TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1274, 7 May 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON.

May 6. The following alteration is made in the regulations under the Civil Service Act : The daily travelling allowance will be paid for any day during eight hours of which the officer'shall be absent from his usual residence, but reasonable -expenses actually incurred will be paid in all other cases on production of the proper vouchers. Return of telegrams forwarded, and the revenue received during the quarter ending March : Telegrams forwarded during the March quarter of 1880—342,862 ; cash revenue received, L 18,300 2s 7d; corresponding quarter of 1879—telegrams forwarded, 391,487 ; cash revenue, L 21,993 6s 6d. The value of (government telegrams transmitted during the quarter ending March, 1880, was L 6168 17s 9d ; and for the corresponding quarter of 1879, L 7195 14s 7d. The notice confirming the declaration made by the South Auckland Cattle Board, of infected places, appears in the Gazette. DTJNEDIN. May 6. Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co. received to-night the following cablegram, dated London, gth May Greasy merino selling about equal to closing rates of last sales > washed.and scoured merino a shade above closing rates of last sales ; greasy crossrbreds 2d and washed cross?breds 3d under closing rates of last sales. May 7.

Among this week's insolvencies is Henry Houghton, shipowner, with liabilities amounting to L 15,462, and assets L 18.970. OHIIISTQHyiICH. May 7. A polling test to ascertain the wishes of the citizens respecting the raising of a loan and proposed water rate took place yesterday. It is supposed that 1300 votes were recorded. The result is yet unknown. On Wednesday 63§1 bags of grain were carried on the Ghristchurch section. The number of bags at the various stations yesterday was 21,057. Conditionally on the consent of the Government Mr. John Oliver will be a candidate for the Mayorality at the election. At a jneetipg held at Lyttejton last night it was resolved that the (government be informed that the memorialists will form themselves into a Naval Volunteer Brigade. The question of capitation to be settled hereafter. AUCKLAND. May 6. At an evangelistic service torn|gh.t at the Young Men's Christian Association's rooms, while singing a hyxnn, a man named John Metcalf dropped down dead, it is believed from heart disease. He had no friends in Auckland, and was aged 55. He had bepn in straightened circumstances and out of employ. An attempted murder took place last night at Whangarei. Between eight and nine o'clock Mr. Edwin Washer came into the township and reported to Constable Hammond that Jame3 Smith had attempted to murder him and his wife by firing two rounds of ball cartridge at them from a revolver. On Constable Hammond visiting the scene of the outrage, he found a revolver on the floor with two chambers empty and four loaded. One of the balls was found lodged in the leather of a pair of braces. After the shots were fired the men closed, and a sheath knife dropped from the would-be assassin's coat. Meantime Mrs. Washer succeeded in making her escape to a neighbor's house, where she gave the alarm. No reason can as yet be assigned for the outrage. Before the constable arrived Smith had succeeded in making his escape. Constable Hammond was in search of him the whole hightj but without success. In the meantime the search still continues. Smith is supposed to be concealed somewhere in the bush.

Sir George Grey proceeds south in the Te Anfiu about the 12th, and will probably address meetings in Olu'istchurch, Dun: edin, and InvercargilL

May 5. At the Police Court to-day, Sarah Bostocb, for smuggling jewellery, was fined LIOO and costs, with the alternative of six months' imprisonment. Mr. Brookfield, Crown Prosecutor, withdrew a second charge. The Bench hoped that her personal effects would be returned. Mr, Brookfield replied that everything should be forfeited, but no doubt her clothing and necessaries would be returned.

Richard Ash Wilkinson has been fined for selling milk adulterated with water. Mr. Reader Wood will address his constituents tornight. The Faircloughs and (31ara Stevenson are coming to Auckland, j The Auckland Shipwrights' Association have adopted rules and appointed an Executive Qommittep to protect the interest of the shipping trade, and will communicate with the Government respecting their grievances. One grievance is the payment of overtime after Customs hours for work done on ships. Smith, the Frenchman who attempted to shoot the woman Washer, at Whangarei, and her husband, has been arrested. A further telegram shows that Smith made an iipproppr proposal to Mrs. Washer, which she rejected, Mrs. Ward, a resident of Chapel-street, attempted suicide by jumping down a well, but was rescued. She is supposed to be deranged. The boys concerned in stealing biscuits from a case on the wharf were discharged, except two, who - were sentenced to 48 hours' imprisonment and a whipping. HOKITIgA, May 6.

A small party of miners, writing from I Big Bay under date 20th April, state that they are earning about 35s per week each. They add : " As there is any quantity of fish and game, we can live for about 7s or §s a week. It is a wonder some of the unemployed dp not come down here, in place of hanging about the towns. I'hey might put in the winter here very comfortably." A miner working on his own account at Okarito 'Forks is reported to have extracted gold tp the value of L2SG in eleven weeks. He sold the gold to a bank in Ross, and has returned to his work. The recent rush to the Forks is not so well reported of, thp ground being very patchy, and only one or two claims are as yet payable.