CAMBRIDGE. January 15. The following are the results of the races to-day :—Hurdles —M'lntosh's Grey Momus, 1 ; Sportsman, 2; Loafer, 3. Maiden Plate —Walters' Piscatorios, 1; Emma, 2 ; Flora, 3. Cambridge Cup— Dunard's Malvern, 1 ; Walters' Libeller, 2 ; Loch Lomond, 3.

NELSON. January 15. The ship Eastminster will probably sail for Wellington to-morrow night. The steamer Murray is alongside taking the Westland immigrants. January 16. The local Committee of the New Zealand Rifle Association are preparing for the forthcoming meeting. An influential Reception Committee is being formed, and the telegraph department is about erecting an office on the ground at Bridgewater. The Wanganui Cavalry have arranged for a steamer to bring over their horses, and a most successful meeting is looked forward to.

NAPIER. January 15. The Napier portion of the ova was landed at 4 p.m. in good oondition. The Penguin and Hinemoa left Tauraqga last night at 4 o'clock, and an exciting race took place down the coast. This morning, off Gisborne, the Hinemoa headed by 15 miles. She leaves at once for Lyttelton direct, where she is expected to arrive early on Saturday morning. The tail end of the gale, reported as one of the heaviest on this coast, was experienced last night. The weather is now beautiful.

INVERCARGILL. January 15. The Borough Council, at its meeting to-night, decided to vote the Mayor a salary of L3OO per annum. NEW PLYMOUTH. January 15. The Mounted Rifle Volunteers were presented with their colors this afternoon. There was a large number from the country.. The colors were presented to the corps by Major Stapp, on behalf of the ladies. A ball is to be given this evening by the corps to their friends. The coal brought from Mokau is spoken of as very good. The engineer of the Hannah Mokau says he can get more steam up with it than with the Grey. It is to bg tried by the engines on the lines here.