Telegraphic.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2837, 2 March 1888, Page 2

Telegraphic.

Suspicious Shipwreck. New Plymouth, March 2. At the close of the formal enquiry into the circumstances of the steamer Bellinger going ashore, the Collector of Customs wired . to the Marine Department, Wellington, asking that an official inquiry be held, as certain disclosures in the evidence, necessitated such a course,

■ Struck Oil. GisiiOiiNE, March 2. The second oil well was struck yesterday at the Minerva well, at a depth of 515 feet. A considerable quantity of sandy mud is being blown out of the well by gas, which is coming in 'such quantities that it can be burnt at the mouth of the pipe. The sand struck is within fiiteen feet of its position as marked on the record of the Pacific Oil Well. The present rate of progress is over 100 feet per week,

Intercolonial rabbits. Wellington, this day. The Government have •decided to send a representative to the Liternational and Colonial Commission of experts to be held iu Sydney to consider the rabbit question. It has not yet been decided who will be selected for the position, Drugs in the Market. /Dunedin, March 2. Kempthorne, Prosser and Go's balance sheetshows profits £13,175 for the year, out of which a 7 per cent dividend has been'declared, carrying forward £10,200 ' • ■ . N.Z. Rifle Association. Oajiaku Bifle Camp, March 2.•• Blenheim has been chosen as the next place for meeting. The design of Kolm and Co,, of Wellington, has been accepted for the new Champion Belt. It has been decided that the chairman shall obtain a number of Martini Henri's for the next meeting. Johnson (Rifle), and Lumsden (carbine) broke down at the three hunched yards range this morning. Purnell now leads for the Rifle Belt, and Pftwlow for the Carbine Belt,

I The Pahiatua Licensing Muddle. - [Prom our own Correspondent.] -,■ Pahiatua, March l. ; / The Licensing Committpe affair i*U now more tangled than ever. v TMpt Returning Officer, being refused advice ; by the Crown Law-officers, has decided to act as if the original elec- ■ , tion was valid, and declare the result thus:—Wakernan, Burrows, Stokes, and Bairstow. Since the original election, fresh nominations have been called for, and a, fresh election 1 announced for Monday next. Also,-. ■ to-night there will bo a public meeting of ratepayers to discuss these fi*csh nominations, and to hear the views of ! candidates.