TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1268, 30 April 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WTOPfGTON. April 20.

The nomination for the Rangitikei election takes place on • the sth of May, and the poll on the Bth. The Caroline arrived in harbor from London this afternoon after an uneventful passage of 11Q days, She bring§ abqqt 250 passengers, who arrive in excellent health, not a single death having occurred during the voyage. April 30. At a meeting of the <3}ty (3pu'n C il, Mr. Whitefoord, Superintendent of the late Wellington Fire Brigade, was appointed superintendent of the new brigade about to be formed. < The charge against Wtfl. J)evereus for arson is now proceeding. CH]RISTCHURCH. April 29. At the Acclimatisation Society's meeting to-day, an attempt was made to get thejj coursing fee for dogs reduced from 10s to 5s each. This was resisted, but an amendment was carried that bona fide owners should pay 10s for the first dog, and 5s for everyone after that. The Council also decided to reinforce the head money on hawks previously withdrawn, as they were found to be begomiiig a nuisance. Six stacks of wheat, belonging to the Bank of New South Wales, at Leeston, were burned" down yesterday. It is supposed to have been a case of incendiarism. They were insured in the Norwich TJnion for L 250, which will not nearly cover the l° ss - . . A couple of blocks of land in Lower High-street, one abutting on the Ijast Belt, and the other a little nearer town, were sold by auction to-day for a total of L 4280. This is considered exceedingly good. It is" stated that Sir George Grey is coming to Christchurch next week. A company has been formed with a capital of L 45,000 to purchase a section of land outside Christchurch East, for a recreation ground, to whiph entrance can be charged. This will be let to a new cricket club, and used for all kinds of gatherings, athletic principally, and is expected to prove a great success. It will be a great success to the game of cricket. NAPIER. April 29. At an inquest on the fire at the Commercial Hotel a7verdict was returned that the building was burnt down under very suspicious circumstances, but that evidence of the origin of-the fire does not appear to the jury. The above verdict is not in accordance with a general opinion that there is nothing suspicious connected with the fire. AUCKLAND. April 29. The totalisator cases are concluded, and the defendants have been sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor. !

Private telegrams received here report that Major Atkinson.is ill; that he.is not going to the front .with Mr. Bryce, and

j that he requires rest, Sailed —Hinemoa, Messrs. Whitaker e and Bryce are passengers, and the tnaterials for Lord's bridge at Opunake. Mr. Bryce will meet Major Atkinson at 1 New Plymouth. Mr. Whitaker is anxious to reach Wellington to consult his colleagues re measures for Parliament, but 3 he will remain at New Plymouth if his i advice shpuld be necessary, and afterf wards go to Wellington overland, t The case of Smith v. Palmer, for L3QOO damages for, a breach of., contract, has closed at the Supreme Court, The jury ' awarded one farthing damages. 1 Sir George Grey is expected from Kawau next Tuesday, and will address a meeting at the Theatre Royal. A girl named Annie Wallis, aged 3 years and 5 months, was fatally burnt at ' Hunua. In reply to a deputation of Northern I settlers, the Attorney-General promised . that the Government will offer facilities » for vine culture, by settin'g apart an area of land for the purpose, and aiding any f special Settlement for vine growing. 1 Eight.thousand acpes of v&ste lands ' haWbeen handed over for administration ; to the Wfiste Lands . Board since last ; meeting. April 80. ' The charge against Samuel Coombes, draper, for ' endeavoring to influence .. Martin and "Mason, jurors, in favor of Hughes, who was acquitted on a charge of indecent assault at the last sessions of th§ Supreme Court, is being heard on a sujqjnjo'ng ,i|t tjjp Police Court to-day. John Mason, hairdresser, dppoged that after he wag summoned fop the jury thp defendant came to Jiis shop for a shave, and enquired which of the two brothers was on the jury. On being told hp. said that he (Mason) would be on the jury in Hughes' case. Upon Mason asking how hp knew that, Coombes said, "It has been all arranged, and I have come to see you about it." He also said he had come to see how far Mason would be favorable to Hughes. Mason said that if the person who had sent Coombes had come himself he woujd frave wanted a largersiged hat. Coombes produced a li§t of jurors hp had to see. Masop's brother gave corroborative evidence.. The case is proceeding. Coombe has been committed for trial on both charges of embracery. Bail to the amount of L6OO has been allowed. { TIMARU.

■4pril 29. At a numerously attended nie.eiing of merchants, farmers, and others to-day, it was resolved to form a company with a capital of L 50,000, to buy up the present Waitaugi flour and sawmills at Timaru, together with 600 acres kauri bush in the North, an,d other property in connection, valued at over L40,0Q0. April 80. The Geraldine County Council has passed a resolution to-day requesting the Governor to isgue an Qrderrin-Council prohibiting the importation of pattje by pen to the South Island, whether from ; the North Island or the Australian color , nies. [ James M'lTulty, who was bound over . to prosecute at the Supreme Court in the watch-stealing case, was charged on re- ] mand from Dunedin with being about to 1 leaye the Colony. The accused pleaded s that, hearing of his father's illness, he had > been drinking hard apd iptende4 going s home to England to the old people. ®he t Bench said that he had qualified himself t for the Lunatic Asylum, and committed j him to gaol till he should find a surety of i LIOO, expressing the hope that he should s not do so. , t