TELEGRAMS,

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 417, 16 December 1874, Page 3

TELEGRAMS,

(From the Dunedin Dailies. )

Wellington, December llth.

It is expected that the Luna, after landing His Excellency here, will take Messrs Seed, Blackett, and Captain Johnston on board, and proceed round the Middle Island, inspecting lighthouses and surveying and resurveying sites for new ones. The following tenders, received for the snpply of 60,000 sleepers for the Mataura and Clutha railway : — Accepted: Donald and Peterson, Invereargill, 30,000 at 3s. Declined : Calder, Blacklock, and Co., InyereargiU, 60,000 at 3s Qd ; Joan Howe, at xawrence, 20,000, at 3s lOd. 8200 sleepers for the Winton and Kingston railway : — Declined : Calrter, Blacklock, and Co., Invercargill, 8200 at 3s 6d. This was the only tender. . Last night, at tho residence of Mr J. C. Crawford, K. M., two servant girls upset a kerosene lamp when going to bed, and set their night drsses and the room on fire. Mr Crawford was reading in the other room, and, hearing them scream, managed, after considerable trouble, to save the girls and put out the fire. One girl was very seriously burned, though she is expected to recover. Mr O'Shea reports flour advancing, £13 5s to £13 10s ; Oatmeal, £26 ; barley, none ; oats, scarce, at 6s to 6s 3d ; bran Is 4£d to i Is 6d: pollard, £8 6s ; hams, scarce, Is 3d to | Is 4d ; bacon, Is 2d. December 12th. Captain Sharp, at Nelson, an amateur as- | tronomer, succeeded in taking a perfect observation of the egress in the transit of Venus. By chronometer time compared by telegraph yesterday with Doctor Hector, it was found thai a difference of two minutes existed. It is intended to compare the time of this chronometer for a few days, and, if fouud reliable, it is thought the observation will be of scientific value, and Major Palmer will proceed to Nelson iv connection with the observation. The girl Betsy Ross, one of the two who were severely burned through knocking over a kerosene lamp at the Resident Magistrate's j private residence, died this morning. The appeal before the Supreme Court in I the case Thompson v. Hyde having reference to the liability of mail coaches carrying passengers to pay toll, was decided in favour of the applicant, with costs. This decision makes every mail as liable to toll as any ordinary vehicle. December 14th. The Governor arrived in the Luna last evening soon after seven. It was a misapprehension that his Excellency wished to be received by the city authorities alone. What he wished was to leave the inhabitants themselves to receive him in whatever way they thought proper. Tha Governor landed from the Luna at the wharf at noon, and was met on board by the Mayor and Corporation and by the members of the Ministry at the end of the wharf. An address of welcome to his Excellency and Lady Normanby was read by the Mayor. His Excellency briefly returned thanks for the cordial and hearty welcome which had been given, and for the flattering terms in which the address was couched, and begged to assure them that whatever abilities he possessed would be sincerely devoted to promoting, as far as in him lies, the happiness, well-being, and prosperity of the colony. Owing to a misunderstanding no triumphal arches were erected ; but all the Volunteers, firemen, and armed Constabulary turned out, and perhaps the largest crowd of citizens ever seen together iv Wellington on any public occasion. The wharf was crowded with shipping, which spread all their bunting, the effect of tho whole being very fine Auckland, December, 11th. Mr Bucklaud reports that the prices of cattle are sustained at £1 5s to £1 10s per 1001 b ; fat sh«epj-fnllTnrmber,-tt*-3cU.tQ.34d. L_ ruling values of lambs, good 12s 6d to 16s ; inferior, Bs. The advance established at the last wool sale was o|d. December 12th, Mr G. W. Binney reports bnsiness dull. Oats, 6o 3d to 6s 6d $ wJieafc, 6s 3d ; maize 6s 6d ; flour, £14 to £14 10s ; barley, 4s 6d ; oatmeal, £26 ; hams and bacon. Is ; peas and beans, 5s 6d ; kauri balk, 6s ; sawn, 9s Cd to 13s. December 14th. Sales : South British, £2 8s ;' Tokatea, 12s 6d. Buyers : Bank of New Zealand, £18 ; South British, £2 9s; Caledonian, £4. Sellers : Bank of New Zealand, £18 3s 6d ; National Bank, £3 10s ; South British, £2 9s 6d. Wanganui, December 11th. Mr Robert Low reports having sold 100 pure Lincoln rams, bred by Esson Brothers. The prices ranged from £30 to £40, average £34. The bidding was spirited. Christchurch, December, 11th. Quotations (f. 0. b.):— Wheat 5s 6d ; oats, 6s ; flour, £12 10s to £13 10s ; bran, £6 10s ; pollard, £6 ; sharps, £7 ', cheese, 9d. Trade is dull. The crops are looking well after the late rains, and the harvest will be earlier than was expected. A local miller has already purchased new wheat, for delivery in January at 4s. December 12th. The public meeting held last evening to consider the question of funeral reform, was influentially attended. Those present in eluded ministers of nearly every denomination, Sir Cracroft Wilson in the' chair. On the motion of the Dean of Christchurch, seconded by the Rev. C. Fraser, Presbyterian Minister, it was resolved — " That in view of the desirableness of effecting reform in the ordinary customs connected with funerals and the wearing of mourning, a committee be appointed for the purpose of collecting infor-

mation on the subject, and considering the best measures to be taken for effecting such reform, and that they be authorised, if they think fit, to convene a public meeting for the consideration of the subject, and to initiate steps for the formation of a funeral reform association." Those present were appointed a committee, with power to add to their number to carry out the objects of the resolution.