LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 180, 30 December 1876, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[Per Press Agency.] WELLINGTON. December 27. A carriage accident and narrow escape occurred on the Porirua road yesterday. Levin, a hairdresser, Mr Bach, and a party of ladies were driving to the Porirua races in an open carriage, when they suddenly went over the side of the road into a very deep gully, about a mile and a half from Johnsonville. All the passengers were thrown out, and the carriage and horses went pell raell to the bottom. One had his leg broken, and the carriage was much injured. The passengers escaped comparatively unhurt. DUNEDIN. December 27. Dr. Ilulme, Provincial Surgeon, and one of the Council of the Otago University, died of apoplexy shortly after breakfast this morning. The tender of Mr David Proudfoot, of £89,350, for harbour improvements, was accepted to-day by the Harbour Board* subject to certain conditions. December 29, At a meeting of the Directors of the' Colonial Bank, Donald Reid was ballottcd out as retiring director. The present candidates for the vacancy are the Hon. W, H. Reynolds and the Hon. Matthew Holmes. The Guardian states that a man named Smith, resident at Cavcrsham, has become heir to a fortune of four hundred thousand pounds through the death of a London relative.

Mr H. S. Fish was re-elected to the City Council by an overwhelming majority. The Council of the Otago Convention has 1 prepared a synopsis showing the position of those counties which do not choose to bring the whole of the Counties Act into operation.

CHRISTCHURCH. December 28. The Canterbury Independent, established last January, has ceased puplicatioh. Great interest is being taken in the election of members for the Lyttelton Harbor Board. Harvest operations have commenced. There will bo less straw, but more grain per acre this year than last. All cereals look very well. GRAHAMSTOWN. December 29. It is stated here, on tolerably good authority, that important changes are_ to be made immediately in the daily morning journals published in Auckland. Monday next will see the amalgamation of the Cross and Herald, to the extinguishment of the former. Mr Horton, who recently purchased the Gross, has joined Messrs Wilson in partnership, and the Cross will be discontinued. The Herald will bo enlarged, and the Weekly Herald incorporated with the Weekly News. The idea once entertained to make tiny Cross, an, evening paper has been abandoned, and the literary staff of the enlarged Herald will be augmented by the of Luckie and other writers, and the practical staff of the Cross mostly taken on the Herald. Mr Horton joins Messrs Wilson as full partner. It is stated that the amalgamation has been urged by prominent advertisers, who have given a bond not to advertise in any other morning paper for twelve months. These are the main features of the new arrangement.

AUSTR A L I A N. December 21. Elizabeth Mills murdered her illegitimate child at Emerald Hill, by cutting its throat. Seven horses are likely to start for the Champion race. Briseis is the first favorite ; Richmond and Oalamia next. The weather has been fearful. Last Friday the thermometer was 1104 in the shade. In some parts of the interior of New South Wales it has been as high as 124 in the shade for days together. SYDNEY. December 27. The steamer Mecca, bound coastwise, was nearly lost on the 24th of November, in a fearful typhoon. There was a tremendous panic amongst the Chinese passengers, immense quantities of gold and silver coin being thrown overboard to conciliate Joss, their chief deity. December 28. The cricket match was resumed to-day. There was a large attendance. At present two Victorian wickets are down for 50 runs.