TELEGRAPHIC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1345, 26 May 1885, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC.

The body of Nelson, one of the men drowned in the recent boat accident at Brans’Bay, Wellington, was found on tbe beach on Saturday afternoon. The body of Matthew Costello, another victim of the recent boat accident, was washed ashore at Evans’ Bay yesterday. Two bodies are still missing. The Coroner decided than an inquest on Costello was unnecessary. Special services were held in the Wellington churches on Sunday in honor of the Queen’s Birthday, Heavy rain fell through the night, but it was fine on Monday morning, though dull and threatening. The Volunteers fired the usual salute at ten o’clock, and then proceeded to the Hutt racecourse, where a review was held. The Governor held a dress levee at Government House at 11, and the football match, Christchurch v. Wellington, commenced at 1.30 in the afternoon.

St, Joseph’s Cathedral, Dunedin, is to be opened in February. Archbishop Moran and several bishops are likely to be present. By a stack fire at Kyeburn (Otago), which destroyed 4400 bushels of wheat, the New Zealand Office loses £290. The recent bazaar in aid of the Catholic Convent Building Fund at Christchurch realised £1,094 net. The weather on Monday morning at Christchurch was gloriously fine. The Volunteers assembled for the sham fight at New Brighton, near the sea beach. The muster was very large. All the country corps, were present, George Tucker committed suicide at Arrow (Otago) by cutting his throat with a razor.

Payable gold is reported to have been discovered at the Bay of Islands, Wm. Dilby has been committed for burglary at Reid and Gray’s stores, Auckland.

At the Appeal Court, Wellington, on Friday, the argument in one of the cases, Regina v. Waring Taylor, was taken, and their Honors reserved judgment. Government have under consideration the desirability of proposing to Parliament next session an increase of the rating power under the Rating Act of 1882, from |d to Id in the £ on capital value, in order to give those Boroughs which may adopt the Act ac large an income from rates as they now possess under the system of levying Is in the £ on the annual value. The first lecture in connection with the St. John’s Ambulance Association was given by Dr Hacon in Christchurch on Friday, and was attended by forty ladies. The association now numbers 140, and ithe membership is rapidly on the ncrease.

The Native Minister returned to Wellington on Saturday morning. Mr Booth delivered his farewell address in Dunedip on Friday evening, when their was a very large attendance, the Mayor presiding. He was presented with a purse oj 200 sovs and an address, while the lady workers presented Mrs Booth with 15 sovs, and the choir presented three books of photographic views. During the mission, 5500 pledges been taken, and 6590 badges distributed, Mr Booth, in returning thanks, said he believed the £2OO (the profit after paying expenses), was the largest amount realised by any such mission in the world. Tlie policy-holders in the Government Life Assurance Association, at Invercargill are to, hold a meeting to consider the lopal Board question.

The cook of the s.s. Arawa, who was suffering from smallpox Jtlie voyage out, has now been admitted to pratique. Returns of the Auckland Board of Education teaching staff allow thot teaching is falling largely into the hands of females, there being only 14 male pupil teachers as against 173 female pupil teachers. Strong remarks were made as to the excessive drinking habits of the teachers. Civil proceedings are being instituted against the Board of Directors of the New Zealand Leather Manufacturing Company, which has been in existence since 1883. Some of the shareholders were desirous that a criminal prosecution should be commenced, but agreed by a majority to proceed against the late Directors on the civil side of the Court. Damages will bo claimed on several counts, probably on five. Three counts have already been decided upon. The first will allege that the Directors fraudulently misrepresented the Company’s affairs by means of a bal-ance-sheet presented at a meeting in 1883, whereby the shareholders were induced to continue the business ; the second will set forth that the Directors were negligent in the performance of their duties, and the third will allege they took the property without being duly authorised so to do. Plaintiffs will claim damages on each count, and will also ask to be indemnified against the working expenses of the Company since the presentation of the balance-sheet in 1883.

A difficulty has arisen in connection with the proposed sculling match between Hearn, of Wellington, and Boniface, of Riverton, The latter insists on having a minute’s start, while Hearn refuses to give more than half a minute. The guns at Point Hallswell, Wellington, are now in position. 105 A.C.’s are engaged on defence works on the Peninsula.

The mail steamer Zealandia which, owing to the trouble with the Seamen’s Union in Sydney did not leave Auckland until the Ist instant, three days after her contract date of departure, arrived at San Francisco on Thursday last, two days behind time.

A man named Andrew Lockhart was brought up at Dunedin on Saturday, charged with passing a valueless cheque at Rakaia, and remanded.