TELEGRAPHIC.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1000, 21 February 1883, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 19. The city and several suburban licensing elections took place to-day. The Licensed Victuallers were generally victorious. In the North Ward the Good Templars only got on 6 man in eight. W. Owen was unopposed. In the East Ward none, in the South

Ward two, F. G. Ewington and D. Goldie ; in Grafton one, A. Bell. Joseph Newman was defeated in the three city wards, and in Grafton, as a Templar candidate. The Licensed Victuallers contend that Newman was ineligible, as an assessor under the Property Tax Act, being a Government servant. GREYMOUTH, Feb. 19. Encouraging news has been received from Langdon’s quartz claun, in the Paparoa Range, where it is reported that a fine reef has been struck, running in a magnetic direction. It will require another week or fortnight to form an opinion as to its value. An inquest was held this afternoon on the body of an infant, four months old, named Florence May McLeod. The evidence of the mother, Mary Jane McLeod, an unmarried girl, aged 16, went to show that her father came'home tipsy on Saturday, and commenced abasing her, saying the by bastard was loafing on him. He then took off his soft felt hat and hit the baby with it, the mother alleging that the same hand A that held the hat also hit the baby the breast. The child was quite well for an hour after, but then vomited, followed by convulsions. A doctor was called in, but the child died on Sunday night. The evidenc of Drs Morice and Acheson showed that at the post mortem examination they did not discover any marks, or contusions, or abrasions externally or internally ; that all the organs were sound except the brain, of which two membranes were a good deal congested ; that the convulsions the child died from were caused by congestion of the brain, which might be brought about by many causes. After tne evidence ■ was taken, Coroner Stratford cleared the Court of the public, the witnesses, Press, and police also, while he addressed the jury, A verdict of “ Death from convulsions, through natural causes,” was returned. HOKITIKA, Feb. 19. In the estate of John Hall, merchant, assigned lately owing to temporary pressure, a final dividend of 7s 6d, making a full 20s in the pound, has been paid by the trustees, and a considerable surplus handed over to the bankrupt. Several new mining leases have been applied for in the Ross District. The rivers are in high flood. No Christchurch coach has arrived. WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. On Saturday night Captain Ito and the officers of the Ringio were entertained at dinner at the Club. To-day they gave an afternoon dance on board to a large number of gnests, which was followed by an excellent display of day fireworks. Another exhibition of fireworks takes place to-night. The Governor, accompanied only by his Private Secretary, left for the south in the Ringarooma to-day. Waller Bishop, District President of the Druids, has left for Melbourne on business in connection with the opening of lodges throughout the colony. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report, under date London, 16th :— <c The wool sales commence on the 20th, and will include 280,000 bales of fresh arrivals, and 15,000 bales of old stock.” A special telegram to the Evening Post from Nelson states that a serious fire is reported from : Collingwood, Golden Bay, yesterday morning. Ellis’s store, James’ house,' Prnssing’s Miners Hotel,, and Stallard’s bakery were destroyed, together with nearly all their contents. The insurances, so far as is knownj are as follows :—Ellis’s stock (where the fire originated), £7OO in the United, £350 of which is re-insured in the Royal, and £IOO in the Norwich . Union; Prnssing’s, i n the South British; for £SOO in the building, £2OO on the furniture, and £IOO on the stock. The total damage is reported to be £4OOO .