TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1200, 20 February 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. February 19. A number of Wellington Maoris are taking great interest in the West Coast Commission, and have applied to the Native Minister for passages to. Taranaki for the purpose of giving evidence. The subscription list in aid of the Irish distress fund amounts to nearly LSOO, which includes LIOO collected at Picton, and sent for transmission. A boy named George Denis Richardson was drowned in the harbor, at the back of the railtVay station, this evening. He was waikjngont with his father, and, while playing about, fell oft" the reclamation. He was missed shortly afterwards, and a search made resulted in finding him in the water. All efforts. to restore animation were of no. avail. February 20. A .deputation from the unemployed waited on the Government this morning with reference to obtaining employment. The Minister replied that the Government intended opening several roads, which were to be let in small, contracts, and would afi'ord employment to a large number 6f men. - ' ' ' DUNEDIN. February 20, The Star is authorised to state that the Union Company will take Yolunteers from

any port to Nelson and back at single fares.

Gunner Henry, of the Dunedin Naval Brigade, with 31 points, takes the L 5 prize in the Cadet district prizes. There were 112 competitors. The Kaitangata Fund trustees distributed -during the year Ll4G4i. There have been four additional on fund, and four widows have remarried.

CHRISTCHURCH. : j; . / February 19.' The Chamber of Commerce decided,to appoint 'a deputation <to wait on Mr. Oliver before he leaves, relative to the charges 011 the Lyttelton line, which are said to be heavier than on the Port Chalmers line. .„ ■ - ; ; _ ,

The . members of .the Public WorksCommission are said to be Messrs "Ciirtis, Thompson.—:(late - Surveyor,. Wright (member for Coleridge), and Col. Tritnblie : (meihbier for Grey I ahd| Bell]_ Taranaki). Mr. Oliver visited North Canterbury to-day, and was inundated' by demands from Kaiapoi, Rangiora, and other places. He promised to give the Kaiapoi Borough Council i 500 towards making good the damage caused by the railway works, in the river. After getting through the business, the party inspected the Northern Railway Extension, and returned to jChristchurch late in the evening. . A deputation -oi .stock-grower? -to-day waited upon Messrs. Robert Wilkin and Co. to ascertain if it were possible to take immediate steps to get.a vessel to come to New Zealand to load with meat, under the BeJl-Cb'leman process; ,; for the English market. The deputation were of opinion that if such could be done, stock-owners generally would be willing to subscribe towards the cost, with'-the view of testing liow New Zealand meat would, do in the London market, and how far it would relieve the local stock market in the present state of low prices. One of the directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company; who was present, stated that the subject had been discussed by the directors of the. Shipping Company, arid they had already | taken steps to ascertain thie' cost of the process, and how far' sailing vessels, were suitable for the conveyance^of meat, and I what advantage producers in New, Zealand would gain by it. , Messrs. Wilkinand Co.' promised to take immediate steps to ascertain whether there was any chance of procuring a .steanier, but they were of opinion that there would be no chance of getting a vessel'to come to New Zealand till a company was floated and the whole process more fully developed. The deputation comprised men who are large producers of fat stock. February 20. The district meeting of the Rechabites, held yesterday, decided to hold their next annual meeting at Taranaki. A resolution was passed asking the officers of the various tents to render assistance to Mr. Matliew Burnett 011 his visit to New Zealand. The Temperance Herald was appointed the official organ of the order. Newly elected officers were installed., aud the proceedings closed. The Minister for Education (Mr. Rolleston) is expected to arrive to-day. The Acclimatisation Society have resolved that the duck shooting season shall be from April Ist. to July 31st, and the pheasant shooting season from Ist to 30th June, both days inclusive, and that hare 3 be not shot this season. AUCKLAND. February 20. ■The Artillery- corps has • presented a, testimonial to Sergt.-Major Drill Instructor (Hydfj.who is being removed to Wellington. Plans for the new Bank of New South Wales are completed, and a large and substantial building will be erected in Queen-street. The prejudice against the French Communists is so 'great that householders refuse to let houses to them.- Employers of labor also look with suspicion on them, and refuse to employ even political exiles. TIMARU. February 19. There wa3 only a small attendance at the public meeting called to-night re Irish relief fund. A committee was appointed to canvass for subscriptions. The Catholics in Timaru have already subscribed about LBO, those in Temuka Ll3O, and the Waimate people L 325Arrangements have been completed for a number of direct, grain vessels from Timaru to London this season. GISBORNE. February 19. The first day's racing of the annual races took place to-day. The jockey Thompson, who rode Sylvia in the County Stakes, and Rolls, who rode Mama in the Maiden Plate, were both disqualified from ever riding aga'ii. In the latter case the owner lias been allowed one .week to show whether or hot he was a -party to the swindle. The horses were pulled by the the jockeys in a most open manner.