TELEGRAPHIC.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1001, 23 February 1883, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

(per press association.) AUCKLAND; Feb. 21. At the General-Assembly silting today the Moderator welcomed the commission 5 fronn=tbq Prgsby j,erian- ! of Otago and Southland, viz., the Rev., Lindsay Mackie, of First Church; Dunedin, and the Rev. Kirkland and Mr Adams. It was 1 agreed to prepare an address to Sir William Jervois,...Governor; also to open an inquiry tomorrow into the circumstances under which Ihe Rev. Charles Fraser has been deposed from the ministry by the Presbytery of Christchurch. The pity Council visited the Nehotopa Falls to ascertain its availability as an auxiliary, the city water-supply being 2,900,000 gallons over water-gange. NEW PLYMOUTH, This day. :

! Forbes’ lecture last night was a grand success. The hall was crammed, ami the "lecture"'' was grandly delivered. Every one was delighted. WELLINGTON, Feb. 21.

The ship Lady Jocelyn will probably take her departure for London to-mor-row afternoon. The last shipment will be placed on board at daylight, and it is expected that she will be be able-to cast off in the course of the day. Operations were only commenced on the 17th nit., and the work has therefore only occupied about five weeks. The Lady Jocelyn takes home about 5800 carcases of sheep and 88 of cattle, and also a quantity of produce. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb 21.

The returns for the Resident Magistrate’s Court show that during‘lßß2 2917 males and 583 females were taken into custody, summoned, or apprehended, for criminal charges; 272 males and .65 females were discharged for want of evidence; 379 males and .50 females were dismissed on the merits of the--case; 65 males and 75 females were committed for trial; 818 males and 330 females were summarily convicted. The number charged with being drunk was 956, against 628 in 1881. In the civil business the aggregate amount sued for was £43,364 13s lid. The Governor to-day visited the Lyttelton Borough schools, gaol, and orphanage. He was entertained at luncheon on board the p.s. Lyttelton by the Harbour Board, and subsequently made a tour of inspection of the harbour.

The Governor was entertained tonight by the Mayor of Christchurch at a banquet at the Academy of Music, 80 people being present. Replying to his health the Governor said he had known John Robert Godley in the War Office years ago, and also had known James Edward Fitzgerald in boyhood. Much that he now saw in Christchurch recalled associations pfhis early life. ; He had unbounded confidence in the future of the colony, which would in time support ten times its present population, and become an important factor in the British community, fie believed that federation of the Empire would, ere long, become a question in practical politics. Other speeches followed, but they were unimportant. DUNEDIN, Feb. 21.

The Hon. F. Whitaker leaves here to-morrow. He remains at Camara till Friday afternoon, and meets the Governor at Timaru, going to Christchurch on Monday. The Young Men’s-Christian Association’s picnic to-day, down the harbour, was very successful. Three or four steamer loads went.