TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1318, 24 March 1885, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

A four-year-old daughter of Duncan McLachlan, Opaki (Wellington),, waa accidentally burnt yesterday through her clothes catching fire. A narrow escape from a serious fire took place at Nelson on Sunday morning at four o’clock. A constable on duty observed fire breaking through the roof at the rear of Reeves and Co. ’a auction room. With the aid of the night watchman and others the constable extinguished the fire before much damage was done. A fisherman named A. F. Scotley and a Maori known as “ Toby,” while out fishing on the bar, were drowned at Wanganui yesterday morning. A divorce case, McLellan v.. McLellan, one wife’s petition, was before the Chief Justiee at Wanganui yesterday. Thirty-two of the Armed Constabulary Force arrived from Auckland in Wellington on Friday by the Rotomahana. They have gone to Wellington to be instructed in big gun practice. The Stella, which arrived from Opunake the same morning, brought another party of 31 Armed Constabulary.

In reference to the acceptance of the tender of Scott Bros,, of Christchurch, for locomotives, it may be mentioned the contract price, taking into account the cost of those imported, compares favorably with the sum paid by New South Walts for locally-constructed locomotives. The number of tenders were five, while two others from Dunedin and Christchurch respectively, were informal, as the tenders did not reach Wellington by the time stated in the advertisements. No tenders were received from Wellington.

The Premier has received a letter from King Malietoa, of Samoa, enclosing a copy the Act passed' by the Samoan Parliament annexing tfiat island to New Zealand.

Mr Fraser, of Auckland, has at last decided to fit up the steamer Triumph for the intercolonial trade for carrying passengers and cargo. Accomodation ii to be made for 150 horses.

At iha Supreme Court, Wanganui, on Friday, William Reese, who was convicted last session for forging a telegram, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. The jury brought in a verdict of Not Guilty in the case of Thomas Watson, charged with cattle stealing at the Waiau station.

A young man named Lewis was killed on Friday on John Hewitt's farm, No. 1 Line, Wanganui, by a fall of gravel. John Higgie, well-known in racing circles, died rather suddenly on Friday at the Red Lion Hotel, Wanganui. Oswald Hertzog, formerly a cabinetmaker in Auckland, whoso shop was burned down a month ago, was arrested , at Napier last Saturday on a charge of defrauding the National Insurance Company. He was insured for £250, and compromised for £l5O, and the Company have now reason to believe that the stock was not worth more than £6O or £7O.

At , the inquest on John Higgie, in Wanganui, a verdict of “ died from alcoholic poisoning ” was returned. A boy 10 years of age, named John Tellwell, fell down the Shakespeare Cliff, Wanganui, broke his leg, and sustained other injuries. Fully 1600 natives passed through New Plymouth last Saturday at 10*30 a.m. They were headed by Titokowara. The cavalcade was nearly a mile long, and consisted of 50 expresses and spring carts, 800 horsemen, and 500 natives on foot. They proceeded to the Maogaue Pah, two miles from town, and remain there for two or three days. A large crowd of Europeans assembled at the Pah on Sunday to witness the proceedings, but nothing was done except feasting; mussels, potatoes, etc., being the principal fare. The Act passed by the Samoan Government annexing that island to New Zealand provides that all preliminary expenses be paid out of unauthorised expenditure pending a vote of the New Zealand Parliament for the purpose of giving immediate effect to the annexation of these islands to New Zealand, as the Samoan Government has bo funds or revenue of its own. The Bill shall take effect from the date of King Malietoa’s signature and seal, and give effect to the annexation of the Samoan Islands ip accordance with the Annexation Bill passed in 1883 by the New Zealand Parliament, or with any Bill that it may be necessary to pass by the New Zealand Parliament to give effect to the Bill, and annextion, and for the better government of the Samoan Islands and of the bamoan people, It signed and sealed on the 9th February, 1885, by Mr Selu f Secre? tary and Clerk to the Upper and Lowjir Houses of Parliament, Wauauti (his mark HJ, the Speaker of the Samoan Parliament, and Malietoa, King of Samoa.

An information for perjury has been laid against T. R. H. Taylor, boatbuilder f of Clyde Quay, Wellington. It is alleged the perjury was committed in a written declaration madd last month.

The present month has been an exceptionally wet one in Wellington ao far. Rain has fallen on 10 days out of 21, and the rainfall has already reached 2.39 inches, as compared with 2.84 inches for the whole of March last year. Strong winds have been experienced, chiefly from the north-east, and (here has been lightning on four days of the month. Mr Liardet, a fishmonger of Welling; ton, is making several experiments in tinning and preserving fish. He is using almost every variety of salt-water fish, and also fresh-water eels. Ife has foyr warded a trial shipment to Sydney, and by the Doric he sent Home a large quantity of fresh and salt-water fish. A slight outbreak of fire was discovered in the refrigerating chamber of the Doric last Saturday, It is understood the causa was the accidentalupsetting of one of the lights, and it was fortunate the fire was discovered in time ? otherwise the re? suit would haye been very serious.

Ai a large meeting of shareholders 'of the Marlborough Meat Freezing Company last . Saturday, resolutions were almost unanimously passed censuring the Direc> tors, and calling on them to take steps to stop all further expenditure.and wind up the Company without delay. Several comments were made on the way the Cotm pany was originated and on the excessive salaries paid to the Managing Director and Secretary, who first started it. It was stated at the meeting thaf'tbe of the ship Lyttelton are claiming damages from the Company for sending her away from Picton not fully loaded, and that such claim will fully absorb the calls now being made on the shareholder/!.

W. H. Trebblecock, a lad of 17, waa drowned last Saturday while bathing at Sumner. He was unable to swim, and was carried away by the tide. A man named W. Hisoocka made a gallant attempt to rescue him. He succeeded in getting him out, but life was then extinct.

A deputation from the Borough Council of Camaru waited on Sir Julius Vogel on Saturday afternoon, with reference to urging the Government to take steps to place the town in a state of defence from hostile attack. Sir 'J ulius Vogel said he thought the money that would require to be spent on this would be much better applied to promoting the development of industrial enterprise. He did not think there was any danger of the town being visited by hostile cruisers. In the event of such a contingency he said all the bullion could be removed to one of the larger towns for safety. The body found on the banks of the Taieri River, near Nenthorn, last week, cannot be identified, and the inquest has been adjourned for a fortnight. The body is much decomposed. Seven firemen of the steamer Tainui were sentenced at the Police Court, Dunedin, last Saturday, to be imprisoned with hard labor for one month for continued refusal of duty. Great trouble has been experienced with the firemen of this vessel.