LATE TELEGRAMS.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1141, 13 January 1874, Page 4

LATE TELEGRAMS.

, NELSON

January 7. In the action, Greymouth and Hokitika tramway Company v. Westland County Council, to recover £20,000 for breach of contract, a verdict has been given for plaintiff for £15,000, subject to reduction to £5400 if the Court should bo of opinion that the damages are not to d&te after the commencement* of the action. WELLINGTON. January 9. The principal publicans in the place have decided to abandon Sunday trading, and/unleavour to secure the compliance of other hotelkeepers. The Inspector of Police is. taking criminal proceedings against the native disturber Horowheriua, for burning whares aud milling up crops. DUA'EDIN. January S. The banquet to Mr Yogtl was a great success. The Superintendent was in the chair, and the Governor sat <ui the left of Mr Vogel. The Captain and uificers of tlie'French war -ship' Vire were present, and most of the 'leading citizens.

His Excellency mado a capital speech. He hoped in the term of his oflice to earn and deserve some portion of the respect due to his office, He spoke in high terms .of abilities.

Tha fChairman, in proposing Mr Voxel's health, went into his whole carreer with great minuteness. He said that £501) had been subscribed and would be spent in the purchase of a piece of plate as a testimonial to Mr "Vogel. On the question of the posi- : tiou .of the Colony, he said a great misapprehension existed as to the debt of the, Colony. The amount of debt on EJune 30th on Colonial account was £o,-iG.'i,oOo, and on Provincial account r i53,156,200ijj The Provincial debt was ultimately a Colonial liability, but at the-same time it was secured primarily upon the landrevenuc of the Colony, which, between Ist July, 1572, and December 20, 1873, exclusive of receipts on gold and Native lands, amounted to £1,370,000. The Colony need not. therefore, be afraid of a .liability of £55,000,000, with such security at its back. •January 9. Catherine M'Donald, for the" manslaughter of John Briggs, bus been sentenced to live years imprisonment, All the Surat's single immigrants have found employment at good wages. Pifteen immmigrants' ships arrived during the past year. They brought 2281 statute adult?, or 2824 souls. A testimonial is to be presented to the captain of the Vire, for assistance rendered . to the Surat's passengers, arifPa hall will be given to the Captain and officers on Monday next. At a meetingof the Surat Pelief Committee yesterday it was resolved to collect £.300 for distribution among the married people only. The losses of the passengers are £2500. One man had 2GI sovereigns in a box. The passengers luggage and effects were sold with the wreck, notwithstanding the protest of some of the passengers. An official enquiry commences to-morrow. Strange rumours are afloat concerninothe captain, and the first and second officers' conduct. A number of steamer have left for the wreck with a view to saving as much as possible. If the fine weather lasts it is believed that the vessel will be off in ten days. Private, advices state that the steamer Mongol left London for this port direct on the 23rd December, CIIRISTCHURCH. January 8. It is rumored that the Hon. E. Stafford is coming forward to contest the Supcrmtendency. Mr John ()llivier, the Provincial Auditor, will also be asked to oiler himself, and it is reported that a number of gentlemen have offered to guarantee his expenses if lie does. On opening the session of the Supreme Court, Judge Gresson favorably re*. viewed the statutes passed last session, but deprecated their coming into operatisn so early after receiving the Governor's assent, as it rendered it impossible for the general public in parts of the colony distant from the seat of Government to be acquainted with the laws which they were bound to obey. Prize medals for awards at the Interprovincial Exhibition, IS/2, have arrived from London The design and workmanship arc beautiful. l)r Lerggren, Professor of the University of Lund, Sweden, has arrived, and intends remaining twelve months in New Zealand,investigating its botany fcr the Swedish Goveemnent. He makes Chrcstchurcb his boaa-quartcrs. January 0. The Provincial Council has voted £SOO for the importation of insect ivorous birds. The three best batsmen are unable to go with the cricketing team which -plays Otago, LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS. SYDNEY. December 31. The arrival of the new Coadjutor Arclib shop seem? likely to create a political religious war. MELBOURNE. December 31. Considerable consternation prevails in mercantile circles owing to the adop- I

tion of a free-trade policy by New South Wales. The Sydney houses have sent out travellers to the Kiveriua districts, [Who are obtaining large orders of goods, as by the repeal of the ad valorem duties they are able to furnish supplies at 20 per cent, less than Victoria. BRISBANE. * Dee. 30." G old is being obtained at Palmer in great quantities—one nugget was found weighing lOSozs., and several ranging from 3oz to 250z. The population on the ground numbers 500. Rations are notto be had for love or money.