CABLEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1171, 17 January 1880, Page 2

CABLEGRAMS.

LATEST HOME AND FOREIGN NEWS. (SPECIAL TO THE MELBOURNE AGE.) London. January 16. The latest news from Afghanistan states that a strong force is marching from Peshawur to disperse the Afghans. The Kyber Cabulese protest their utter inability to pay the fine imposed for complicity in the rebellion. (SPECIAL TO THE MELBOURNE ARGUS.) London, January 15. A quarrel occurred between Russian and German officers at a regimental dinner. The Russians drew their swords, but the Russian commander averted bloodshed. The officers were escorted to the German frontier by a troop of Hussars. The Globe is of opinion that the increase of the French'and Russian armies forces Germany to resolve on a similar course. The Duke of Cumberland refuses to arrange with Prussia. e DIRECT AUSTRALIAN NEWS. (RKOTER'S TELEGRAM, PERPRESSASSOCIATION.) Melbourne, January 16. A young French half-caste stuck up a station at Gippsland, and confined seven persons for several hours. He remains uncaptured. Sydney, January 16. New Zealand wheat, 4s to 4s 6d per bushel; New Zealand oats, 2s 3d to 2s 6d per 40 lb ; maize, 2s 4d to 2s 6d per CO lb.

The Executive have finally decided to hang Scott and Rogan. Adelaide, January 16.

Adelaide wheat, 5s 2d to 5s 4d per bushel ; Adelaide flour, Ll2 15s to Ll3 5s per ton. Arrived—Orient steamer Lusitania. Brisbane, January 17.

The National Bank of Queensland, at Connamulla, in the Warrego district, was bailed up yesterday by bushrangers, whoso names arc at present unknown. Mr. Murphy, a storekeeper, went to the assistance of tho bank manager, and in a scrimmage with tho bushrangers roceived a sevoro wound in tho head. Somo of tho residents of Connamulla assisted the polico in their pursuit ol tho bushrangers, who wore eventually caught and are now in custody.

(PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON. January 16. At the District Court to-day, Henry Best, commission agent, was summoned by Mrs. Meares for L2OO, moneys alleged to have been received by the defendant as agent for the plaintiff and fraudulently appropriated to his own use. His Honor reserved judgment until to-morrow. Colonel Scratchley inspected the whole of the Wellington Volunteers this evening. There' was a large muster, numbering at least 400. January 17. General entries for the Wellington races will close on Monday night. At the District Court, in the case of Meares v. Best, for L2OO alleged to ; have been fraudulently appropriated, his Honor said he had no doubt the defendant was guilty of fraud, and the whole transaction, as'far as defendant was concerned, was anything but straightforward, and- would not redound to his credit. Judgment was given for LlO5. Frank Hook, lately a member of a pantomime company, and formerly of Christchurch, was arrested to-day on a charge of obtaining LSO from Thomas John Glew, by means of false DUNEDLN. January 16. . Alexander Forbes, a miner, was killed by a fall of earth in a claim near Naseby last night.. • No one knew of the accident till this morning, when his mate, who had left him on the previous night, found him dead, almost wholly covered with earth. Yesterday afternoon Daniel Bell, sailmaker of, the ship Auckland, missed his footing and fell down.the main hold, a distance of 15 feet, striking an iron tank in his fall, and breaking his leg. He; was brought ashore and conveyed to the Dunedin Hospital. The Fish testimonial is to be presented on Monday evening. The meeting will be open to the ratepayers generally, as Mr. Fish has expressed a desire to fully state the whole circumstances connected with the late Mayoralty contest, and his sub-contract with the contractors for the Town Hall. The total subscriptions amount to. L 230. 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. January 17. A rather peculiar case happened at Ravensbourne last night. Alexander Shand was brought up to the North Dunedin Police Station by a" resident of Ravensbourne on a charge of breaking into his dwelling, and it was then found that the man had taken poison, as he was tired of his life, although he does not appear to have vouchsafed any explanation regarding the alleged house-breaking. The man was taken to the Hospital, where he was treated, and is now believed to be out of danger. Over LIOO was subscribed at the meeting this morning of the Irish Famine Relief Committee.

CHRISTCHURCH. January 16. The rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday last, as registered by Mr. J. B. Stansell, was 1.71 inches. There was a heavy thunderstorm between 3 and 4 o'clock this afternoon, accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning, and hail. It lasted about an hour and a half. The rain was very heavy. January 17. The rainfall in the vicinity of Christchurch, registered on 13th and 14th inst., was 1 - 71 inches.. Very successful field trials of Wood's, Johnston's, aiid Deering's reapers and twine binders took place yesterday at Prebbleton and Rangiora, in the presence of a large number of farmers. The case of Dransfield v. Creyke was finished yesterday. The jury was locked up in the Court all night.

AUCKLAND. January 16. A double attempt was made to upset the Waikato trains to-day by placing large blocks of scoria on the rails near the mouth, of the Domain tunnel. The diligence of the drivers prevented the success of the dastardly attempt. The police are investigating the mystery. About two chains of railway embankment was washed away on the Kaipara line by the late rains. A Thames deputation waited on Mr. Whitaker, to urge the continuation of work on the Grahamstown-Waikato railway. Mr. Whitaker said his only influence with the Government was that of an ordinary member, and that as he was personally interested, in the line, ■he had abstained from interference in the matter. The deputation should lay their case before the Minister for Works, who was expected to visit Auckland shortly. The first step to be taken would be to settle the claims to compensation. It would be necessary to overcome the obstinacy of Tukino, and come to come definite arrangement with that chief before the line could be proceeded with. Mr. Brodie said the sum of LIO9O would be amply sufficient to settle all such claims. The Mayor said the people of the Thames would be satisfied if the construction of the line to Puroui (eight miJes) were commenced. The Mayor promised that a statement in writing should be drawn up and handed to Mr. Whitaker for transmission to the Minister for Public Works.

NAPIER. January 15. The recent rains have done very little, if any, damage to the crops. A fire at Kopua sawmills to-day did damage to the extent of LIOO before it was extinguished. The place was insured in the New Zealand Company. The cause of the fire is unknown. The natives at Awanui, on the East Coast, have stopped Mr. EFaig, surveyor, in surveying a block of land at Waipu. One man warned the party off the ground, and went away threatening to return with an armed party. Under the circumstances, Major Ropata has written to Mr. Haig saying he had better not survey for the present. GRAHAMSTOWN. January 17. Pastor Chiniquy lectured on " Why he and 25,000 others left the Roman Catholic Church" at the Theatre Royal last night, to a good audience. The meeting was orderly, but there was a feeling of disappointment at his lecture. The desire to sell his books and receive money apparently supersedes his advocacy of what, in his opinion, is true Christianity. A great advance has occurred in the price goldinining shares. Whau shares, which were sold a week ago at 30s, are now at 100s. *' TIMARU. January 16. Two men iiamed William Riley and Robert Robertson were arrested to-day charged with robbery and violence. They were identified by a man named M'Nulty as the two men who had robbed him on the road near the town the previous night. Subsequently one of them was identified by another man who was robbed a week ago about the same place. A hailstorm passed over this district this afternoon. Subsequently very heavy rain fell, and it is f oared that ifc will injure the crops. Harvesting has just commenced.

January 17. William Riley and ; Robert Robertson, two strangers from Dunedin, were arrested at Washdyke for robbery" with violence. There are three charges against them of bailing up drunken .men in Timaru, and taking money and valuables from them. The prisoners were remanded till Wednesday. . John Coll, for fraudulent insolvency, was also remanded, bail being allowed — himself in L2OO and two sureties of LIOO each. The violence of the thunder storm yesterday was so great that two telegraph poles were broken and one splintered. Two vivid flashes passed through the lightning guards in the Timaru Telegraph Office, with reports like pistols, but without doing any damage. The heavy rain of the last day. or two has done scarcely any perceptible damage to the crops in this district. The wheat and oats on the plains are looking splendid, and harvesting will be general in from five to ten days. The barley crop is rather patchy. It is anticipated that the Albury railway line will be taxed to its utmost to convey grain to the seaport. The country for forty miles from Timaru to the foot of Burke's Pass is one vast sea of rapidly ripening grain.

ASHBURTOK, January 16. At the Resident Magistrate's Court today a lengthy case was heard, in which R. W. Shearman sued H. Knight, Permanent Way Inspector of the New Zealand Railways, for L 46 odd. The claim was for nobblers supplied to a number of workmen who were employed at the railway protective works at the Ashburfcon River in 1877, and were ordered by defendant. The latter disputed his liability, though he ordered them. Judgment was reserved. The weather has been fine until this evening, when heavy showers fell, and at about 9 p.m. the weaiher still looked very threatening. The Mayor has called a meeting for Monday next to take steps towards raising subscriptions for the relief of the distress in Ireland. It is expected that a good sum will be raised here. XNVERCARGILL. January 16. The scaffolding at the new Law Court, now in course of erection in Tay-street, gave way this afternoon, precipitating five men to the ground, a distance of 30 feet; one of the men, George Smith, is believed to be fatally hurt, while two others have sustained serious injuries ; the other two escaped with a shaking and a few bruises. The three severely injured men are now in the Hospital, the extent of their injuries is not known.