TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 15 October 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(PER press association.) WELLINGTON. Octobor 14. The Marine Department is to be amalgamated with the Customs. Captain Johnson (19 years' service), head of the former, receives compensation for los 3 of office. A notice issued by Government states that as spring advances the number of men employed on public works will be reduced, and that any employer of labor requiring the geryiceg of these men are requested to communicate with the emigration officers in charge of works. October 15. . Sir Julius Vogel has sent in his resignation of the Agent-Generalship. He will be told that it is accepted, but will be asked to retain office until his successor relieves him- The appointment of a successor is ujjdejr the consideration, of the Government, DUNEDIN. October 14. Captain Thomson, harbormaster, reporting to the Harbor Board to-day, stated that there was an earthquake wave on the 7th inst. at the Heads. The water is sajd ,to have risen 18 incheß. ;• The Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, at their meeting this afternoon, adopted a petition to the President and Congress of the United States, asking for such a restriction tin the duty on imported wool as would foster increased commercial intercourse between that country' and the Australian colonies. jSotqe.anpmaliea i& the railway -tariff were

pointed out, the consideration of which was deferred until the next meeting of the Chamber. October 15. A child of a; Mr. Weiler, of Bnndigo, aged i y.earSj Vfas drownedthrough falling into a water cask: In Chambers to-day the Judge ordered the disci)arge of- Alexander Ahnan and Mary Hood, who were concerned in the illicit distillation near Palmerston. Later. Annan and Hood wei-e to-day liberated on bail under a writ of habeas corpus, pending a determination as to the legality of their arrest, which is to be argued to-morrow. _ .. The residence of .Mr. Porteus,, Leith- i street, was gutted this afternoon bv "fire. The occupiers were absenti , The house was insured in the National for L 350, the risk being on the joint building, the other part of which was not burnt. CHRISTCHURCH. October 14.

A preliminary meeting was held yesterday afternoon at the offices of Messrs. H, Wilkin and Co., to consider the feasibility of constructing a railway to the West Coast via Cannibal Gorge. Mr. Wickes, ex-Mayor of Greymouth, and Mr. Guinness, Chairman of Grey County Council, addressed the meeting, which appointed a committee to report on Monday next ; and adjourned. An impostor named Jackson, who is known at the Police Court as a frequent drunk and disorderly, has been arrested for going round with a list to collect subscriptions on behalf of one John Brown, who had lost one hand by a surf boat accident at Timaru, and wished to procure a hook in its place. Jackson had obtained about 15s, mostly in sums of a shilling or less. When arrested he had about 83 in his possession, and had evidently spent the remainder in ft " gprpp. " October 15. The greyhound Gill Gill, imported from Australia, where she was a great winner, has been poisoned at Yaldhurst. The new Oddfellow's Hall, Lichfieldstreet, was opened yesterday. There were 200 at supper. AUCKLAND. October 14. The police authorities have not obtained a claimant for a quantity of spirits, &c., found buried in the, Wangamata. Charles Hodge, who was arrested for stealing a watch and money in Sydney, value Ll7, was discharged today by the magistrate. He admitted his guilt, but the New South Wales Government would not go to the expense of prosecuting. At the Waste Lands Board to-day. Moffat applied for a prospector's license. He had discovered some ?_rold-bearing quartz in the Kainwhanau Ranges near Haglan, and he wished protection for his discovery. It was agreed to. request the applicant to state the location of his discovery. A letter was received from Captain Steele, acaepiing the Board's modified terms for the sale of 'the Te Aroha block to the Grant and Foster colonist party, on the promise that Mr. Thomas Russell's claim be extinguished. The Chairman announced that the house being built for Rewi by Government at ELi'ni Kibi is about completed, and a large quantity of furniture. h a d been sent up from Auckland for it. Workmen were detailed to? lay-.floor cloths and oarpets, &c., and see that the place is properly fitted as a residence for a chief. Purchasers of the Patetere lands intend publishing a descriptive, book of the block, with a map, and will eudeavor to sell portions in England. Potatoes recently imported from Canterbury sold here at a loss. Tho Hero will probably go, to Wellington to be handed oyer to the Union Company. Sir Julius Yogel's resignation excites 110 surprise here, A meeting of Mr. Robinson's creditors was held to-day. 'I he trustees report that the evidence showed that no cashbook had been kept. Up to March last, the bankrupt had paid LSO to John Abbot for a loan of L 250 for three months ; L7O had beaji paid 011 gambling transactions ; large, amounts had been squandered on drink. Total liabilities, L 4356 ; assets for dividend, L 1445. The trustee reported that the bankrupt had falsified the books. A resolution to proseoute the bankrupt was postponed till next meeting.