LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1298, 20 March 1883, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

(PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION). WELLINGTON, Yesterday. Messrs Dransfield’s barque Conference, which arrived at the Heads on Friday, from Newcastle, with a cargo of coals, struck on a rock while beating in, owing to the wind baffling. The steamer Kawateroa went to the assistance of the barque. Three hours later the latter floated. It is thought that she has received but little injury. A serious explosion of gas took place in the refreshment room of Mr Peter Laing’s confectionery establishment, Lambton Quay. It appears that on Friday night the chandalier had been pulled so far down as to cause a leak. On Mr Laing and the cook named David Smith entering the room next morning at six, the air was strongly impregnated with gas. .Smith struck a match to see were the leak was, and a terrible explosion followed, Smith being blown into the next room through the open doorway, and being seriously burned about the head, face, shoulders, and arms, hut not dangerously. The outer door was blown open and the skylight and windows blown out, and the pictures smashed. Mr Laing himself was blown through another doorway right on to the counter of the shop, and was burned about the face and hands. He had, however, the presence of mind to take off his coat and beat out the flames, which had seized on the inflammable contents of the room The two doors being opened greatly lessened the force of the explosion, or the consequences would have been very serious. Major Atkinson speaks at Christchurch this evening. Mr Montgomery has notified his intention of replying to-morrow. The Victorian Government recently invited the New Zealand Government to join in a conference to consider the advisability of joining the postal union. The New Zealand Government has now replied regretting their inability to take part in the conference, as it is impossible th.it a Minisler c<»ii <l l»e spared to visit /Xustr.ili i •• o shortly before the meet- j ing of Parliament. With regard to the renewal of the Frisco mail ..-..r.sre. t. it. iun.l. ul th.it Mr ! Stuart, Premier of Now South Wales, will j shortly i I’ o : .. -t there of the view s of his • L>\« . nt on the subjc :t, and the New Zealand Go\ eminent will await the re- i suit. I

The Wellington Manawatu Railway Com pany have railed for tenders for another section of tho Wellington-Foxton Railway of 3 miles 55 chains in extent. His Excellency the Governor will leave Wellington for Auckland on Tuesday, the 3rd proximo. The Premier will start from Wellington on Thursday next for Napier via Mastrrton. From Napier he will proceed on Saturday by the Tarawera en route for Auckland. \ It is understood that Mete Kingi Patetab a Wanganui loyal chief, called this day upon His Excellency the Governor, to wel- ’ come him to N. Z., and to request that Hie Excellency would attend a Urge gathering of the natives at Wanganui, during the first week in April. Whereas among other topics the Treaty of Waitangi will he discussed. A large number of Ngapuhi, it was stated, have accepted an invitation to be orcsent, and natives from the various New Zealand tribes are expected to be present. It is believed that In tlie event of the meeting taking place, His Excellency will give his answer us to whether he will attend or not. A meeting of Auctioneers was held this afternoon to discuss the best means of reliev* them from the dirahilitvcs laid on them by the Licensing Act of 1881, His Lordship the ■ Mayor and Mr Hutchison were present, j It was ultimately decided that a deputation | of those interested should wait on the Colo-/ , nial Secretary with the view of bringing thc< question prominently before the Government. H. M. S. Espeigle sailed for Sydney this afternoon. She will be followed by the Diamona in three or four days. The steamer British King, from London, has just been signalled. TIMARU, Yesterday. In the charges of conspiracy to defraud, against Patrick Ryan, Bridget Ryan, and Mary Rynn, husband, wife, and daughter, the jury returned a verdict of guilty against the husband and wife, and not guilty against the daughter. Judge Ward pointed out that this amounted to a verdict of not guilty against the two former, as husband and wife could not conspire together. After a lengthy trial, Patrick Ryan has been found guilty of fraudulent insolvency. Sentence is deferred. AUCKLAND, March 19. ' Mr Redmond has been cabled to that he will have an enthusiastic reception, John O’Neill, enginedriver, dropped dead at Parnell on Saturday. An unseemly occurrence eventuated at his funeral on Sunday. Deceased was a Catholic, and the mourners and friends waited round the grave till Father Downey, who was to conduct the service, had finished officiating at another interment. When the latter was over, Father Downey said he had received such instructions from Father Fynes. Vicar-General, as would prevent him conducting the service over O'Neill’s grave. After some delay Father Downey consented to conduct the service, and the funeral concluded. The team of Taranaki representative cricketers have been cordially received. Thomas Stewart, a half-caste, was accidentally killed by getting jammed between two logs at Hikurangi Saw-mills. Mr Bromley lectured on the English in Ireland, in the Lome street Hall, to a good house. John Brown has been arrested at the Henderson’s Mill Races for breach of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, by running the game “ under and over.” He was remanded, The shin Mataura commences to-morrow to take in her cargo of frozen meat for London. 250 to 300 carcases will be delivered daily by Fisher and Co., limited. The Company have accepted the tender for the erection of an ice house, £2053, for the manufacture of ice in the city. DUNEDIN, Yesterday. The “ Otago Daily Times ” says that since the departure from Dunedin of a well-known commission and mining agent, events have transpired tending to cause some uneasiness in various circles. On Saturday rumors were in circulation as to the alleged which have been discovered, or which were suspected in connection with one of the min- * ing companies with which the agent alluded I to was connected. It was freely asserted that duplicate scrip of this Company had bean issued, and although considerable reserve is maintained upon the matter by the Directors, it is understood that an investigation is taking place; the uneasiness thus created has extended to other Companies, and the Directors of another Company, with which the absconder held similar relations, have thought it prudent to call upon all shareholders to present their scrip for verification. PATEA, Yesterday, j On Saturday morning last an alarming ; subsidence occurred on the railway works I near the Heads. Coming round the cliff beside the river the line is carried across a swamp on high trestles ; these suddenly sank to a depth of some 18 feet, the weight of the embankment having apparently broken through the crust of the swamp, and bulged it out on either side. The District Engineer has arrived to determine what is best to be done. Some delay will be caused I to the opening of the line, and the damage j will not exceed £2OO.