LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 506, 7 April 1880, Page 3

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

OUTBREAK OF CATTLE PLAGUE. Auckland, April 6, Two veterinary surgeons went on Sunday to the Piako Swamp Co.’s land, and slaughtered a number of cattle found to be infected with pleuro-piieumonia. EXTENSIVE LAND SALES. Auckland, April 5. The Piako Swamp Company have sold tho Eureka Station to Mr S. Sutton, of New South Wales. Area, 20,000 acres. Phis sale will be immediately followed by many others, and about 30,000 acres of drained and reclaimed land will be placed before the public in small lots for sale on fair terms. THE DUNEDIN TRAGEDY. Dunedin, April 6. Butler, the alleged Cumberiand-street murderer, has applied for a change of venue for his trial, on the plea that the public mind is prejudiced against him. The Judge refused to grant the application, considering that such prejudice did not exist, but granted a postponement of the trial to enable the' prisoner to prapare his defence. SCAMPS AT NEW PLYMOUTH. New Plymouth, April 6. Thomas Tait and Frederick Fames, who frequent ; racecourses with a wheel of fortune, were charged with having maliciously killed four canaries, the property of Joseph Freedman, Tne prisoners were sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour. PRESS LIBEL CASES. Christchurch, April 5. At the Supreme Court to-day, Mr Joynt informed the Judge that the libel cases against the Otago Daily Times and Witness ami against tho Ashburton Mail will not bo proceeded with. SMALL FARM SETTLEMENTS. Wellington, April 3. A deputation from the Small Farms Association waited on the Government to-day, asking that a block of land might be set apart for special settlement. The reply was that it would be far better for the Association if they went in for land under the deferred payment system. WEST COAST RAILWAY. Wellington, April 3. A deputation re the West Coast Railway Settlement Scheme waited on the Government, putting forth resolutions passed at a recent public meeting. Major Atkinson replied that with regard to the proposed scheme, ho was afraid it was not practicable. As far as he could see, there would bo practically nothing left after the men and their families had been provided for. Such a scheme, too, would cause great complications in the accounts. It would be an infringement of the land laws, and he was afraid the whole thing would not give satisfaction to Parliament or the people. HOTEL AT FIELDING BURNT. Wellington, April 5. A telegram lias been received from Fielding, stating that the Awahuri Hotel was destroyed by fire last night, everything being lost. The family escaped in their night-dresses. One of the boarders, whose name is unknown, was burnt to death, and two others were seriously injured. The insurances are —Colonial £1,500; of which £1,250 is re-insured ; South British, £SOO, partly re-insured ; Union, £SOO.