TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1291, 27 May 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(pep. press association.)

WELLINGTON. May 26. The Post states that a statement had been made that the Minister for Public "Works has directed the hours of labor of railway hands to be increased from eight to nine hours/ On inquiry, however, ic finds that no such instructions emanated from the Minister, but during the time of the exceptional pressure from the grain and goods traffic lately, the men were called on by the traffic manager to work an extra hour, this being purely a temporary expedient to meet a special case. The following has been received by the Secretary of the Post Office in connection with the alleged tampering with the mails on board the steamer Rotomahana : —The string fastening a mail bag for the Thames, shipped on board the Rotomahana on the evening of the 24th, was cut by one of the crew while in a state of intoxication, but the mail was not otherwise tampered with. The bag was returned to this office before the steamer left, and was rerfastened, the contents being found correct and undisr turbed. The supposed culprit has been apprehended, and will be charged with the offence. The press have unnecessarily magnified the occurrence. The rain of the last two days has caused another slip on the Wellington and Greytown line this morning, and direct communication was interrupted, but trains ran as far as the slip and exchanged passengers.

DUNEDIN. May 27. Messrs. Cargills, Gibbs, and Co. 's wool telegram, dated London, May 25, says : "Since last telegram no change for bulk of wools."

CHRISTCHURCH. May 26. The Board of Health to-day held a special meeting to consider the proposal to abdicate in favor of the local bodies. A resolution was carried to the effect that the Board considered there should be only one authority, but the local bodies insisted that an amending act should be obtained, giving them power to vest the Board's authority in the latter, the Board remaining in existence as a local health body. At present the Board has power over the same district as the Drainage Board, which includes Christchurch, Sydenham, and part of four circumjacent road boards.

The East Christchurch Pigeon Flying Club had a match to-day from Oamaru to Christchurch. There were 12 entries, and the distance had to be done in five hours or no prize. Mr. Hicks' Forest King did the distance, reckoned at 151 miles, in 4 hours 53 mins ; and the next bird taking 5 hours 10 mins., the'second and third prizes will have to be flown for again.

TIMARU. May 26. Sir George Grey arrived from Dunedin by express train to-day. He addressed a crowded meeting at the Queen's Hall this evening, and met with an enthusiastic reception. His speech was mainly a repetition of those delivered at other large centres. Then Mr. R. Turnbull, member for Timaru, delivered a short address to his constituents, and concluded by moving a vote of th&nks to Sir G. Grey for his able address. The vote was seconded by Mr. R. Wood and carried with cheers. Sir George Grey proceeds to Christchurch to-morrow.

May 27. Mr. Edward Wakefield the member for Geraldine, has issued an address to the electors which occupies two columns of the Herald. He pleads inability to meet his constituents owing to the shortness of the recess and the demands made on his time by public and private business. He claims having carried out his promise to assist in substituting an honest, steady, and economical Government for a reckless and profligate maladministration, and he contends that Mr. Hall and his colleagues have succeeded in their difficult and thankless labor and contrasts the financial chaos that prevailed when they took office with the peace and tranquility which the public mind now enjoys. He say 3 the Ministry may be slow-going, but the Colony wants to put on the brake after running at headlong speed for ten reckless years. The Electoral Bill and Triennial Parliaments Bill had to be forced down the throats of the "Liberals." The Registration of Electors Bill would purify the rolls and disfranchise the dead men and Maori women and children who for years had been polled at northern elections. In conclusion, he defends the Royal Commissions on the ground that they were appointed with the sanction of Parliament.

NEW PLYMOUTH. May 27. Mx Thomas Kelly, the member for New Plymouth, addressed his constituents last night, and was well received. Thanks

for his past services and confidence in him for the future were unanimously expressed. The annual ploughing match came off yesterday notwithstanding the wet weather.

WAIMATE. May 27. The coursing meeting was concluded today with the following results :—Puppy Stakes: Shamrock beat Tois-Tois, and won ; Maritana was third dog. All-Aged Stakes : Queen of the Seas beat Malice, and won.

NAPIER. May 26. A man was arrested up-country on Saturday on suspicion of being the absconding witness Lyons who ran away when wanted for the prosecution of M'Namara for arson at InvercargiU. The prisoner denied his identity, but he had " Mary Murphy" tatooed on his arm, and otherwise he answered the Gazette description. However, a telegram from Inspector Fox, of Invercargill, stated that he would not prosecute, so prisoner was discharged.

Mr. Tobateau, Collector of Customs, retires on a pension. His place will be taken by Mr. E. Patten, collector at Hokitika, who will be succeeded by Mr. Hitch, chief clerk here. At last night's meeting of the Napier School Committee it was decided that in the meetings of Committee shall be open to the press. Some of the clothing of Mr. M'Dougall, who has been missing now for ten days, has been found near the' edge of a precipice, 100 feet high, in the Patea country. It is supposed that he fell from the precipice iuto the river • below, and there met his death. Search is still being made for the body. May 27.

At the District Court to-day, the case of Ellis v, Lauren son, a claim for L 55, was heard, when judgjnent was given for defendant. This was a very interesting case to sporting men. It appears that Laurerir son drew Grand Duchess in a Derby sweep on the Tradesmen's Cup at the last Hawke's Bay races. Ellis agreed to buy Laurenson's ticket for L 25. An agreement was drawn out, sighed by both parties', and stamped. Tho ticket was also endorsed to tho efwne efl'ect. Grand

DucheSs being the only other starter, the holder of the ticket was entitled to LIOO. Laurenson then instructed the holder of the sweep money not to pay Ellis, and Laurenson received it himself. Hence the action. > The judgment caused considerable surprise.

AUCKLAND. May 26. The brigantine Helena, has sailed for Oamaru. ,

The City of Sydney did not sail for San Francisco till 2.30 this morning, owing to. the Tararua being late. The Tararua was 34 hours on the passage from Gisborne, owing to strong head winds.

The ketch Fanny Thornton, 80 tons, went ashore at the South Head, Hokianga, on Sunday, She was bound for Sydney at the time with a cargo of 60,000 feet sawn timber, and when off the Heads the vessel missed stays, and drifted ashore. Dempsey, a sailor, who was at the wheel, was severely hart, and rendered senseless. An inquiry was held yesterday, and the certificate of the captain was returned, the opinion of the court being that he was not to blame. The Fanny Thornton was owned by Beverley, of Balmain, New South Wales, and was insured with Metcalfe and Co., Sydney, for LI2OO. The cargo was insured for L 273 in the Colonial. The wreck will be sold on Friday. For a clerkship of LlgQ a yeqr in the. Education Board office 91 iapplications were received.. The Government steamer Hinemoa left Manakau for Wellington with a portion of the Auckland-members of the General Assembly, including Mr. Q'Rorke, the Speaker. A number of them were, however, unable to leave by her to-day, and she will therefore return at the end of the weelc.

W. H. Bartlett, arrested for the larceny of a mail bag on board the Rotomahana was remanded till ]V£onday. The shipwrights haye formed a society distinct from the Shipwrights' Protection Society. The object is to supply men to non-society employers and work in unison with the ship owners. The association is allowing men to work for whom and how they please. A man named Robert Thomson fell through a glass verandah at the Albert Hotel this morning, sustaining several injuries. • Frederick Oram, charged with forging and uttering a cheque for L 7 was committed for trial.

At the Police Court, Bloom, a respectable storekeeper, was charged with obstructing the police in the execution of their duty. Inspector Pardy said the constables used unnecessary violence and withdrew the charges. Bloom had laid a charge of assault against Constables Ross and Ig'oe, but withdrew it on the promise that the men be punished under the police regulations and pay Lll expenses. The particulars are these: Bloom was standing in front of his own shop door, when he was ; told to move on. He refused, and the two constables then knocked him down, knelt on him, handcuffed, and dragged him to the station. He was locked up in a cell with two drunkards, and refused bail until Mr. Cosgrave, J.P., procured his release. The case caused much public indignation. Ross is a young member of the force. May 27.

The Auckland members intend to make a combined attack on the Government early in the session. The reported discovery of coal at Maliuranga proves a very valuable and deep deposit. The City Council last evening decided to send to England for twelve sets of electric fire alarms, with telephone. Sergt.-Major Mason was entertained at a farewell banquet last night, prior to leaving for Christchurch, Mr. Harris, M.H.R., received a vote of confidence, at Hawick. In reply to a. question, he said he would oppose Sir George Grey's proposal for an elective Governor.

The Railway Commissioners received a deputation at Cambridge. The deputation urged that the traffic to Cambridge was two-fifths of the whole of the Wai-kaco-carrying trade. Mr. Whitaber, M.H.R., urged the construction of a second section to the Thames, so as to establish communication with Katikati. Mr. Sheehan said the main line of railway to Wellington must pass through Cambridge by the East Coast and down to the Wanganui River. The Commissioners then took evidence on oath.

The City Council last night resolved to co-operate with the other municipal bodies to bring pressure on the Government to secure a continuance of the subsidies.