LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 101, 29 March 1876, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[Per Press Age.nt;v.] WELLINGTON. March 24. A respectable looking man and woman named respectively David Leslie and Florence Bushett, understood to be both from Wanganui, were each sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, for indecency in the Botanical Gardens. The hon. W. Swanson, of Auckland, formerly Attortey General, is gazetted a member of the Executive Council. March 25 Captain J. Campbell Walker, of the State Forest Department, Madras, is coming to New Zealand, in connection with the organisation of a State Forest Department here. He is expected to arrive by the incoming March mail steamer. General and intense dissatisfaction felt by the public at the sentence passed upon the man and woman yesterday, for improper conduct in' the Botanical Gardens, ami a deputation of influential citizens is about to wait upon the Minister of Justice regarding the matter. An attempt will also be made to get a re-hearing of the case. A petition was presented to the RAL to-day as to the possibility of a mitigation of the sentence passed upon the man and woman for indecency in the Botanical Gardens. Mr Crawford recommended the application to the Executive. This was done, and the deputation went away, after an interview with the Minister of Justice, with the assurance that an application in accordance with their wishes would at once be made, and there was little doubt that both prisoners would be practically released by Tuesday. Neither have as yet been "subjected to the usual hard labor penalty accompanying such a period of imprisonment; The Government have received a telegram that the Mikado left Frisco on the29th February, a day before her due date. The Colima connects with her at Kandavn

and is due at Auckland to-morrow. 'l'hr City of Ran Francisco arrived at Frisco on the Kth iust. Tlie N.'A Times publishes over four cidmuns of correspondence, chiclly telegraphic, hetween Grey and Vogel, regarding the linancial jiosition of Auckland. The gist of the ease is this : —Grey applied for certain moneys which lie. alleged were tine to Auckland in accordance with the agreement entered into at the close of last session, het ween the Colonial Treasurer and Provincial Treasurer. In the course of Grey's correspondence, he dwells upon lie! injustice of depriving Auckland of the revenues raised within her boundaries, and refers at length to the Piako Swamp purchase, and the Tairua and Ohinennm Piver Eights Committee as an instance of the illegal and improper action of the General Covernment. On the 13th Grey telegraphs to the Treasurer—Have received Treasury account showing credit balance. to Auckland of £4,420 ; please remit same at once.” Vogel, in replying, says that Grey omitted to look at both sides of the question, and points out that, although there was that amount to their credit on the Capitation account, yet that Auckland owed £10.620 interest on the Anekhmd-Mercer Kailway, and that the ('ommissioiiers of Audit said stoppages mud be made. \ ogel also offers to send Grey some figures regarding the financial jmsition of Auckland, as he is not favourably impressed with the maimer in whieh his Honor ignores the fact, that but for 'die extraneous assistance which Auckland •received from the Government it could not carry on its business. Vogel replied that the Colonial Treasurer had no recollection of the agreement as to Capitation 1 alance duo to the province being £IOOO a mouth as alleged ; and pointing out that what conflicted with the expectations of the Provincial Treasurer was the stoppage of £11,014 for railway deficiencies. Hu also pointed out that the is made under section 15 of the Immigration and Public Works Act, and adds that

■through a clerical error in the clause, 1871 i.s used instead of 1872. The SolicitorGeneral i.s of opinion that any Court would construe the Act according its obvious intention. Vogel, while professiiutmost <leslrc to cn-oporate with Grey to promote tiie interests of Auckland, says the course taken in the matter was imperative, hy law. He suggests that the matter might be easily arranged if the Provincial Treasurer would come to Wellington. Major Atkinson telegraphs to Wood, concurring with Vogel. Reply—- “ There is every desire to carry out the arrangement, and if yon would run down we would come to a satisfactory agreement, I am sure, in a very few hours.” 'Wood replied that he would go by the Pluebo if Grey agreed, but in a future telegram said he had written a memorandum on the Premier’s telegram, which would make the matter so simple as to obviate the necessity of bis going to Wellington. Then follows a series of long telegrams between Grey and Vogel. The former denies justice of course taken by the General Government, and submits in support of his view the written opinion of Rees, as against that of the SolicitorGeneral, regarding a point in dispute of business. The correspondence terminates abruptly without any understanding having been come to. except that the correspondence would be published. March 2(1. A lire broke out at 5.15 this morning which originated in the back store of W. & G. Turnbull and Go., Wiliis-street. The lire brigades were very soon on the ground and behaved snlendidfy, but not before the lire had caught the rear of the premises of Moeller’s Empire Hotel, which adjoined Turnbull's store. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is supposed to have been caused hy rats, because where the lire was first discovered there was nothing stored but oats and salt,the latter of which is exceedingly scarce in town at present. A few days ago one of the storeman found n rat nest composed entirely of vestas and their boxes, at a considerable distance from where the articles were stored. AH the back part of the hotel was burned down, and the whole of the fnrnitmo and stock was removed from the building. Many of the lodgers lost all but what they stood up in, some of whom being travellers also lost a quantity of jewellery and other samples. Turnbull was insured for about £3,500 in various offices on the building and stock, but they were valued at £7,500, as the stock was valuable, having been recently increased by two large shipments ; some thousand of pounds worth of chairs alone being burnt. The stock and goods of the Empire Hotel were insured for £2,500 as follows ; —.Standard, £250 ; New Zealand, £250 ; National, £IOOO ; Royal, £SOO ; Batavian, £SOO. Turnbull was insured for £IOOO in the Transatlantic. March 28. Messrs W. Gisborne, Wm. Seed, and John Knowles have been appointed a Commission to visit the several provinces, and to obtain information with a view to consolidation of offices under the hew' system. They proceeded south in the Phccbe this afternoon. NAPIER; March 25. The Governor is expected to arrive on Thursday afternoon. Ho will be entertained at a ball on Friday, and will probably leave again on Monday. The Corporation will present an address on his • arrival, and will giro a dinner during the visit. The- Governor will stay at the Criterion Hotel. AUCKLAND. March 24. Arrived—Broderick Castle; 99 days from Plymouth, with 270 adults ; two children ami one woman died • several 'births. Fine passage ; very high winds ; all well. March 25. Tho Captain of the Broderick Castle reports passing the ship Sparkcrthoc, of Dublin, off Maderia, abandoned ; the boats were all gone. March 28. Arrived—Colima this morning with the English Mail ex lilikado. The latter left Frisco on the Ist of March ; Auckland time, and made the run to Kaffdavau in 19 days where she was placed in quarantine, having measles on board. The Colima left Kandavan on tire 22nd and has experienced head VHndS and gales’ Without intermission;

G It AH \MSTO WN. .March 24, Dr Pollen, in a telegram to \V Rowe, refuses Government assistance to unemployed men to leave the Thames to get work, hut offers a subscription of £5 as a private individual towards paying the passages of those who are destitute of funds. March 28. Scarlet, fever is spreading. One fatal ease of a virulent type occurred yesterday. Fresh cases are reported in three widely separated localities in the district. CHRISTCHURCH. March 24, Several churches have been broken into within the last few days, and the alms boxes cleared of their contents. March 28. A railway collision occurred on the Northern line this afternoon. The Christ - church and Amherley trains ran into each other at Ihmgiora, and the passengers were severely shaken. Home Were slightly injured, hut nothing serious is known as yet. DUNEDIN. March 24. £1,540 taken in three days at the Knox Church Bazaar. Five thousand eight hundred persons wore present at Blundin’s performance last night. in consequence of the injuries which Rory U’Moro received yesterday while racing for the Cup, he was obliged to he shut. March 25. STEEPLECHASE. For this event, only Auckland Kate, Theodore, and Native started. Kate won by a mile and a half, the others baulking repeatedly. Theodore gave in. Native got round. Betting, 6 to 4 on Theodore. FOB BURY HANDICAP. Won by Cloth of Gold by half a length, after a most exciting race ; Ariel, second ; Tadmor, third, well up. Pungawerewero gave Way when collared, after she had led most, of the lirst mile. Time, 2 mins. 50 seconds. Gll3' Fawkes was scratched. A protest was entered against Cloth of Gold for running-Ariel on tc tlte rails, but was disallowed. A protest was lodged against Auckland Kate in the Steeplechase, the jockey having dropped his wlrp, which was handed to him again. TOWN IT,ATK. Only Guy Fawkes and Tattler started. Both cantered till they came into the straight, when Guy Fawkes went ahead, winning easily by four lengths. FLYING HANDICAP. Betting even on Guy Fawkes. Fishhook went to the front at the start, and was never headed, beating Guy Fawkes by two lengths and something to spare. Wee Lad third, and Pungawerewero iijvvhcre. HKNKVOI.ENT SCURRY. Won by Glengarry by a neck from Wcc Laddie. CONSOLATION. Hercules, 7st 12lhs ; Elfin King, 7st lOlhs ; Right Bower, 7sl 4!hs ; Haphazard 7st 21 hs ; Merry Monarch, fist 7!hs ; Sir William, Gst nibs ; Steamer, ssfc lOlhs, Tadmor, Bst slhs, was scratched. Merry Monarch led for a time, but the race was between Ellin King and Right Bower, who ran right away from the others in the straight, Elfin King winning by half a length. Tfie meeting proved most successful, ami the racing was very good, most of the events being closely contested. There was a crowded house at the opera on Friday night ; II Travoturc was repeated. Blondin had over 5,000 spectators. GREYMOUTH. March 24. Weather very fine for races; largo attendance ; course in good condition. GOLDFIELDS HANDICAP. Splendid race. Isaac Walton, Ist ; John Stofel, 2nd; Septimus, 3rd. Nero also ran, and passed the winning post a length ahead of Walton, by whom a protest was lodged for crossing, and Walton was declared winner. BOROUGH HANDICAP. Waltcn, Ist ; Nero, 2nd ; Jasper, 3rd. Stofel and Black Eagle close up. Good start ; horses koejnng in a cluster for the first round, then Stofel took the lead, but soon fell back. A splendid race ensued between Nero and Jasper, Eagle and Walton two lengths behind ; Nero kept a slight lead until entering the straight the last time, when Walton pushed to the front and raced Nero neck and neck, winning by a bare head. HURDLE RACE. Sultan, Ist ; Septimus, 2nd. Won by a length. Ido Avon a hack race. NOVEL RACE. Dick Turpin, Ist; Rover, 2nd. The Consolation was was won by Kingfisher, heating Banker. Weather again changed ; lightning very heavily.