TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1326, 11 April 1885, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

The average school attendance in Otago for last quarter was 18,550. In the four-oared boat race yesterday between Dunedin and Invercargill, the former won by a length and a quarter. A girl seven years old, named Kate Martin, was drowned at Waikouaiti on Monday last. She was crossing a deep ditch on a plank, and fell in. The Government have received a reply from Colonel Hewitt, definitely accepting the position of Commander of the New Zealand Volunteers. It is understood that he will leave for New Zealand immediately. It has been decided to connect the Wellington defence works with town by telephone. Colonel Lyon notifies that'all Volunteer Companies in Auckland will require to be made up to full strength, 03. At present some are only 40. Mr A. Thomas, an Auckland tobacconist, wa? arrested on a charge of arson on Wednesday morniDg in connection with the Wictoria street fire and was brought up at the Police Court, when he was remanded for eight days, bail being allowed.

A letter was forwarded from Wellington on Wednesday to Braithwaite, a Wanganui sculler, to the effect that Hearn will row him on the Wanganui river for £SO, the champion to concede half a minute's start ovar a three mile course, and to receive £lO for his expenses. It is understood that a number of Hearn's friends are desirous that he should try conclusions with Beach. Beach it is said, intends to visit Wellington in two or three months, for the purpose of seeing a relative in the country, and as soon as he arrives, negotiations for a match with the New Zealand champ'.on for £2OO a side are to be opened up. It is proposed to row either in Christchurch or Wtmganui. The Grand Lodge, 1.0.G.T., meeting resumed on Wednesday morniug at nine o'clock at Ashburton, aud continued consideration of the official reports, which were adopted. It was resolved to rescind the resolution seeking severance from the W.G.L. It was resolved that the Executive urge upon Government the necessity for taking vigorous measures for the better enforcement of the provisions of the Licensing Act regarding illegal sale of liquor during prohibited hours, aud to this end inspectors of licensed houses should be appointed as provided in the Licensing Act. Fraternal greetings weie received from the Grand Lodge of Victoria in sessiou. Resolutions were adopted recommending Friendly Societies not to meet in licensed houses, and asking the Government to open the Saviugs Banks from to 7 to 8 p.m. on' Wednesdays and Saturdays.

An excursion train to Dunedin from Lawrence on Wednesday brought about one thousand people. At a somewhat dangerous part of the line the brake broke, and some of the carriages ran off the line, and a good deal of alarm was felt. _ The guard jumped off immediately the accident occurred, and the engine driver catching sight of him stopped wilh all possible rapidity. The Dunedin City Council has an overdraft of £41,765 at the expiration of its financial year, compared with £36,000 last year. The turning of the first sod of the North Island Trunk Railway takes place on the 15th inst., the Governor performing the ceremony at Marton, and Tawhaio at Te Awamutu, where the Hon. Mr Stout will be present. The Crown Prince ot Tonga Is daad. The Bank of New Zealand, Auckland, shipped by the Rotomahana four boxes containing 37870zs of gold, to be transhipped at Wellington for Lonqlon. Three tons of quartz from the Wilberforce reef, Canterbury, were recently crushed at the Thames, and, though the result has not transpired, it is understood to have been satisfactory. The gold obtained was worth £3 17s per ounce. A notice giving authority for taking land for the North Island Main Trunk Railway appears in the Gazette. The appointment of Lieut. Arthur Percy Douglas, R.N., as Naval Staff Officer to the Government is gazetted. A notice appears in the Gazette revoking all commissions in the New Zealand Militia, and includes the office™ of such Militia under the rank of majors , with the exception of those holding appointments on the permanent staff of the Volunteer force and those serving in the A.C. The police have receiyed instructions from the Defence Minister to prepare a first-class Militia roll, and are now enrolling all male residents (except those exempted under the Act) between the ages of seventeen and thirty. In reply to a deputation which waited upon him, askiug the terms upon which a torpedo corps would be accepted, Mr Ballance said the want of funds would prevent the Government from increasing the Volunteer corps, and no more volunteer corps could be accepted unless ther consented to forego the capitation allowance. He led the deputation to believe that, if the corps could maintain itself, proper appliances would be supplied.

A deputation of 16 ladies waited on Sir Julius Togel at Christchurch on Thursday to ask him to procure legislation providing that women should be allowed to vote on all questions under the Licensing Act. Sir Julius replied that he was in favor of the general franchise being extended to women, but not in this particular direction alone. A young man named George Carr was killed at the Kaitangita coal mine on Thursday morning. While the men vere working at an early hour in the incline of the new drive, two of them accidentally let a box run away, and this caught the deceased, who was working at the bottom of the incline, and crashed him against another box. His injuries were so serious that he died at 8 o'clock.

The Mosgiel Woollen Factory Oompany has declared an interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. Sir Julius Vogel has arranged for the Government to purchase the Rakaia and Ashburton! Forks Railway, subject to ratification by the Cabinet, Parliament and the shareholders.

About 1000 people arrived at Christchurch by the excursion train from Ashburton on Thursday morning. .