TELEGRAPHIC.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2502, 1 April 1878, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC.

(From Our Own Correspondent). GRAHAMSTOWN, This day. LATEST CRUSHING. The Phoenix, Tairua, starts to work at once. The Queen of Beauty has 97ozs. from 10 head for eight days. Wilson's tribute 1220z5. from 5 head for 18 days. The Piako started crushing on a dropper from the main reef 18 inches thich, which is showing np well. Several parcels are at the mill from lhe company and 5 tributes. The Smile of Fortune^ Owharoa, Hutchinson's tribute, lSezs. from 13 tons. Cox's tribute, 21ozs. from 22 tons. Kuranui. —In the 640 feet level, in Northernmost cross-cut, towards the side of the Kuranui Hill, a leader between 15 to 20 inches has been cut. It is the best-looking stone got in the level, and is lively with mnndic, but there is no gold. ROTORUA, this day. DROWNED. Archibald MeKenzie, blacksmith, was drowned yesterday while bathing in the lake at Rotorua. An inquest will be held to-night. WELLINGTON, this day. ' REFORM ASSOCIATION. The committee appointed by the Reform Association have hired a shop in the Arcade, with the object of promoting registration. Their efforts have resulted in about five hundred persons being placed on the roll. THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS. The Government have conferred the appointment of Inspector-General of Schools, under the Education Act _f last year, on Mr. J. B. Habens, 8.A., at present Secretary and Examiner to the Canterbury Education Board. Mr. Habens has accepted the appointment, on condition that he benot required to come permanently to Wellington till the end of May. This appointment is a very satisfactory one, inasmuch as it has been made on the sole ground that Mr. Habens possesses the highest qualifications for the position ; and he will undoubtedly discharge its duties with discretion, ability, and zeal. INSURANCE AND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. A return has just been prepared by order of the Government, shewing the loss of Government property occasioned by fire during the last ten years, also the sums paid for insurance during that period, with a view to ascertaining whether or not it would be advisable to iusure all Government buildings. From this return it appears that the total loss sustained by the Government through fire during the last ten years has amounted to £44,360. The heaviest item was the Custom-house and Post-office, Auckland, estimated at £25,000. The smallest was Wellington railway station, burned about two months ago, valued at £360. The other items are :—Auckland Lunatic Asylum, £16,500 ; Government Buildiugs, Picton, £1,800 ; Government Buildings at Blenheim, £3,200, of which £2,500 was insured, leaving an actual loss of £700. The amount of insurance paid during ten years has been £6,100. The conclusion arrived at by Government is, that it is advisable partly to insure the larger and more valuable buildings to the extent of about half their value, the Government thus taking half the risk. In case of the smaller buildings it is found, on careful calculation, that it is not profitable to insure,.but that it pays better to take the risk of small losses rather than to insure the almost infinite number of small structures profusely scattered over the country. [SPECIAL TO PRESS AGENCY.] WELLINGTON, this day. ENGLISH SHIPPING. The Merchant Shipping and Underwriters Association has received the following shipping intelligence :— London, March 12. Arrived.— Lady Jocelyn, from Melbourne ; City of Agra, from Geelong ; Europe, from the Lacipede Islands. The Argonaut, which put back to ' repair damages received in a collision with the Bombay, has sailed again for Wellington. March 19. Arrived.—Adimore, from Melbourne; Atistides, from Adelaide; Berean, from Launceston. Hong Kong, February 23. Arrived.—Marie, from Newcastle ; Mo«----quito, from Albany; Silas Fish, from Newcdstle; Tokatea, from Newcastle; Star of India, from Sydney; Normanby, from Sydney. COROMANDEL, this day. MONTHLY CRUSKINGS. Monthly Returns.—Pride of Tokatea tribute, 25ozs; Tokatea, 76ozs ; Queen of the North, 103ozs; Bismarck, 46ozs ; Tokatea tribute, 96ozs ; Pride of Tokatea, 13ozs ; Corby, 5560zs ; Union Beach, 6090z5, Pactolus, 29ozs; British, sozs; sundries, llozs. The National Bank of New Zealand shipped to-day a bar of gold containing 1,2200z5. for the Head Office, Auckland.