TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1285, 3 January 1885, Page 1

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

A petition signed by a large number of S imoan chiefs praying the British Government to annex the Islands, is stated to have been brought to Auckland by the schooner Cygnet. A rumor is also current that efforts are to be made to firm a Government with Weber, the head of the <*reat German firm, as Premier. William Sheehan, now in gaol in Auckland charged with the Oastletownroche murder, Ireland, lias been further remanded till the 9tli January. The prisoner's counsel offered, bo objection, provided on arnvcil'i opies of the dept si ions >f the police were supplied him. Superintendent Thomson prom : sed this. His Excellency the Governor returned to Wellington unexpectedly pn Wednesday morning. Ministers wew in Cabinet ill day, but nothing has been allowed to transpire as to the Governors visit. It is, however, said to he »n connection with Pacific i.nnexation, and that. wi.hiu the oext few days important' developments may take place. The members of the Government are, however, r ticent. During the past year there has been a large decrease in the number of deaths in Ghristchurch, the returnsshowing 777 for 1883, and 614 for 1884--2 J. per cent, of a decrease. The s.s. Zealandia, with the December English mail, It ft. Sm : Francisco for Auckland on the 24: h inst., four days later than time-table date. Tlie s.B. Chy of Sydney, with the December Colonial mail, arrived at Sin Francisco fioin Auckland on the 28th inst:., two days earlier than time-table'date. In connection with the Industrial Exhihition, the Government intend giving prizes for essays on the present condition and future prospects of the industrial resources of .New Zealand, and tlie best means of fostering their development. The prizes consist of one gold medal and twenty guineas, one silver medal and ten guineas, ;md ouo bronze m-dal and five guineas. The essays are tobesentiuon or before Ist December, 1885. John Whitehead, the guard of the Iv vercargdl express train, whp kr'ed on Wednesday on the journey to Dunedin, When near Lovelies Flat it appears ho was walking on the top of the carriages to reach the rear of the train, and having liis back to the engine he did not observe the proximity of an over-bridge. He was struck by the?ower part of the bridge on the head and killed instantaneously. Whitehead leaves a wife and three children. His wife is away from home, but she has been telegraphed to. Dr Ned will has tendered his resignation as Surgeon to the Ghristchurch Hospital, owing to a disagreement with the staff. John Doak, a farmer, we I-known in the Ashburton district, was charged at the B,.M W Court to-d, y with maliciously *t*hbing" a man named Graham. The <■videi.ee (pointing to a serious assault) h»vi»g bei'ii taken, the case/ was adjourned until baturday. Mrs Shnry, wife of the manager of the Union Bank at Ashlmrton, 'H-d suddeoly of heart disease on Wednesday morning. In reply to an invitution by the Manufacturers' Association, that ho should visit and le<:ti:re in this colony, Mr Graham Bony hos replied that he did intend to come, but since then he has made arrangements to visit Tasmania, and he is nor sure whather he can extend ilie trip. He should, he say.*, like to see the co'on.v, and h-nd the AssO' iatiou a In lping hiini. In an altercation o*i board tho L\dy Jocnlyn at Auckland on New Yeai's Dav, a seaman named Tom Smith w*s stahbed in two or three places. The woun la are not 'egarded as daiijrerotii*. At a lawn tennis ma'ch nt QhriKtchnrcl; between representatives of Auckland, Timaru, and Christchurcli, Barton of Auckland was victorious, healing Feasor of Timaru and Tlohs of Ghristchurch.