LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1259, 26 January 1883, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

(FROM QUS OWN CORRESPONDENT,) NAPIER, Thia day. Mr Archibald Forbes concluded his courts of lectures last night. He drew very good audiences during his stay here. Mrs Jos. Torre of Petane, died yesterday, aged 70. The deceased lady was amongst the earliest arrivals in Wellington, having arrived in 1840 per barque Aurora. Recruiting is being actively proseouted by the local volunteers, and it is stated that both corps now exceed the minimum strength. At the Ram Fair Mr M. R. Miller sold 610 rauns realizing £3,270. The Harbor Board have received forty designs for improvement to the harbor. The designs will be sent to England by the first steamer via Melbourne.

[FEB UNITED EBZSS ASSOCIATION]. WELLINGTON, This day. The appointment of F. W. Pennyfeather, L.L.M., to be His Excellency’s Private Secretary, and Major C. V. Eccles, Rifle Brigade, to be Aide-de-Camp are gazetted. His Excellency will hold his first levee on the 31st inst.

In the Divorce Court to-day a decree nisi was granted in the following cases :—Maynard v. Maynard and another (Gisborne); and Barker v. Barker (Wellington). The Hon. Mr Bryce leaves Wellington tomorrow for the West Coast of this Island. He will inspect the various constabulary posts along the Coast, and after that start tor Taranaki from whence he will proceed to Kawhai for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements in connection with the opening of the Kawhai Harbor. The Hon. Mr Rolleston is expected to return from the South next week and will then go up to Kawhai to join Mr Bryce there. The Premier will visit the South as soon as he can conveniently leave the seat of Government. It is probable that His Excellency will make a tour of the South Island before long. A mysterious disappearance is reported of a man named Jas. MacMahon, a bottler, who lost his child while at the Druids sports on Monday, and the same night he went in search. Nothing has been seen of him since and it is feared he has met with some ratality. The total amount of the Property Tax paid throughout the Colony up to to-day amounts to about £30,000. This amount, however, does not include the amount paid at the post office. The Agent-General cabled last that at the lastmoment he has found it necessary to make a material alteration in the draft contract for the direct steam service to New Zealand, and therefore is unable to forward a copy of the contract by the outgoing mail as he had intended. In consequence of this alteration he has been compelled to extend the time for the receipt of tenders until the 30th of April next. A copy of the contract as amended will be sent to New Zealand as early as possible, and will be in plenty of time for Colonial tenderers.

All the Wellington Volunteer Corps with the exception of the Engineers have decided to serve under the new regulations. Later.

Nothing further has been heard of the man Macmahon, and the worst is now feared. Search parties are still out. The Property Tax payments amount to £38,000, and several returns have still to come in. With reference to the renewal of the ’Frisco mail service, a reply has been received from the the New South Wales Government that the question is still under consideration, and that immediately a decision is arrived at they will wire to New Zealand.

AUCKLAND, This Day. At a meeting of the Union Sash and Door Company a 20 per cent, dividend was declared, and £2,500 was carried to the reserve, which stands at £42,000 ; carried forward, £9,922. Mr Kissling was re-elected director. The charge against W. Gudgeon, late agent for the Union Bank at the Thames, for attempting to commit a rape on Mrs Ehrenfried, the wife oi Louis Ehrenfried, the well-known brewer, was commenced to-day in the Supreme Court. The evidence for the prosecution it seems is the same as that adduced in the Police Court, but there are seven witnesses for the defence.

Ths Hamilton alleged, Murder Owe. The Hamilton alleged murder case was concluded yesterday. Judge Gillies summed up-strongly for the prisoners, and said there was a missing link m the evidence, and the chain of evidence therefore was no stronger than its weakest link. The jury, after half-an-hour’s deliberation, returned a verdict of Not Guilty. The body of the boy Frank Merritt, drowned at Helensville, has been recovered. DUNEDIN, This Day. The charges against Mr and Mrs Massey in connection with the Corporation frauds were advanced another stage, two more witnesses being examined on behalf of the Corporation. An adjournment for a week was then granted, but it is understood that it will be a fortnight before the cases are resumed, as that time will nearly elapse before the necessary witnesses can arrive from Melbourne. The principal evidence in the murder case against Beattie yesterday was given by Dr. DeLautour, who expressed his firm opinion that the woman died from the effects of blows inflicted on her by some instrument. The counsel for the defence (Mr O’Meagher) addressed the jury for upwards of two hours, setting up the theory of suicide. The Court then adjourned. Judge Williams sums up this morning. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Three members of the congregation were appointed to wait upon Mr Fraser, and ask him to give up the keys of the Church. Early this morning a house occupied by J. Nucker, music teacher, was destroyed by fire completely. The insurance is unknown. Cromptons implement works had a narrow escape yesterday from destruction by fire. A stable occupied by Mr Davey, and full of hawkers goods, was destroyed by fire yesterday. It was insured for £lOO in the London Liverpool and Globe. At a meeting of St. Andrew’s congregation held last night, deputies from the Presbytery explained the charges against the Rev. C. Faaser, and read the evidence taken. NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. About a quarter to three this morning, a ten-roomed house belonging to Mr Charnock, was burnt to the ground. Mr and Mrs Charnock were the only occupants, and had a narrow escape, as they slept up stairs, and the lower portion of the house was on fire. Mr Charnock lost everything in the house. The house was insured in the South British for £350. A Native named Amoari, nearly killed a man named Wilkinson at Waitara, on Wednesday, by (hitting him on the head with a boot, having a tip on it. Wilkinson’s life is in danger. The Maori has been brought up, and remanded. Harvesting is in full swing in this district, aud Natives are being employed, as white labor is scarce.