TELEGRAPHIC.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 61, 14 February 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN. (Ren in's.) London. Feb. 11. After considerable debating in the House of Commons, Mr. Redmond’s amendment on the Address censuring the Government for neglect in regard to the distress in Ireland, was negatived by 21G, against GG. "Latest intelligence from the Capo of Good Hope states that the House of Assembly lias been prorogued. The Colonial Secretary announced that it is the intention of Government to introduce a scries of resolutions with a view to the confederation of the whole of the South African colonies. London, Feb. 12. The “Journal do St. Petersburg” contradicts the statement that Persia has been rcaicascd from her treaty obligation to occupy Herat, and declares in positive terms that if Persia rejects the friendship of Russia for that of England she does so at her peril. The statement obtains currency that Russia will further increase the strength of her iiect in the Pacific. {/lye SAerial.) London, Feb. 11. Russ'a has reduced her navy by 12,000 men. Cremio, a French statesman, is dead. The “Post” states the Victorian election is watched with anxiety. The same paper praises the Marquis of Nor man by. London, Feb. 12. The “Pall Mall Gazette” congratulates Australia oh the success of the Strathlcven experiment, which relieves England from dependence for food supplies upon foreign countries, but making additional competition for the English farmer s. The same journal has a eulogistic article on Duffy, whom it holds up as a pattern to his fellowcountrymen. AUSTRALIAN. ( Reuters. ) Melbourne, Feb. 12. Mr. Berry addressed the electors of Stawell last night. In the course of his remarks he severely criticised Mr. Service’s Reform Bill, which was ultimately accepted by the Council. Mr. Berry speaks again to-day at Ararat. Election addresses are becoming very numerous. (Special.) Melbourne, Feb. 12. The Deccan has arrived at the heads. PER, OUR SPECIAL WIRE, INTERPROYINCIAL. Auckland, Fob. 13. Sir George Grey, when invited to attend a Masonic ceremony at the Thames, said it was so long since he attended a Masonic Lodge lie had almost forgotten all about freemasonry. He also received an invitation from Tukukino to talk over the Thames difficulties, but Sir George advised him to meet the wishes of the Government. Mr. Gudgeon’s second volume on the ’.var, narrating the doings of the Imperial Forces, will shortly be issued. A letter received by Mr. John Lamb, a prominent temperance man here, from Mr. John Rac, of the English temperance league, says there is not much prospect of Mr. J. B. Gough coming to the antipodes, Ins health not being good ; but if he recovers, he will revisit England. The passengers by the British Empire organise themselves by the appointment of constables. They relievo the monotony of their lives by rabbit shooting, picnics, and games. Grahamstown, Feb. 13. Sir George Grey has been requested to call a meeting of the Auckland members of the House, and representations have been made by Messrs. Swanson, Hurst, and the other seccders to join the party again. There is a disposition not to receive them. The child of a native chief at Pai’awai, aged 3 years, was drowned while playing beside the creek. A native in a rude manner tried to restore it, but failed. A t.mgi is now holding. The R.M. ruled in Court to-day that bakers suing for bread should state the weight and not the number of loaves. A man named Michael Sullivan was killed on Thursday in the kauri bush. lie was, with three more, crosscutting a log when, without warning, a kauri pine, growing on a steep hillside where the soil was broken and rocky, fell, killing Sullivan, who was on top of the log, instantaneously. His mates lay under the log and escaped. Gisborne, Feb. 12. Mr. Clarke, who represents the Sydney capitalists, visited the oil spring in this district, and expressed himself much gratified at die splendid indication of oil. After some days of difficult negotiations, satisfactory arrangements have been made with all parties, and a company will be immediately formed with a largo capital to work tiie spring. This is the best thing that has happened for the district for a long time. New Plymouth, Fob. 13. The detachment of A.C. which arrived yesterday from Wellington loft this morning by the 7 o’clock train for the White Cliffs. The Harbor Board met this afternoon to consider some correspondence received from Mr. Rees, the Engineer, who was sent Home to consult fSir John Goode. Mr. Roes states that Sir J. Coode had adopted the modification suggested, and has prepared a concrete section. Ho stated lie had also received tenders for plant to the amount of LIB,OOO, which the Board gave him authority to accept. It was stated in town to-day by a party who was on the Plains yesterday, and saw the natives digging potatoes, that they were complaining of the men at the camp stealing thepotatocs, and tlntwas why they were digging them up before they were ripe. Hawera, Feb. 13. The telegraph wire was cut near the Mahi stream on the Waimato plains yesterday evening. The natives are engaged digging potatoes near the spot. Although it is reported the potatoes are not ripe, they commenced digging them yesterday, and are suspected of having cut the wire. Wellington, Feb. 13. Seven members of the Naval Brigade entered for the prize firing in Nelson. The Union Steam Ship Company carry members of the New Zealand Rifle Association from the various ports to Nelson and back at single fares. Tiie cup given by the company has arrived hero, and is being now engraved. The medals are being struck off' and will be ready for presentation at the meeting at Nelson.’ The ribbon, which is the reverse to that attached to the New Zealand war medal, has been made by Mr. Grosnshield, of Auckland. The secretary reports that entries are coming in freely. J. P. Davis, charged with stealing a cash-box from the house of Win. Clydesdale was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

Louis Freclk. Clayton, Leonard Rose Jaggar, Alfred James Renner, and Ohas. Durbridge, have been dismissed from the Telegraph Department. James Lowrie, harbor master and pilot at Kaipara, has been dismissed from the public service. The police have laid informations against the proprietors of the following hotels :—Empire, Barrett’s, Star, Met;.cipolitau, and Criterion, for breach of the provisions of the Employment of Females Act, by allowing barmaids to remain in the bar after 11 p. m. The prospectus of the Deaf and Dumb Institution established at Sumner, Christ-

church, lias been issued. The charge for hoard, lodging, and education is fixed at LSO per annum ; but under necessitous circumstances, the Minister of Elucatiou ■ will arrange for payment of part of this amount from the public funds. _ _ i Several drapers have intimated their in- ; tention of keeping their shops npuiy until 9 p.m. The Early Closing Association protest against the movement, and are taking measures to prevent it- _ i At the Police Court to-day Captain . Dempsey, of the schooner Darcy Pratt, ; was summoned by the Collector of Customs for carrying seamen who wore not on the articles. Being a first offence he was fined 10s. and costs. Nelson. Fob. 13. A very handsome sword was presented to Major Pitt last night by the H. Battery of Artillery. The Bishop of Nelson, chaplain of the corps, made the presonlalion in a suitable speech, and there was a larvo attendance The new cable was joined last night, and the Kangaroo came on to Nelson, leaving again for Wellington at six tins morning. Christchurch, Feb. 13. Property is looking up a little, ami there, is more activity in the market than there has been for many months. The Now Zealand Shipping Company have published thou- first list of 20 iron clippers, with capacity for 33,000 tons, or a million and a quarter bushels of grain. Those are to sail in February, March, and April, and other vessels are to follow. The report of the Canterbury Sunday School Union, presented at the 13th annual meeting to-day, showed that the number of teachers was—Male, 495 ; female, 402, Scholars—Male, 4370 ; female, 4221. After the laying of the tramway was all hut complete it has boon found that the points used arc unsuitable, and the work lias to be done over again. The inconvenience to the public by the obstructions in the street has been the cause of much annoyance, particularly as the spot chiefly affected is by the Bank of Now Zealand, the most crowded thoroughfare in the city. The railway employees are to ho docked of their pay for their picnic day, and they arc grumbling in consequence. The R.M. lias deferred the decision in the Sunday trading case to Monday. O amaru, Feh. 13. The Lincolnshire fanners’ delegates arrived at Oamaru this evening, and will make a tour of the district to morrow. The privilege of using the totalisator at the coming race meeting has been granted to Lyons and Hart for the sum of L2O. Dunedin, Feb. 13. J. Reid and A. Muir, laborers on the railway works, near Hindoo, were injured seriously yesterday by blasting powder. They had insortejj. a charge of powder into some rock, but the charge not going off, they endeavored to withdraw it, and whilst so engaged it exploded. Both men had their right arms fractured, were injured in the face, and greatly scorched about the bands. They were forwarded to the hospital at Dunedin by rail this afternoon. The ship Wanganui cleared for London to-day, with a cargo valued at L 103,904, including 5035 hales wool and skins, 350 sacks wheat, 72 casks tallow, 38 casks oil, and 42 bales leather. ■ The ship Auckland cleared for London with a cargo valued atLlll,lß9, including ; 5240 bales of wool. Some Chinese working at Macetown ha re obtained pots weighing 51bs. of 1 gold. Water is very scarce in the Cromwell district, and mining is almost at a stand still. A boy aged 10 has been received in gaol to ensure his attendance at next criminal session. The “ Star” calls on the justices to enquire into the matter, and see if other means cannot be devised for ensuring his presence without keeping him a prisoner a couple of months. Nearly L17,G00 has been collected in Dunedin for racing sweeps. Invercargill, Feb. 13. Arthur Skctchley’s (Mrs. Brown) two entertainments here, were a great I success. He was intensely amusing. The Secretary to the Bluff Harbor Board, in a letter to the morning papers says, regarding Mr. Livingstone, the Provincial Auditor, who recently reported on ids accounts, that Mr. Livingstone cither cannot write the Queen’s English or he is an awful perverter of the truth. He compares Mr. Livingstone unfavorably, with Mr. M’Culloch, the local auditor, and Mr. Ollivier, the Canterbury auditor. A scarcity of water, consequent on the long continued dry weather, is severely felt.