LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 144, 26 August 1876, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[.Per Press Agency.] NAPIER. August 24. John Langhau has been committed for trial for the brutal murder of-his wife. WELLINGTON, ; 4wgnst 24. At a meeting of Otago members this morning, re the Counties Bill, there were 18 present,, nine, of whom were in favor of two'comities, Otago proper and Southland. After a long discussion, conducted in a most friendly spirit by all present the decision as to the recommendations to be submitted to tke Government was adjourned to a second meeting. The result, it is believed, will be that the whole province of Otago will be divided into four counties, Northern, Southern, Central, and Interior and it is understood that the Government will not object to this arrangement. There is a deal of interest taken hero in political circles in consequence of rumors having been prevalent that Mr Stafford would join the Ministry at the expiration of the present session. But it is alleged on good authority that such an alliance is quite improbable. Although it as understood that Mr Stafford will give Ids assistance during the session to cany the Government measures through, yet he entertains such opposite views to the Ministiy in regard to dealing with the land fund (they insisting on its localization, and he being in favor of making it a general revenue), that no alliance could possibly take place except under an entire change of the personnel of the Government. A man named Jacobs, recently from Melbourne, via Dunedin, lias been selling pens at a high price, alleging them to he of a superior quality of patent aluminium, but on being tested they were found to be nothing but common steel pens. The Government were about to purchase a large quantity, but of course the order is now countermanded. Jacobs has been warned by the police, and he is now returning the money to those who purchased his pens. DUNEDIN, August 24. Charles Thomas Horn, a Post Office clerk, has hecq charged with stealing newspapers from the Post Office, and remanded for a week. A large number of unemployed assem bled at the Provincial Government buildings yesterday morning, in response to an advertisement offering them work. They have been put on road work at 6s per day, tools and tents found. The Guardian accuses the General Govermnent in their action re the Waste Lands Board, and the sale of mountain tops, as being the cause of the present distress by the unexpected stoppage of Provincial Government works. AUCKLAND. August 25. In reply to a resolution adopted by a Whangarei meeting, calling on Sir Robert Douglas to support Separation resolutions, the member telegraphed lefusing to comply, and offering to resign if electors as a body wished him to do so. The Waipn electors afterwards held a meeting and passed a vote of confidence in him, hut urged throwing out Counties Bilj.