TELEGRAMS.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 72, 24 August 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

[Pei; Press Agency.] VERY LATEST. AYeclington, Angus! 23. The whole of Thursday evening’s sitting of the House was taken up with the continued on the Eiectora Bill Mr Seaton dissitisfaction with the bill, .at ml duSqot think any Government worfrw of confidence that would bring down such a bill. Registration all the year round was a great improvement on the present system. After objecting to female suffrage and to plurality of voting, which would place elections in the hands of land rings, lie moved the bill be read that day six months. All the speakers that followed supported the bill as a whole, though taking exceptions to many details which they hoped 'would be remedied in Committee The fo lowing members spoke : M‘Lean, Gibbs, Taiaroa, Montgomery, Carrington, Pyke, Stevens, Tawhiti. The debate and House-adjourned at 12.25. The Public Works Statement in all probability will TJe^dMitered on Tuesday next. Government will telegraph it to newspapers. Dunedin, Aug. 23. Oats 3s lOd to 4s, wheat 4s, barley 5s to 5s 6d, pollard LO, bran L 5 10s, flour LlO 10s to Lit, oatmeal L2O, potatoes L 6 10s. Oamaru, Aug. 23. Best milling wheat 3s 9d, oats 3s 8d to 3s lOd, malting barley 5s Id, flour L.ll to Lll 10s, oatmeal L2O, pollard L 5 10s. Auckland, Aug. 21. In consequence of a resolution passed by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce about the tax on flour, Mr Firth addressed the following letter to Mr Stout : —“ I hope you will not give way to the representations of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce re the the tax on flour and grain. The Government have wisely resolved to abolish both, and I hope they will not ba influenced to withdrew from their resolution, which is at once statesmanlike and wise.” He received the following reply yesterday : —“ Have replied to the Chamber that New Zealand being a grain growing and food producing country, does not require Government aid to protect the colony against foreign grown grain.—Robert Stout.” The Presbytery to-day initiated measures foi establishing a sustenation fund throughout the Auckland district. AY ELLINGTON, Aug. 21.

It is intended to bring one or two tons of D'Urville Island ore to be smelted at some local foundry, for the benefit of all who wish to see the quality of the ore. The new street tramway will be formally opened on Saturday, under the auspices M las Excellency the G wernor. A trial of the engine and carriages was made yesterday, and the result was most successful.

A deputation representing brewers from Nelson, Dunedin. Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and Wanganui, waited on Mr Bafiance this morning, and submitted a long series of reasons against the

beer tax. After a long discussion, Mr Ballance asked if they would like a reduction of the duty on English Beer, which was higher here than in any other Of the Australian colonies. He said the Government had this in view when imposing the tax,'and while willing to give every, consideration to the recommendations of the brewers, they felt bound, 1 under the present circumstau'-eS, to adhere to their resolution. He promised to consider the question of rebate on stocks. There should also be a provision to pre- 1 s ent private browing, except for househnld purposes. ClI RLS'L' 1 ’HUB.CH, Allg. 21. Mr Henry Thompson, the Mayor, intends to give a grand banquet to trio members of both .Mouses and to In's brother Mayors on the arrival of the Hineraoa. Duri' g Ids term of office he lias not given the usual mayoral banquet, and it is expected that the approaching dinner will swallow up nearly the whole of his yearly allowance of £3OO. Aug 22. Gerald Manning, a e’erk in the Christchurch branch of the Bank of New Zealand, was to-day committed for trial on a cl largo of stealing £IOO, the property of the Bank. Bail was taken, himself in £3OO ami two sureties in £l5O each. Mr Coster, the Manager of the Bank, stated that after becoming aware of the theft ho hafi allowed the prisoner to go to Auckland in order to sec what steps the bank inspector living there would take. Owing to a heavy fall of snow at Ox ford yesterday the proposed hunt had to be postponed. By the ss. Arawata, a shipment of 200 merino ewes arrived for Dalgety Nichols, and Co., from the flock of Mr John Wilson, of Gal la, near Geelong. The Mayor of Christchurch yesterday proceeded to Wellington on business connected with the Municipal Reserve, and al.-o to invito the members of both houses to a banquet in Christchurch when passing through to Dunedin. A movement is on foot to give a hearty reception to the first party of through arrivals from Dunedin by train. A letter in a local journal this morning accuses the officers in the land transfer office of “ black mailing” the public. The letter states that business is retarded unless hard cash is forthcoming, and calls on the Government for an inquiry.

At a public meeting held at Waikari yesterday re the West Coast railway, similar resolutions were passed to those passed at other meetings in reference to tnc necessity of it being carried from Amberley. A man named Lehman was discovered yesterday in a very weak and emaciated condition, at Lis house near Kaiapoi. The place was in a state of filth and thorough destitution. He was removed to better quarters. Although in a starving condition he has L4OO in the bank. He is a well known miser.

Hokitika, Aug, 21,

Another public meeting on the railwayquestion was held lust evening. The Mayor was in the chair. It was unanimously—“ That it be earnestly urged on the Government and representatives for Hokitika and Totara the necessity for the construction of the Hokitika and Greymouth railway without delay. The work should be commenced simultaneously at both ends ” Regarding the settlers who recently left the Jackson's Bay S-ttlement, the Resklent Agent there, in his annual report to the Government, says the departure of those adults who left the settlement for good, will be no loss to the settlement, and it would be a gain to the colony if they left it to-morrow. The report speaks favourably of the ultimate prospects of the settlement, but complains that the Italian immigrants are totally unfitted for pioneers, owing to the climatic influence and their previous habits of life. The report concludes : “ There are some good men amongst them, as amongst other settlers, but the proportion is very small. The settlement has been heavily handicapped by having such material to work upon, but notwithstanding, I have not the least doubt of its ultimate success, and the removal of some will no doubt result in the survival of the fittest.”

Nelson, Aug 22.

A fire last night totally destroyed Newton’s livery stables in Hardy-street. Five horses were burnt to death and two so seriously injured that one of them had to be shot. One of the latter broke adrift with its cloth burning, and galloped wildly down Trafalgar-street, and made a dash at the door of the Club, smashing the glass entrance.

F eefton, Aug 22,

An influential and also a very largely attended public meeting was held here re the west and east coasts railway. Resolutions were passed similar to those adopted at Christchurch. Six inches of snow fell to-day, and the storm continues. The weather for the psst five months has been of greater severity than any ever before experienced here.

Kumara, Ang 22,

The heaviest fall of snow experienced here this year occurred to-day. Four inches are now on the ground, and it is still snowing.