LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3062, 7 December 1878, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

(Pjeb Pbess Agency.)

WELLINGTON.

This day.

The Times says: It was stated, here' yesterday on good: authority that an offer of the Governorship of the Colony of Victoria had been made to Lord Normanby and accepted by His Excellency.,

At the further inquiry regarding the loss of the South Minster, the evidence was mainly corroborative except on one point. The chief officer stated the ship struck a rock three or four miles from the land, while the second officer said it was only about half a mile.

The Thorndon reclamation, which was begun in 1875, was completed yesterday evening. A merchant here has received a telegram informing him that Cameron's to* bacco factory, Peterburgh, Virgina, U.S.A., was destroyed by fire. It is rumoured that Sir William Fitzherbert be made ' Speaker of the Legislative Council, and Mr O'Rorke Speaker of the House of Representatives. , The New Zealander says the income of the Telegraph Department has shown a very large increase since the beginning of the financial year. The number of deferred telegrams sent in the first week in July, when the system came into operation, was 338 and the number for the week ending 2nd December was 1017, the increase having been gradual s and progressive • since July. The amount of revenua. from this source last week was £40, and should the receipts continue in the same ratio; the total for the year may , be estimated at something like £4000. Since 1873 the telegraphic revenue has doubled, and if the increase should continue till the end of the year there will be a surplus on the estimates of £8000 or £9000. < : v .;■;■,. John Hill, who was recently adjudged guilty of contempt of Court and ordered to be imprisoned, immediately left for the south, but he.was brought back this morning in the Rotoma and sent to gaol to await the pleasure of the .Court. At a meeting of. the New Zealand Rifle Association Committee, the fact of volun.

teers and other intending members holding back their support was brought under notice, and the following resolution passed :-r-" In view of the meeting of the Association being held about the latter end of February, and the intention of the Government to subsidise pro rata to the amount of subscriptions raised by members, it i» absolutely necessary that officers in command'of corps and local secretaries should immediately communicate to the secretary the number of members already joined, to-enable him to apply for {the subsidy and ascertain what amount of funds will be at the disposal of the committee for the purpose of forming the range and preparing a programme of firing, as unless this is ascertained on or before the 31st December, the committee cannot make any arrangements whatever."

The report that the Marquis of Normandby has been offered and accepted the Governorship of Victoria is confirmed. His Excellency and suite will leave for Melbourne at the latter end of next month. , ,