LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 2, 17 April 1875, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

PRESS AGENCY. GREAT FIRE IN SYDNEY. CRUEL MURDER BY BLACKS AT BRISBANE. FAILURE OF THE AUSTRALIAN STEAM NAVIGATION CO. SEVERE EARTHQUAKE AT TAURANGA. ELECTION OF DIGNAN. RESIGNATION of CANTERBURY EXECUTIVE. WELLINGTON April 15. At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce a scale of mercantile charges subject to the following alterations was adopted:—Collecting andreraitting fonts 5 per cent to 10 per cent; collecting and interest, 5 per cent to 10 per cent; on procuring moneys on mortgage, 1 per cent to 2jy per cent; and on English and Foreign bills, 10 per cent. Several instances having come to the knowledge of the Commissioner of Customs of receipt in the colony of two invoices for the same goods, one being of smaller value than the other, apparently with a view to defraud the Customs in the ad valorem duty, strict orders have been given to officers of the Customs to have all the packages shipped by the .firms known to have acted as above, opened and thoroughly examined on arrival in the colony. * . ■ At a sale of horses to-day, draught ranged faom £2O to £25 ; hacks and ponies, from £2 10s to £6. According to the bidding there was little demand. Mr A. Kerr, manager of the local branch of the National Bank of New Zealand, has been appointd manager of the Nelson branch. NELSON. April 15. Coroner’s jury found a verdict of manslaughter against Morgan James, contractor, under whom the men were killed on Monday by a fall of earth were working. Bail was allowed. There were twenty candidates for the Town Clerkship. Gully, a barrister, was appointed.

HOKITIKA. April 16. The long pending tramway claims against the Provincial Government have at length been decided by the Council recommending the Assembly to grant 800 acres of land per mile to the companies, There was only a bare qviorum present. A second resolution, adding that the land shall be selected in such districts as shall be determined on by the Provincial Council, was carried by 1) to 4. The Council is expected to dose to-dav. CHRISTCHURCH. April 14. Montgomery and other members of the Executive sent in their resignation to the Superintendent in consequence of the rejection of the* Municipal Corporation Revenue Bill. The task of forming a new Government has been offered to several gentlemen, without success. The Superintendent has received a telegram, stating that the Governor and Marchioness of Nonmmby will visit Canterbury by the Phoebe on Tuesday next, and will remain over the autumn race meeting. The Provincial Council adjourned last night till May 4. Fifty shares in the New Zealand Shipping Company were sold by auction yesterday at 80s each. A branch of the Amalgamation Society of Carpenters and Joiners of England was formed last night. The ship Circe, due at the end of the month, brings 220 immigrants for Canterbury. It is rumoured that if the Provincial . Council does not make a liberal grant for the city, a prominent member of the City Council will move that toll bars be erected on all leading thoroughfares at the entrance of the city. DUNEDIN April 15. A Waterworks Company is being formed at Tokomairiro ; capital, £20,000 in £l. shares ; £6OOO already subscribed. Margaret Collins, charged with infanticide at Milton, was found guilty of manslaughter with a mercy sentence of two months with hard labour. The Judge directed that prisoner should be kept from the other females in gaol. In the case of the Police v. Dobson, the defendant pleaded guilty. The bench stated that as it was only a test case, they would inflict a nominal fine of Is. Although sweeps were very generally carried on in the Colony, still they were against law. Harris, for defendant, cited lotteries for benevolent purposes, which were recognised all over the world. He also produced a lottery ticket sent from Ireland to Dunedin, on behalf of a benevolent institution in Dublin. The case excited considerable interest in sporting circles. In a “ Provincial Gazette,” published yesterday, the expenditure of the Province is given as £141,076; revenue for quarter ending 81st of March, £721,711. TAURANGA. April 14. The severest earthquake ever felt in the district occurred this morning. AUCKLAND. April 14. The City West election for the General Assembly, vice Williamson resigned, resulted in a majority of 179 for Dignan. The numbers were Dignan 505; Dargaville, 386. HOKITIKA. April 15. Two hundred head of cattle and 500 sheep were yarded. Beef averaged 85 s to 40s per iOOlb ; mutton, 15s to 20s, Large attendance ; brisk market. GREYMOUTH. April 15. An important petition is being numerously signed by the miners .of Gi’cy Valley to the Superintendent and Council of Nelson, praying for the immediate abolition of Road Boards, and for an expression of opinion in favour ol the abolition of Provinces. The contract,for the formation of the Brunner Railway is finished, and the line taken over by the Government, Latest Australian News. AUCKLAND. The Cyphrenes has arrived. She left Sydney on the 10th, and proceeds to Frisco this evening. MELBOURNE. A great falling off' in the Customs, Excise and Territorial Duties has taken place for the year. Arrangements have been made by the Government with a literary man to write a History of Australia. SYDNEY. A large fire has occurred, destroying nine houses. The total loss is estimated at £20,000. BRISBANE. The blacks have cruelly murdered a settler, named Conn, residing forty miles from Cardwell, and carried his wife off' the bush; Latest English News. LONDON. April 7. Germany has sent a note to Belgium, suggesting that she should make some

alterations in her laws in order to repress the attack of Ultramontanes. It is intended that all States wishing to preserve the advantage of neutrality should avoid anything tending to affect it. Belgium replied that the existing laws were sufficient. The Australian Direct Steam Navigation Company has collapsed, and a petition asking for liquidation has been presented. The steamship Victoria is announced to leave on the 27th. She has been detained up to the present time and disappointed many passengers, who have appealed to the Lord Mayor for redress. James Hermann Ricci has been appointed Attorney-General of Fiji.