TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1173, 20 January 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(PER. PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON. - January 19. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works" left for the South to-day. ' He visits Dunedin and Inverbargill, and after inspecting the western' railway, proceeds to the West Coast. . The damage to crops by the recent rains is not so. serious as was at first expected.. Colonel Scratchley., accompanied by Captain Johnston, Secretary of ■ the Marine Department, left for Lyttleton this afternoon, for the purpose of reporting on the .defence of the harbors of Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, and:,the Bluff. The actual valuation for general .rates for 1880-81 has been struck, and shows an increase of L 9853 over the previous year, notwithstanding the large loss of valuable pi'operty by the extensive fire in June last at the opera house. Over Ll5O has been subscribed in aid of the Irish distress fund. Dr. Redwood has issued instructions for collections to be made in all Roman Catholic churches in hi 3 diocese, in aid of the funds. The Armed Constabulary at Waihi have subscribed L4l to the list opened by the Evening Post. Mr. Watson, of Watson, Gow, and Co., Glasgow, denies the assertion made by the Chairman of the Local Industries Committee, Christchuroh, to the effect that after seeing the local stove manufactory, he said it was no use their sending out any more stoves from home. January 20. : H.M.S. Cormorant proceeds to the Heads this afternoon for a shot and shell practice.

The Libel action of Anderson v. Kirkbride—a claim for L2OOO damages for an alleged libel published in a leading article of the Rangitikei Advocate on the 16th of September last—is now being heard at the Supreme Court.- - DUNEDJN, / V ' * January Electriafire indicators 'have* now ; been fixed "throughout the" city7"and connected |sifh the cehtral fire brigade statiop. ; ;: They ?"Work very •tfell. ~ ; ' V#*; &':■ -Chiarini's Circus proprietor; a benefit on Friday, for the Irish famine relief fund;' >;- January 20. The annual meeting of the Fire Brigades' Association is attended by five delegates. Superintendent Harris has 13eeiT're r elect Preside nt, and Fireman Rdbertson Hon. Sec. r " The latter has als s o been, appointed Corresponding Secretary to'"Hxe~lßnited Association ' 'of Great" Britain. /> f\ In the Supreme Court to-day,, a special jury "is trying'the validity of the will of the late, David Calder, of Caversham, which is'disputed'by several o'f his family, on the ground of the undue influence of his youngest daughter. His property is; valued at over ,LIO,OOO, and is left to the four youngest of the family, all l the others being excluded.' CHRISTCHURbH. : ' - January 20. : At the annual meeting :of the Harbor Board yesterday, it-was stated that during the year the Board's steam hoppers had steamed collectively 35,000 miles. ; Colonel Scratchley arrived this morning to inspect the Lyttelton Harbor with a view to the erection of defences. The Harbor Board have placed the steam tug Lyttleton at his disposal. ; • 7 At the private; Yolunteer Court of Enquiry held recently, ■ before Major Lean, to investigate the charge of insubordination and carelessness at the Cashmere Range, it seems that the squad from the cadets and another company were firing at the hundred and two hundred yards ranges. The adults fired over :the cadets heads, and a sergeant of- artillery, who was in charge of the senior team, persisted' in firing after being ordered to stop. The result of the enquiry is that,- the sergeant has been severely reprimanded. A successful trial of Wood's harvester and string binder, and Marsh's harvester, with Deering twine binder, took place yesterday on Mr. Stark's ' farm, on the Lincoln road. A good many visitors were present. The Clydesdale entires on board the barque Demonstrant have been passed by the inspecting veterinary sdrgeon, and permission will be given to land them today. AUCKLAND. January 20. Messrs. Grant and Foster (the Lincolnshire agricultural delegates) have left for Christchurch, in compliance with a special invitation to examine the crops in Canterbury and Otago.. After visiting the South, they will return to the North to examine the districts north of Auckland, and other districts omitted. By the next San Francisco mail steamer a party of twenty or thirty converts from Canterbury will leave for Utah. Their passages were taken by the elders here. Mr. Bryce has telegraphed to the natives at the Cambridge meeting that he has stopped the survey of the Pete were block, and will consider their request for the withdrawal of the Government proclamation, throwing the block open to private purchasers, after the next meeting of Parliament. The natives disclaim that there was any need to stop the survey of the block, which is one on which the Governpaid Mr. Brissenden LSOOO to purchase his interests in it, and consists of 249,000 acres of fine land. The natives are being prompted by a few land speculators, and, if the Government listen to them, there will be great dissatisfaction. The railway to Taupo will probably go through the block. A new Catholic school, which was built through the exertions of Father Henneberry, was opened yesterday. GRAHAMSTOWN. January 20. Twenty-two applications have been received by the Governors of the High School for the post of head teacher. The applications will be opened to-morrow. The owners of forfeited shares ill the old Whau Mine intend testing the question whether or not the forfeiture will hold good at law. Legal talent has already been engaged. KELSON. January 19. The Foxhill railway station office was broken into on Saturday, and between L 5 and L 6 in gold and silver abstracted, the notes being left. The working surveys for the six miles of railway from Bells Grove towards Arundel, for which money was voted last session, are completed, and in a fortnight the working plans will be finished, and the Government be in a position to call for tenders. January 20. A large stable belonging to Mr. W. Hunt .was burned on Sunday. The origin of the fire is unknown. There were no insurances. .. The.stable. ; was filled witli new hay. ' NAPIER. ; ... . January 19. ! Dr. Hector has furnished Mr. Tanner' with an.; analysis of ' a specimen of coal found at Waikara Stream, within twenty mile's of Napier. This'shows- the coal to be of exceptionally "fine quality for all purposes, the percentage of gas being very liigh; It is different from all other coals found injthe-C6l6ny r -But it= is nearer the Kawakawa coal than any other. The. locality will probably be prospected shortly in seareh of the seam. _ 7 January 19. At tlie R.M. .Court to-day,' John. Griffin, late barman at the Club Hotel, was (Committed for trial: at the' Supreme Court for larceny of money from a till. A .quantity, of: marked coin w;as: traced to his possession.. •; At a. meeting of the Geraldine County Council to-day, the' slaughterhouse fees were'fixed. ' Anyone killing two large or ten small cattle per week will pay an annual license of L2 r and ovier that number a license of "L 5. It was resolved to apply to the Government for a temporary advance of L?00v The weather is again very favorable for harvesting, and operatiohs'are rapidly becoming general. " The crops-are looking magnificent. . ; : : ASHBURTON. ■ ; ' January 19. The- weather is now. unsettled, and a heavy south-west wind, with slight rain, has now set in,