TELEGRAPHIC.

Evening Star, Issue 4895, 8 November 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

IkKCTBB/STSLX3BAMS TO THBPDKSS AOCITCT.] The CaMe Contract Sydney, November 7.—The Assembly has finally agreed to tho contract for cable duplication. Serious Railway Accident. QmsESSLAND, November 7.—Four navvies Wera killed and thirteen eeriously injured in passing under a bridge in course of construction on ths Northern Railway. The derrick gear swept them off tho truck. Loitrm, undated.—TLo Madras and Bombay (trime* are each to be increased by a brigade. The Americas Zleitlone. New York, November o.—The State and Congressional elections are over. They remitted in a great accession of strength to the itepublicaua in tho Northern ana Western States, whi'e the Democrats were victorious in the Southern States. [Put Pkbss Agwct,] The Police Pay. Wellington, November B.—lt is understood that the increase to be made to the .pay of the police_by the Government will be la per day for sergevat-majora, and Cd per day for all other grades downwards, including the armed constabulary. [Fbom Oub Own Cobbisfondsrt.J Political Rumors. Auckland, November G.—The 'Sfcaf' to-night says:—"lt is confidently expected in well informed political circles that the ministerial policy next session will be of a character for boldness wholly'unpreccdented in the history of the Colony. *Sir George Grey has, it is said, become convinced that a great constitutional struggle is pending between the two branches of the Legislature, and has resolved that the battle ground shall be of his own choosing, and that the fight shall take place at hie own time. It is also rumored, in some well-informed circles, that Sir George contemplates precipitating the struegle next session, when hiß policy will probably include an income and property tax, and a more liberal Electoral Bill, if that bo possible, than the one whioh was withdrawn in session just closed. Reforms in the constitution of the Upper House may be the precise point upon which the struggle will commence, resulting in a dissolution and the election of a Parliament more capable of dealing effectually with the political requirements which have been the outcome of the Abolition of the Provinces, but which were entirely lost sight of in the conflict between the two great parties at the last general election. The Parliament of the future will doubtless be largely composed of men of advanced and liberal political views and aspirations. Served Him Right. Auckland, November 7.—A man named Mahoney, a fish-hawker, was justly sentenced to a long term of imprisonment this morning for cruelly ill-treating a woman with whom he had lived for ten years. The woman's fave and arms were one mass of bruise*, interlined with cuts. Both her eyes were black and her head and temples swollen, ."-ll evidencing too plainly that she had been .rubjected to the most brutal illtreatment. Mahoney had broken her ribs on several occasions, had kicked and hammered her like a doj, and she had been left for dead on the floor of their miserable home in Nekon street; and she had suffered in silence to hide her shame, until compelled to bring the case t-n Court for the purpose of saving her life from a man of such merciless temperament, i»nd to save his neck from the hangman's noose. Mahoney made a murderous attack on a drunkard in the cell in which he was confine?. The Hon. W. Pox .vidthe Beer Tax.

Auckland, November 7. The 'Star' publishes a letter addretsed by Mr Fox to one of the Good Templai lodges here, defending his vote on the Rwr Tax Bill: " My principal reason was that I consider the Government is already far too dependent for revenue on the liquor traffic, and that to give it 140,000 or L 50,000 more from this source would only rivet it: chains and make it more subservient if po« sible than it is to the brewer and publican. I could see nothing to be gained by the tax to the interest of the cause of temperance. The actual amount vrould be about two farthings a glass (rather less). Now, in a colony where wages range fron.*. 5s to LI a day, would a halfpenny a glass extra prevent any thirsty votary of the great ;;od Bacchus from indulging in his accratnn/ed quantity of beer. I think not, and therefore can't see what the cause which w«*. advocate would have gained by the tax. In addition to this I think it would have been politically a bad thing to introduce, for the first time, an excise tax into New Zeali'.nd firms. Before giving my vote I consult ed several who are prominent in the tempera nee cause. Mr Spright, P.G.I.S.'s letter is I eforc me, recommending me to vote against the tax, so is one from Bro. G.W.C.T. Jago, of Dun■cdin. I also consulted several Good Templars and Rcchabites here, also total abstainers not included in our order, rod all took the same, view of the subject as I have above given."

Christchurch Items. Ojiristchurch, November B.—Mrs Fitzgendd, wife of the man sentenced at the last session to six months for maliciously destroy. i ing shrubs on private property, waited on Mr Sheehan yesterday with a view of obtaining a remission of 'the sentence. She and a large section of tho public believe Fitzgerald innocent, and a petetion to that effect had recently been forwarded to the Minister of Justice. Mr Sheehan promised [ to take the steps usual in such matters. Mr Gilliean's stud will be sold off on M« nday, and Mr Redwood's on Thursdsy. The latter will bo. tho most important ever held here, and will attract buyers from all parts of the Colony. Duaodln Volunteer Fevlow. Christciutkch, November S.—A meeting of the various compan:'e< of volunteers intending to talvc prrt in the Dunedin review was held last night, the following companic s being represented : Artillery, Engineers, Kaiapoi Rifles and band, City Guards and Cadets. It was found that about thirty men from each of these companies intended going, and this morning, to the number «f about 160, t icy left by the 8.45 train. Captain Hawkes is in command of the detachment. Arrow Items. Arrow, November B.—The Finn and Stratford Commission is still sitting. The matter is a great loss to the persons summoned as witnesses. The re-opening of the railway to Kingston has given much satisfaction, as supplies of everything were getting very short. The roads and trackß are gradually being made passable; but' the labor is enormous. Mining material is very scarce, timber especially so. Quantities that were stacked to dry on tho shores of the Like Wakatip liave been swept away, aud the Arrow bushes are inaccessible.

This country is full of poets, scholars, and deep thinkers; but the man has not been born who can tell why the sleeves of summer undershirts are always five inches too long.