SPECIAL TELEGRAMS (Per Anglo-Australian Telegraph Agency.) Auckland, Friday. (From the Daily Southern Cross.) Wellington, Thursday.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 417, 16 January 1875, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS

(Per Anglo- Australian Telegraph Agency.) Auckland, Friday.

(From the Daily Southern Cross.) Wellington, Thursday.

Mr Buckiand sold a draxghfc horse from the Waikato today. Mr White, of Papakura, w«9 the purchaser. The s s Juno, 140 tons, to supercerte the La ly Bowen in *.he north will be launched from Niecol'a jard tj-morrow. She has splendid accommodation and a cargo capacity of 200tom. * v J Sir Donald McLean proceeded to the north to«day in the Luna.

Wellington, Friday. The Gazette contains a proclamation renewing tie offer of bona/eB by Parliament for the manufacture of pottery ware, lmeeed oil, iron, steel, and paper in the colony.

Hokitika, Friday. A thunderstorm passed over the town lash nurht at ten o'clock, the atorra culminated in a quiti. succession of fearfpl flashes of lightning and loud thunder. One flash of lightning, resembling a huge rocket, or popular idea of a thunder bolt, was seen to strike the bell twert >wer and fire brigade hall, and in a few secands the buildings were in flames. A perfect deluge of rain fell. No alarm of fire oolud be given by the bell, as it was suddenly engnlped in flames. Both engines were got out, but the wood word of one was on fire. The lightning first straek the summit of the tower and steel bell, then ran along the iron wire reaching from tower to engine-room ; the Savings Bank and small building" were saved by a struggle, the surrounding buildings ware uninjured ; no person has been injured ; Fox, the watchman, withdrew from the tower before the storm was at its worst { the buildings injured were uninsured, the brigade are thfr only losers.

Dttnedin, Friday. A fire occurred at Stralian's brewery this morning cai s"d by the spontaneous combustion of uome new bluck uialf. The bottling department and stablea are totally destroyed. The amount insured is not known.

Nelson, Friday. The members of the Bar presented Judge R chmond with an address to-day, expressing regret at his depaiure.

Bluff, Friday. The Albion, with the European mail, has nrnved. She left Melbourne on the 10th, and arrived at daylight ; she made a splendid run of four daya seven hours ; she left for Dunedin at 3 p.m.

Pari?, January 6. Tlie Lord Major of London and Shernff, wearing robes of office were received with the greatest honor by MacMahon at the palace Eljsee.

Melbourne, Januury 19. Sir "William Stawell, Governor Cairns (Queensland), Governor Weld (Tasmania) are here ; tliev viere all passengers by \he mail steamer Mikudo. Governor Robinson was landed at Weatern Australia. The yield of gold is falling off considerably compared with previous years. Revenne returns show a decrease on the quarter of £155,575, but an increase on the year of £151,830. The total r< venue being £4,053,864. The Mikado left San Francisco on January 6. The motion to expunge the Governor's minute regarding Gardiner's release is sure to be carried against the Government.

The Government, have not yet received Bay communication from the Agent General in reference to the loss of the ' Cospatrick.' The summer horticultural show was opened by the Marquess nnd Marchioness of Normanby to-day.

Christchurc , Thursday. At a meeting of the Astronomical Society, held this afternoon, it was resolved that the Secretary be requested to confer with Mnjer Palmer, R.E., as to the advisability of purchasing the transit instrument and the sidereal clock, with the vit^w of taking time here for regulating time-ball apparatus, purchtised by the Provincial Government, and that the Council be authorised to incur the expenditure for that purpose, such expenditure not exceeding £200.

Dunedin, 'ihursday. Among the many private railways now in course of formation in this province, the moat important is that joining Outrarn to tlie main South line, and which Mr Sliand M.P.C., if unable to obtain the co-operation of settlers, will construct himself. Major Richardson will turn the first sod of the line to connect Rangatata township with the main line, early in February, and Mr Gh Smythe, Messrs BrogdenB' manager, has been appointed managing director. It appears that in a Tery short while commuaieation will be opened from Wellington to a track of country a hundred square milee in extent. The New Zealand Times defends the action of the banks in putting on the " screw," and snys it is their dnty while encouraging legitimate enterprise to put on the break in time.

London, January 5 The Pope has issued an encyclical letter, proclaiming a jubilee this year. The miners' strike in Wales was partially terminated by the men submitting to the terms offered.

Madrid, January 5. Marshal Ssrrono, late Chief of the Executive, has retired ta France with his family.