BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1136, 26 December 1873, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

[Anglo-Australian Press Telegraph Agency]

NELSON. Dec. 22nd, 9.30 p.m. The sea on bar has been so heavy that the Taranaki only left yesterday. DUNE DIN. Dec. 22nd. 9 30 p.m. A fire was discovered in the Prince of Wales hotel, early on yesterday morning, under suspicious circumstances. At the annual inspection of artillery on Saturday evening, Major Gordon recor me ided disbanding in consequence of the small number present. Only eighteen rank and file paraded. WELLINGTON. Dec. 23. The Provincial Government offices will be closed from Christmas eve to second January. Two thousand shares have been applied for in the Sugar Eefining Com. pany % It i 3 announced that the New Zealand Shipping Company intend to purchase five of M'Meckan's boats in order to secure the Melbourne trade. Should the Albion arrive in time to catch the Suez steamer a supplementary mail will be made up. On the last two occasions when similar accommodation was granted, the carriage of letters cost four shillings each. NAPIER. Dec. 23. Tenders are called for the erection of quarantine buildings at Park's Island. The highest scorer of the district representatives was Greer. Score 88. GRAHAMSTOWN. Dec. 23. Albert John Nicholls, a pakeha Maori of 20 years standing, has been arrested on three separate charges of arson. The prosecutors are Maoris. There have been three fires in eight days. m LATE TELEGRAMS. AUCKLAND The report that Perkins has purchased Redwood's horses is correct. In the Provincial Council, Mr Sheehan stated that the Superintendent had been offered a steamer to ply to Poverty Bay for £IOOO subsidy. "The service will soon commence. Mr O'Rorke has been elected Speaker of the Provincial Council, though an attempt was made to put Mr Carleton in on the ground that the duties of Speaker and Minister would clash. The New Zealand Insurance Company's report states that after paying numerous losses and a heavy average on wool, a balance of £7454 profit will be carried forward to next half year. The paid up capital amounts to £IOO,OOO, £4O per share; the reserve fund is £3500; re-insurance fund, £40,000. A five per cent dividend was declared. BLUFF. Abeut 930 p.m. on the 18th, the railway porter, acting as watchman of goods landed on the wharf (through want of storage accommodation) from the steamers Wanganui and Albion, gave the alarm of fire. Instantly all the bells on the ships began ringing and smoke was seen to rise from the engine, room of the Wanganui, which proved to be on fire. Before buckets and hands could be got to use the water supplied, the flames began issuing from the skylight. After twenty minutes hard work the flames were got. under. The damage is not serious, but all the wood-work about the engine-room and the officers' quarters on the poop are charred. The engines apparently are not damaged, as she got up steam at six this morning and sailed for Biverton at seven. The fire would have proved very serious had it happened one hour later, as most of the crews belonging to the vessels would have been in bed, they j having rendered every assistance, which, no doubt, saved the vessel. The fire is said to have originated in the mate's room from the kerosene lamp. Captain Eraser and the chief officer worked like tigers to get the flames under. Captain M'Lean, of the Albion, was quickly on the spot with his men and buckets, rendering valuable assistance, as also the men and officers of the ship Bebington. LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS. MELBOURNE. The riot at Clunes has been amicably terminated. s The Government exhibits no disposition to proceed against the rioters. Lieutenant Kelly, of the Cerberus, has been accidentally killed.

Muir, the manager of the Land and Mortgage Bank, died suddenly.

Flour, £l2 6s to £l2 15s. Wheat, little offering. Oats, steady at 4s sd. The papers have had denunciatory articles upon Dr L. L. Smith.

ADELAIDE,

The Appropriation Bill has passed the Assembly. The Northern Territory Mining Bill passed the Council. The Treasurer has abandoned the motion for raising a loan, as the amount in the Treasury is sufficient to enable him to tide over the recess.

The prorogation of Parliament takes place next Friday. Twenty-one thousand acres of land were selected during November. New wheat is being shipped to England. Wheat firm at 5s 3d to 5s 4d.

SYDNEY

The Eev. Dr West, editor of the Herald, was seized with a fit whilst returning from the office in his carriage on the 11th instant, and died within a few hours. Seven hundred tons of ore were received from the tin mines last month.

The officers of the A.S.N Company give Captain Grainger a farewell dinner to-night, on his leaving the Company's service.

Bottled ale, firmer; small sales of plantation coffee at Is id, in bond.