TELEGRAPHIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1953, 31 March 1885, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

(united press association.) ! Dunedin, Tuesday. A boarding house at Mcßaes, known as the Temperance Hotel, was burned down on Thursday. It was owned and occupied by Mrs Sarah Rich. The cause is believed to have been the over-heating of a stove. The building was insured for £SOO. The New Zealand Accident Insurance Company has declared a dividend of lit percent,'

Christohurch, Tuesday, A meeting of those interested in the present means of defence was held yesterday, A committee was appointed to confor with the Government as to steps which should be taken in support of the Government scheme of defence.- A number of those present put down their names as willing to form a reserve ■■'defence corps, who should contribute £5 eaoh towards the purchase of rifles, accoutrements, and ammunition. A fanner named James Butler was killed at IJoroarato by a fall from a dray. Auqklasd, Tuesday.' The imminence of war has caused the local insurance companies to consider the advisableness of charging war risks and Mr-Clarke, Chairman of the Auckland Underwriters Association, has written to the'N.Z, Underwriters Association suggesting that steps be taken to obtain a daily telegram from London quoting rates of insurance, the New Zealand rates to be based on ruling English rates. Wellington, This Day. The works of defence at the various ports are to be commenced as soon as plans are completed, at which Major Cautley is busily engaged, A large number of men will be set to work at the Wellington fortifications to-morrow. They will be engaged™ making the road for the material to be sent up. The Colonial Secretary's Bill, dealing with the re-constitution of the Legislative Council, simply limits the time for which members are nominated. The Bill will be introduced into the Council early in the session, but the time to which a seat is limited has not yet been decided by the Government,

Mr Buckley is drafting a lengthy Charitable Aid Bill, which will," it is understood, embody the principles': of Bills. 'no»r' ill fproo jn England and Canada, No further Information has been received from England respecting the state of affairs betweon England and Russia. "AGE ".SPECIALS. (Per Australia, at Auckland). (United Press Association) . London, March 18. ThoEmperorqfG/ecrn'aky li'as'c'onsented to the poition of Sfew' Guinea whjch has been annexed to Germany being called "Kftisor Wilhelm's Land," March 20, Colonel Owen, of the Royal Artillery, who was.-recently appointed to suooeed Colonel' Downes, Commandant of the South Australian military force, has been gazetted Brigadier-General. March 23. The report that M, de Giers, Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, had re* signed, is now declared to be unfounded, Tho Natives in India continue to show the greatest loyalty to the British throne, The Russians are fomenting disorders among the Natives in the Penj district, the object being to create a pretext for interference. Losppff, March 24, The troopship Tamar, conveying seamen recently relieved'on tlie Australian naval station, arrived at Plymouth yesterday! '••■■' •' '-■'■ |t }.s probable that Lord Derby will retifnthpejause fri'ffu) Federation Enabling Bljl, permjtljng any of the colonies, tp retire, In view •pf t))ip' prpbabiljty, SjrFrancjs Djljon Bell is'convening a nigeting pf the Australian Agents-Gen-era) tp consider t|)e matter, March 24, Russja continues aggressive, apparently relying on Mr Gladstone's weakness, and believing that the Premier Is not disposed to proceed to extremities in connection with the frontier difficulty,