TELEGRAMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3558, 4 January 1882, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

COROMANDEL, this day;

An elderly man named Murray died .suddenly yesterday on Beeson's Island, on wliich he held a lease of ground. deceased is said to be a near relative ola Scotch Baibnct.

THAMES, this day,

The New North Devon Company cleaned, up to-day. Ninety-eigh^ loads of quartz have been crushed, which yielded Gsozg. 6dwts, gold.

OPUNAKB, this day.

James Henry, cooch-drivcr, has been arrested on a charge of stabbing a stable • man on Sunday last. He iB now remanded to Now PJymoath.

WELLINGTON, this day. At Waikouaiti a boy named Childs was drowned while bathing in the river. At the Supreme Court this morning George Thomas Skinner was sentenced to li months hard labbr for forgery. Acborge ngainst Mr and Mrs Morey and Elizabeth Stewart df robbery from tho person is pro; cecding.

TIMARU, tills day;

The total Custoills duties for December, amount to £2,101 0s 3d; for tho quarter, £4,255 i9s 2d. Vital statistic : Births, 33 ; marriage*, 4; deaths, 7. The Caledonian sports yestordny were largely attended. About 5,000 were present Ji J. Bradley wou the two miles walking tllatch in 14 minute^ 34 seconds, from scratch.

Tho weather has beon very hot for somo days past. Yesterday a change came on; with heavy raining.

CtIBISTUHURCH, Tuesday. LYTTELTON REGATTA.

The four-oared out-rigger race, postponed from the Lyttelton. regatta yesterday, came off at 6.15 this evening. Four crews entered, including one from Duncdin. The Kaiapoi boat being the favourite, they held tho lead.- from tbe start, and won the race, Chrfstchurch being second, Lyttelton third, and Dubcdin last. The four-oared inrigger race, for which three crews from Dunedin, Cliriatchurah, and Lyttelton entered, resulted in a fine race, Lyttelton being Grst, and the other two a dead heat. A foul occurred between the Lyttelton and Dunbdln boats, and ended in a protest bciug entered, CHRISToHUIICtf, this day. THE CHARGE OF STEALING NATIVE CATTLE. The Lyttelton "Times" yesterday devoted a leading article to the Fanbaka cattle stealing case, In which live defendants, including two Fcnningtons, were charged with stealing two bullocks) tho property of Maoris. The article contended that a prima fade ca^e wns made out, and that instead of dismissing it the magistrates should have sent it to tbe Supreme Court, The question was ono for a jury. The law does not allow suspicious circumstances to be explained away before magistrates. The magistrates' statement shows they were not enamoured of their decicion. They characterised tho conduct of some of the defendants as inexplicable, and Slid tbat the evidence disclosed considerable carelessness in the selection of cattle for slaughter. The "Times," in conclusion, recommends the whole matter to the careful consideration of tbe Minister of Justice, pointing out among other things some questions for his particular attention, such as why Mr Parris was on tho Bench at all, there being another R.M. besides himself preaent; and whether Messrs Bailey and Elliott, also on the Bench, are not related by marriage to the Penningtons. As, however, the prosecutors wcro only Maoris, urobably nothing more will bo heard of the business. CHARTER'S CASE. In Charter's case, after tho jury had returned a verdict of " Guilty," tho Crown Prosecutor said,in reply to His Honor, that the cases ot embezzling were only a few selected from many. Prisoner said, " With regard to the embezzlement of the money of the Building Society, I think I have proved to the directors that, though other sums were charged against me, they had no right to be bo charged. At the same time my partner, Mr Draper, is dead and gone, and I do not wish to say anything against him. Had he been alive, I should not have been here alone to stand the brunt of all tois, I have a wife and lino young family, and I am a young man only twenty-six years of age, and 1 throw myself on the clemency of" the Court. As to my endeavour to escape, I am glad that I was caught, as I shall be only too glad to have the whole thing settled." DUNEDIN, Tuesday, SERIOUS FIRE. Mr Gibson's starch and cornflour factory in Harbour Terrace was burned down this afternoon. The origin Is not kno-vn. _ The machinery and plant wore insured in the South British Company for £400, but Mr Gibson estimates' his loss at £1,200 over that sum. The building belonged to Mr McDonnell, and was insured for £500 in the Standard. Ihe place burnt very fiercely. The Fire Brigade saved the adioiuinc hotel, DUNEDIN, this day. The Supreme Court opened to-day. Judge Williams congratulated the Grand Jury on the fact of no serious charges. Hubert Vincent, deaf and dumb, was sentenced totwo years forforgery. Theprisoncr had been previously convicted. INVERCARGILL, this day. The Caledonian Society's sports were a great success, about six thousand being present the first day. A large and enthusiastic meeting of Highlanders was held last evening when a " Gaelic Society of Southland" was formed, and omce-bsarers elected.