TELEGRAPHIC.

Evening Star, Issue 4942, 4 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

[reuter's telegrams to the press agency.] Melborrne, January 3. The police have captured five sympathisers of the Kellys; and it is rumoured that one ©f the gang has been captured. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Auckland, January 3. Henry Niccol, charged at Court this morning with larceny of L4O from the dwellingr house of John Adams, was remanded for a week, bail being refused. The accused is the son of an old and respected family in Auckland. At the criminal sessions next week there are ten cases, including four of larceny, one of placing obstruction on the railway line, three of obtaining money under false pretences, one of cattle stealing, and one of indecent assault.

The ' Herald' to-day, in a leading article, says "The Premier's speech at Grahamstown has been commented upon by the principal southern papers, and the tone prevailing moat of the articles is that of disappointment. Of course it was only to be expected that the organs of the Opposition should attack the speech and seize every occasion offered or that could be manufactured out of the topic or allusions dealt with to cast reproach on the Ministry and especially on the Premier. It is a fact that dissatisfaction has been expressed by several influential journals which hitherto have given the Government a strong independent support; but we do not suppose this shows a change of front on the part of those journals, and indeed what they have said will prove more salutory to their friends than long strings of praises. There was a general expectation throughout the country that the Premier, when he addressed his constituents, would do something in the way of pulling his party together and setting forth a programme for the next session—a programme of measures in the direction in which some movement has already been made, but less extensive than that of last session and more practical, having elimatedfrom it those subjects as to which the House and country haveshownsuchentireapathythatno Ministry can expect to do anything with them. A public man may advocate changes respecting which he stands almost alone, but a Minister must do the work which the country expects of him. It was thought then that the Premier would dwell on the achievements of the Ministry, which were unquestionably great; would have pointed out their vast and enduring importance, and sought to arouse interest in matters which the Ministry proposed to deal with in the future. It is not to be wondered at that disappointment should be felt when it was found that a large part of the Premier's speech was occupied with the discussion of subjects in which the mass of the people felt very little interest."

Arrowtowh, January 3. The C!ounty Council election for Arrow Riding took place yesterday. M'Crayken pollen 145, Jenkins 128, and Dr Douglas 127. Mr Pritchard withdrew. Mr Jenkins, who upset the last election, thus shoulders Dr Douglas out. There was much excitement, and party feeling ran high. The weather has settled and is now glorious. The Homeward Bound machine and public battery start crushing on Tuesday next. The Tipperary stone will be the first at the battery. Invercargill, January 3. The 'News' to-night, referring to the drowning of Captain Hughes, says: " Rarely in the annals of sea has life been lost so unaccountably. The steamer cleared the New River bar, was fairly outside the break, and but for excess of precaution on the part of the captain, would have been heading for the Bluff, when a sea rising higher than the rest caused the vessel to lurch and sent overboard the master. Capt. Hughes was probably thinking only of his appointment with his family for New Year's Day. Everything was done by those on board that good seamanship could dictate. There doeß not appear to have been a moment lost. The Bteamer's boat was in proper trim, the lashings were cut to lower it away, and a ready crew at once proceeded to the rescue, while one seaman went into the rigging to keep sight of the drowning man and direct the boat's crew. In a very few minutes Captain Hughes was taken into the boat, and while there showed signs of life, but, unfortunately, the inexperience of the men on board the vessel faifel

to suggest the best 'meafliSf restoring animation. Had they possessed I tEuai^.knowledge requisite in Buch cases, r /, respiration might have been restored; unhappily this was not the case. It is some consolation, however, to reflect that, with. this exception, nothing was neglected. That Captain Hughes was a married man adds much to the regret occasioned by his death. He has a wife and eight children in Dunedin, upon whom the news has fallen with crushing force, dashing their hopes and bringing desolation to their circle. It is for the public now to step in and show their sympathy with the widow and orphans, and to alleviate the distress. The sympathies of both the Invercargill and tne Dunedin P u° P !j ?"* on 6in tms matter » **& tb ere should be no half-hearted response to the appeal that will be made."

rru . January 4. ine two candidates for Mataura addressed meetings last night, Mr Kinross at Invercargill, and Mr Shanks at Mataura, and each received a vote of confidence. Both declared themselves as Greyites. There is no opposition candidate as yet. The nomination takes place on Monday.

Oamaru, January 4. Ihe vital statistics of this district for Decomber were: Birthß, 37; marriages, 8; deaths, 4.

Timart7, January 3. The stewards of the Waimate Jockey Club considered the running of Lady Ellen in the Free Handicap and Waimate Cup on Weduesday, and passed the following resolution : —" That although there are grave doubts as to whether Lady Ellen was fairly ridden in both races, the evidence is scarcely sufficient to disqualify the mare, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the owner, rider, and the Chrißtohurch and Dunedin Jockey Clubs." '

Chkistchurch, January 4. The repairs to the Rangitata bridge are now sufficiently advanced to permit the resumption of traffic by light engines at a slow pace, and in a few days more the ordinary traffic will be resumed.

The return of prisoners in the district gaols on December 31 shows—Lyttelton, 100; Addington, 45; and Timaru, 22. The 'Press' circulation has increased 500 since the reduction in the price; and the ' Lyttelton Times' is now permanently enlarged to eight pages. Wellington, January 4. It is stated here that Mr Ward has forwarded his resignation as Registrar of the Supreme Court and Sheriff for Otago. [Feb Fskss AoKNer.J Christchurch, January 4, At the Ashley County Council yesterday, when speaking of the stoppage of railway passes, one of the members said he had refused to give up his, and had travelled on it that very day. The Chairman said it would be better to take the travelling expenses out of a special fund of the Couneil. The matter then dropped. A man named Christopher Reynolds died suddenly yesterday. An inquest will be held at noon to-day. It is proposed to found a Churchman's Club here.

Wellington, January 4. It is estimated that the new line discovered for the Foxton railway by Mr Climie, C. E., will cost only about L 6,000 per mile, including permanent way, rolling stock, and stations. The previous estimates had been LIO.OOO per mile, with steep gradients. The Wellington land tax valuators have commenced their duties.

The Anniversary Regatta Committee will apply to the Colonial Secretary to have Anniversary Day proclaimed a public holiday. Varley the Revivalist, who has been lecturing here lately, will deliver his farewell lecture to-morrow at the Opera House and leave for Christchurch on Monday. The Anti-Chinese Committee have commenced calling in all subscription lists. Yesterday the Mayor read a telegram from the secretary of the Seamen's Union at Sydney, asking him to stay further subscriptions, the strike having ended in their favor. The Commission on Higher Education commences its sittings en February 15. The Rev. W. J. Habens, Inspector-General of Schools, will be secretary, and Mr Drake, of the * Hansard' staff, shorthand writer to the Commission. All the Provincial districts will be visited, also Wanganui. In the R.M. Court to-day Mr Gordon Allan called attention to the practice of shipmasters in refusing to pay counsels' feeß out of the seamen's money they held in hand. The Government are about to offer a substantial reward for such evidence as will lead to the conviction of the persons who set fire to the Government Buildings at Blenheim in November, 1876. Detective Brown has been there for several weeks making inquiries, and is said to have obtained important information. Mr Barton, M.H.R., contradicts the state, ment made by the ♦ N.Z. Times' this morning that he purposes removing to Auckland to practice professionally there, and says as Boon as his dispute with the judges is settled he will resume practice in Wellington. The Union Steamship Company are about to estrblish a separate agency in Wellington under a local manager—probably Mr David Mills. The rumor that'it is intended to remove the headquarters to Wellington is declared to be unfounded.

The cerrespondent of the 'New Zealand Times' at Auckland telegraphs as follows : "Rewi has come to grief with his people for having brought a Government officer (Dr Hector) with him from Makau. This has been added to the number of bfo sins. Tupatahi and othera rated the* old chief soundly for his sayings and doings at Taranaki. Rewi denies that he made a promise about the railway to Waikato. Sir George Grey said to him once: 'Manga, let me make the railway, from Waitara, and you shall have the management and all the receipts.' Rewi ani *wfK!d : «The time has not come for such talk. Mr Sheehan wanted him to go to England to see the Queen, but he refused; he wanted to see Lord Normanby, but Sir m eor 3Sr 6rey would not consent. Major Te Whearo has come back from his bootless errand to Tawhiao. The king's childien are . not coming to Bchool at present, as the weather is not fine enough. Mr Sheehan is expected up soon. At Kopua the people are determined to be present at any meeting with Rewi. No more gammon. They say official lies are very dangerous when found out, as they are sure to be against the Maoris, who keep no secrets. The lying from first to last appears to have been profound and solid." It is understood that the Government are organising a Detective Department for the whole Colony. It is probable that Inspector Thomson, of Auckland, will be Chief Inspector, and that there will be three detectives in each of the principal towns, and that the Government will endeavor to prevent their identity being known to the public. It is understood that some hitch has occurred regarding the railway free passes for the Press of the Colony. Mr Macandrew positively refuses to authorise the issue of them until such time as the matter is brought before the Cabinet,

. Marton, January 4. Had it not been for th« fortunate change of wind yesterday the Post Office must have been burnt down. As it was, all books and documents had to be removed.

_, Nklson, January 4. The resignation of Mr Sharp, M.H.R., who has left for England, was posted today.

Ikvercarqill, Jan-iary 4. It ib stated that the Government hive decided to order that the last sentence of the law shall be carried out on the convict Welsh. Judge Williams advised the Gjver - ment that there was not any reason why Welsh should not suffer capital punishment.

The lawyers have formed a national association. Who is to be barred out? When you have a chance to hug the girls, never complain of waisted opportunities. Two Japanese babies are hitched together at the shoulders. The mother rejoices to see them so highly connected. A Baltimore lady who had been exceedingly annoyed by boys who rang her dot r ball and then ran away, set a trap for them by which a pail of water was to be spilled upon the next person who rang the belL In a few minutes her pastor called and wre deluged, but retired without making a visit.