The Press. TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1865. THE FIRST TELEGRAM.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 800, 23 May 1865, Page 2

The Press. TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1865. THE FIRST TELEGRAM.

The telegram from the Bluff, which we published in a second edition yesterday morning, is an event of so much importance in the history of this colony as to deserve more than a passing notice. At the same time, the first instalment was only a foretaste of the advantages which we shall derive when the line is in full working order. There is now a regular telegraphic agency established at the Bluff under the name of EitzGrerald and Co., the managers of which have made arrangements for receiving the latest news from Australia, including the summary of the English mail, and undertake to supply the news with the utmost expedition to all their clients in various parts of the colony. The newspapers in this city have made arrangements, by acting in concert, to procure the news at the earliest date, and so to avoid that ruinous competition which at one time fell so heavily on the London press that it had to be abandoned in favor of united action, and also to avoid that competition for the use of the wires which has often resulted in brief and unsatisfactory telegrams. The course taken by the press in Christchurch will enable news to be communicated fully and expeditiously to all the papers alike, without a waste of means, which could only have been borne by the newspapers by economy in other departments of management, by which the public would have been the losers.

On the present occasion the saving of time hasf not been great, as the line was only opened for the first time yesterday morning, and the arrangements for the transmission of news are hardly complete. But on future occasions we hope that the whole of the Melbourne digest of the English news will be transmitted at least three days before the arrival of the steamer with the letters.

It will, we fear, be some time before the line will be in such working order as to maintain uninterrupted communication. The rivers present very formidable obstacles, and the posts put into the river-beds to carry the wires will be, as they ; have been, frequently carried away. We may be allowed to express an opinion that all the larger rivers might have been more securely dnd permanently spanned by means of ropes lying in the bed of , the rivers than by wires carried on posts. The stones at that part of the rivers where they are crossed by the telegraph are not of sufficient magnitude to injure ropes of suck strength as are now manufactured for the use of long deep sea linos. Indeed, for such short lengths as are required to cross the rivers, even such as the Waitaki or Eakaia, there is no limit to the strength with which a cable may not be manufactured. But the work is but half done at present. The Panama steamers will be running in about seven months; we shall then look not to the south, but to the north for our news. We believe that the cable which is to carry the wires across Cook's Straits is not-yet ordered ; but we do the General Government will not allow another mail to pass without Bending an order to be executed with the utmost expedition, so that the whole line may be in working order by the time the first boat arrives from Panama, which will be in February or March next year. The distance across the Straits is much greater than was at first supposed. It is necessary to select spots on either side where the shore is entirely free from rocks, so that the cable may not be cut or chafed. We believe a sufficient survey has now been \ made to enable the engineer to select a Bandy

bay between Cape Terawitti and Wellington harbor as the best landing place in the North Island, and a similar bay at the mouth of the Wairau valley, as the best place in the Middle Island for receiving the cable on shore. Between these two points the bottom is free from rocks, but a detour must be made to avoid a deep hole like the crater of a submarine volcano, which lies about the middle of the Straits. The whole length of the cable, allowing for slack, will thus be about 40 miles, and the cost of material and laying will probably approach £20,000. But the importance of at once connecting all the large towns of the Middle Island with the Government at "Wellington is so paramount in a political point of view, — at the same time that the commercial interests of the South so urgently demand the establishment of this instantaneous connection with the Panama service, —that the sum of £20,000 ought to be regarded as really not worthy of a moment's consideration. We cannot but think that the General Q-overnment has already been a little dilatory in the matter; for if delay before was excusable, not a mail ought to have elapsed after the signing of the Panama contract without despatching the order for the Cook's Straits cabie. But we have no doubt that this will now be done without further delay.

Lt.ttei.ton Regatta.—A public meeting was held at the Queen's Hotel, on Saturday night, for the purpose of considering the best means of providing a regatta and other sports to be held on the Queen's Birthday. The meeting was very numerously attended ; Mr. Fairhurst was called to the chair. It was resolved that there should be three races, viz.— four-oared boats, two-oared boats, and a sailing match for whaleboats only. A committee was formed for the purpose of collecting subscriptions, consisting of Messrs. Messiter, Ockford, O'Neil, Agar, Fairhurst, and Genet; Mr. W. Bayner was elected treasurer. A subscription was at once opened, and a good round sum was collected in the room. Peize Fibing.—The Kaiapoi Company of volunteers met at 10 a.m. on Saturday to shoot for a variety of prizes, at ranges of from 100 to 600 yards. After being served with the requisite number of rounds of ball cartridge, five for each range, they were marched to the butt on the Beach, road, under the command of Ensign Black, and were there arranged in classes by Sergeant Bevell. The weather, which threatened rain daring the earlier part of the morning, cleared up about noon, but the air was extremely cold. At the 200 and 400 yards range the first prize was carried off-by Sergeant Hebden, who made 27 points. For the second there were five ties, of 25 ; three of whom, however, were disqualified by having miseed the target once ; the contest then lay between Privates Haasal and Ellen, the former eventually proving the victor. The following is the score at this range:—

At the 400 and 500 yards ranges the shooting also resulted in a tie, Sergeant Wright and Private Croup each making 22, but the prize was awarded to the latter for having made fewer misses:—

At the shorter ranges of 100 and 200 yards the first prize was gained by Bugler Pearce, who made 27 points; the second by" Ensign Black, who made 20; the third by Private Hen wood, and the fourth by Sergeant Powell... .Both the latter men scored , 19, but a miss on the part of Sergeant Powell gave, the priority to Henwood. We hear that' the company will meet again on Wednesday to shoot for the Ladies' Purse of 10 guineas, and Lieut. Beawick has presented a silver cup to be competed for at the same tune.

Sittikgs nr Chambebs.—The following cases were heard in Chambers yesterday before his Honor Mr. Justice Gresson. In re John B. Binley—The debtor appeared in person; and Mr. Williams for some of the creditors. Mr. Innes was appointed trustee, and the final order made. In re GK McCarthy Abbott, a debtor—Final order made, and Mr. Seager appointed trustee. In re A.. Gk Bich, a debtor—Mr. Bamford for Mr. Moorhouse appeared to ask the Court to approve of- . deed of composition, which his Honor agreed to do upon, payment into Court of the shilling in the pound Court expenses, and of the other costs mentioned in the deed. In re David Soloman, a debtorj Mr Moorhouse, solicitor—A .similar order was made. In re 0. Oswald, a debtor—At the request'of counsel this case was adjourned to Friday next. In re &. Grood* acre, a debtor; Mr. , Moorhouse, for the petitioner, and Mr. Cowlishaw for come pfthe creditors— ln tbisi case the debtor was not to be. found, and bis' Honor ordered that .on the filmg of an affidavit to that effect, the hearing should be adjourned until the J>fch July* with leave to call a meeting oi creditors for the appointment of a trustee in the meantime. Spvbiotts observe the following paragraph in a letter from a correspondent of the Wellington Independent, written from Wairarapa on the 13th inst.: —A fact , of some importance td bankers and the mercantile..interest has come tender my notice, namely,' the circulation of spurious Bank of New Zealand notes, Auckland branch. They are very dirly, obviously to deceive enquiry as to their being genuine. They have no signatures whatever, and no date. The matter requires the serious attention of the Bank authorities, as they evidently have been surreptitiously placed in circulation.

Ft.ax Psebabations. — The premises of Mr. Donaldeon, in the Harewood road, -will be open for inspection to the public to-day from noon to three p.m., when the process in use by Mm for the preparation of flax will be explained. Kaiapoi Mechanics' Institute. —A meeting of the subscribers to this institute was held on Friday evening, in the reading-room of the new building, but owing to the inclemency of the weather the attendance was very scanty, and the principal part of the business was therefore allowed to stand over for another meeting to be held this evening. The build- i ing is now finished as far as the contractor's tender goes, and presents a very creditable appearance. It is 50 feet long by 22 wide, and is divided at one-third of its length into two rooms, the smaller of which is j being fitted up as a library and reading-room, while the other will be used as a lecture-room, and for the larger meetings of the members. The building will be opened on Friday evening, when J. Ollivier, Esq., will give a narrative of a journey from London bridge to Boulogne, illustrated with diagrams of river and coast scenery. Gazette.—A Government Gazette was issued yesterday. It contains a proclamation declaring Wednesday, the 24th, a public holiday, in honor of her Majesty's birthday; a notification that the building at present in use as a lock-up in Hokitiki is declared a public gaol;' and watermen's and lightermen's regulations for the port of HoHtika. Gbbat Sottthekh Raelway.—The ceremony of turning the first sod of the Great Southern Bailway will take place to-morrow at one o'clock., The spot selected ie in Colombo street, opposite the present goods station, which will be decorated and turned into a banqueting hall for the occasion. The turf will be turned by Mrs. Bealey ; a barrow and spade proper for the purpose being in preparation by Mr. St. Quentin. After the ceremony, the contractors, Messrs. Holmes and Co., will entertain their friends in the goods station, where a banquet will be provided in Messrs. Morton and Robertson's best style. The Telegbaph.—Telegraphic communication with Dunedin was opened yesterday for the first time on the occasion of the arrival of the English mail. The line is now opened for the transmission of messages to Dunedin and the Bluff, between the hours of nine a.m. and five p.m. Communication with the intermediate stations will be opened as soon as the different offices now in course of erection can be completed. , " Pbutcess' Theatbe.—There was a very'poor attendance at the theatre laet evening to witness the repetition of "The House dn the Bridge of Notre Dame. ,, The scenery in this piece is without doubt some of the best we have seen in the theatre, and the play last evening went much better than on Saturday night. "111-treated II Trovatore" was the afterpiece, and was received as enthusiastically as ever.; We hear that great preparations are being made for, the Queen's birthnight, on which occasion a series of allegorical tableaux will be produced.

Names. 200 Yards. 400 Yards. ereeant Wright .. " Kevell .. .. " Hebden .. .. !orporal Wright .. Craig .. ... •rivate Coup " Burnip .,' .. " W. Hassal .. " J. Ellen .. .. " W. Beswick T. Hassal .. .. 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 4 3 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 2 2 2 2 4 2 0 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 24 2 i 3 3 0 24 0 3 3 4 2 2 3 3 2 4 2 0 3 2 2 0 0 2 4 0 3 2 3 2 4 3 8 2 0 4 2 2 3 3 2 3 4 223 3 0 3 0 3 2 3 2 2 3 35 25 27 25 10 22 21 21 25 20 25

Names. 400 Yards.j 500 Yarde. •3 -- Sergeant Wright EeyeU Corporal Wright .. " Craig Private Coup .. " Homersham.. " Bornip .. -"■ W. Hassal .. " Beswick " Ellen ... ... 0 24 42 0 2 4 0 2 2 2 2 4 3 2 0 2 3 2 2 2323 2 2 0 2 0 2 3 2 3 0 0 3 2 3 0 2 0 2 4 2 3 2 2 2 0 4 0 0 3 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 4 0 0 4 2 2 2 4 0 2 4 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 030 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 22 10 15 16 22 16 14 13 ! 14 15