LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Press, Volume XIV, Issue 1882, 27 April 1869, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[FROM OUE OWN COBEESPONDENT.] "Wellington, April 26,10.15 a.m. News was brought into Patea by Mr Parris's scouts on the 22nd that Titokowaru is rapidly approaching his old haunts with 500 men. Hβ was expected to reach Patea in a day or two. Colonel Lyons had been sent for from Wanganui. The scouts do not like to go far from camp. The \N"gatiporous want to leave for the East Coast. It is feared that Patea will have to be abandoned as supplies cannot be got up if Titokowaru holds the Waitotara. Mr Middlemas wanted to go out to occupy his redoubt, but no one would go with him. Hot work is expected in a short time. .. - ■

7.15 p.m.

Colonel Lyons left Wanganui for Patea on the 23rd. The correspondent of the " Herald" says the expeditionary force which went up the Whenuakura river in quest of the Hauhaus had not returned at last advices. Two of Titokowaru's men arrived at Patea on Thursday, and received protection from Mr Booth. Fires had been seen at Meremere. One of the Carlyle Bifles had been chased into Manawapou camp by four Hauhaus. Great drunkenness prevails at Patea camp. The Sinking Funds Act of last session is strongly protested against by the English bondholders, and efforts were making to prevent the Queen's assent being given to it.

The Waimakabibi.—Yesterday this river from the late nor'-wester was much discolored and a heavy fresh was coming down. JThe Late Festivities.—Workmen were engaged yesterday in removing the triumphal arches erected in honor of the visit of HEH the Duke of Edinburgh. Many of the transparencies and private decorations ha?§ also been taken down.

j The Club Dinner. —In yeeterday'e issue It i o <'m«i '\ t\\".t the members of the Club hod ejjftTiMin'.'d i'rjnce Alfred at dinner, ami that Mr 11. Wilkin occupied the chair. It was Mr Wooicorabe, not Mr Wilkin, who presided on the occasion.

Cobonkb's Inqttest.—Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held before Dγ Coward, touching the death of a little girl, aged 16 months, the daughter of Mr J. B. Dale, North Town Belt, whose death resulted from the wheel of a dray having passed over her head- The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death. Meetings oip Cbeditoes. —Meetings of creditors were to have been held yesterday at the Registrar's chambers in the following estates —George B. • Mitchell, an adjourned meeting lapsed from non-attendance of creditors ; in the estate of F. Pitt the meeting was adjourned for seven days. The Peince Alfred Medal —The following may be interesting to many of our readers. It appears that four out of five of the representatives of Ireland who won the Internanational Match at the last meeting of the Canterbury Rifle Association were amOQgst the first five highest scorers in the competition for the Prince Alfred Medal. Cheistchubch Fire Bbtgade. — Yesterday, the retiring Captain of the Fire Brigade, Mr G-. H. Wilson, handed over its management to his successor in office, Mr W. Harris. The members of the Brigade then presented Captain Wilson with an illuminated address, expressing the high sense they entertained of the manner in which he had discharged the duties of his office and their regret that he had resigned. A testimonial accompanied the address. Captain Wilson acknowledged the compliment in suitable terms. Oddfellow's Fttnebal.—On Sunday afternoon the mortal remains of George Pagett were deposited in the cemetery. The deceased ! was a member of the Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, belonging to the " Sons of Perseverance Lodge," Riverton, Southland. For twelve months he has been under the fraternal care of the " City of Christchurch Lodge," and his remains were followed to the grave by nearly 100 members. The funeral service was read by the Very Rev. the Dean of Cbristchurch, and at its conclusion Prov. Gt. M. Grantham read the funeral address of the Order, and then the brethren, circling around the grave, cast epriga of thyme upon the coffin.

EacinG. —On the racecourse yesterday four matches took place. The first was a flat race between Mr Morley's Dutchman (ridden by Thsrpe), and Mr W. 0. Maxwell's Nugget, for £20 ; distance li miles. Dutchman came in an easy winner by about six lengths. The next event was a handicap steeplechase between Mr Maxwell's Centurion, 7st lOlbs (ridden by Thorpe), Mr Delamain's Dred, list 61bs (carried lOlbs extra), and Mr Wainwright's Multum in Parvo, lOet 71bs (carried lOlbs extra). Distance —once round the course, about If miles. Centurion went away with the lead, took the fences in good style, and won as he liked. The other horses baulked. A handicap flat race of two miles took place between Dutchman, list 7lbs (Spinks) ; Mr Lunn's Strike-a-Light, list; Mr Maxwell's Nugget, lOst 71bs; and Mr Wainwright's MultuminParvo, 9«t. Dutchman reached the winning post first, being a clear length from Strike-a-Light, whose jockey called upon his horse too late. A hack race of three quarters of a mile was won by Mr Jos. Osborne's Promised Land, beating four others. The three last mentioned races were each for sweepstakes of £2 2s. Mr Hustler acted as handicapper and clerk of the scales, and Mr Bennett as judge. Wellington - . —ln a private letter from Wellington, the writer cays—" Haughton has resigned his appointment, nominally, to attend the Provincial Council of Otago, but really, it ia said, beoause he has been requested to do so. * Strong confidence is felt by the Opposition that the Ministry will be ousted at the commencement of the ensuing session, and Dr Featherston and Mr McLean are spoken of as likely to be prominent men in the new Government f The men of the Armed Constabulary speak in anything but complimentary terms of their officers. Notwithstanding Whitmore's vaunts, the force is in anything but a serviceable condition. Whitmore is most overbearing and abusive to his officers, and they copy his example with respect to the men. Drunkenness is common, and all sorts of petty tyranny." The writer also says that two officers in high command on the East Coast are accused, one of cowardice, and the other of appropriating a large sum of money intended for paying his men.

Latest English Telegbams.—The following are the latest English telegrams published in the Melbourne papers:—London, March 19—Wool one half-penny (l|d ?) under November rates. Arrivals—Oianranald and Jason. Copper depressed. Wheat 4s lower. The Bishop of Grafton and Armidale was consecrated at Westminster. A transitory order hae been granted to wind up the Canada Company. London, March 21—The Emperor Napoleon is slightly indisposed. In the debate in the Corps Legislatif, General Neil said that the re-organisation of the army was nearly completed.

AcoLiMATiSATiosr.—The " Wairarapa Mercury" says—lt will be remembered that some years ago the late Prince Consort presented some deer to New Zealand, and they were brought up to Mr Carter's run, and let loose there. They have since thriven amazingly, and now number upwards of twenty, we believe. The old buck, the very one that was sent from Balmoral, was seen at Mr Donald's paddocks at Manaia, and though he must be attaining a very respectable age he showed his agility by leaping the fences with the greatest ease.

Lobd Euasßii. — The name of Lord Russell appearing in the obituary in the telegraphio eummarr of the English news published yesterday caused no little excitement in the city, the readers at once jumping to the conclusion that the reference was to the veteran politician who has played so distinguished a part in modern English history. It ia tolerably obvious, however, that the reference is not to the ex-leader of the Whig party, Earl Russell. There are two other Lords Russell, step-brothers of the Earl, viz., Admiral Lord Edward, C.8., born 1805, and Lieat.-Colonel Lord Chas. James, Sergeant-at-Arms to the House of Commons, born 1808. It is probably one of these noblemen whose demise is recorded.—-Melbourne " Daily Telegraph."

New Zsaiastd Okdeb as Vaxob.—We believe we are correct in stating that although, the new order has been awarded to three individuals, the precise Ysrrn which the decoration is to assume has not; ?*»fe been deter*

mined on. The Order in Council instituting the order stated that the decoration should consist of a silver crosa, but there is scarcely any ehnpo which admits of such infinite variety in treatment or the exerciso of such artistic taste and fancy in conception, while still maintaining its distinctive form, as the cross. We have been shown some very pretty designs for the New Zealand cross, designed by gentlemen of well-known artistic ability. We trust that before any design ia finally accepted efforts will be made to seoure aa ample a choice as possible, co that the decoration may not alone be an honourable distinction, but also a handsome decoration worthy of the colony giving it and the noble deeds by which alone it can be "won. It might be well to publicly invite artiste to furnish designs, and to award a slight premium to the successful competitor.— lndependent.