YESTERDAY'S TELEGRAMS

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 879, 19 April 1877, Page 2

YESTERDAY'S TELEGRAMS

[by submarine cable, per press agency.] AUSTRALIAN. Torres Straits Mail. Sydney, April 18. The Torres Straits mail steamer arrived at Cooktown yesterday. There is no sickness on board, but she was quarantined for sixteen days. Great indignation is felt, and the agents refuse to land the mails. Sir William Jcrvoisc is a passenger. Melbourne, April 18. Six men have been injured by an accident at the Echuca bridge. Two died, and others are in a critical condition. INTERPROVINCIAL. Auckland, April 18. In the Supreme Court to-day application was made by Mr Rees for a Habeas Corpus in the case of Arthur Duke, imprisoned for six months in default of bail, ho having been bound over to keep the peace. The application was based on an informality in the warrant. In the form used many years ago the words “enter into his own recognizances” were struck out, and the warrant did not disclose any offence. The judge held that power to commit on failure on bail was given in section 91 of the Act. He _ also overlooked the objection that as the defendant had not been ordered to enter into personal recognizances he was therefore illegally committed to gaol. The wife of a storekeeper named Cross poisoned herself with oxalic acid at Parnell. The poison had been in the house some time and was obtained about six months ago for cleaning purposes. The evidence showed that some two years ago there was a disagreement with her husband. At the City Council to-day the town clerk was instructed to lay an information against sharebrokers who have not paid the brokers’ fee. Wellington, April 18. The Governor, Lord Ilervey Phipps, and Mr Lepatourel, the Commodore, and two officers of lI.M. Wolverine, Dr. Hector and Mr Worry, leave for Dunedin in the Hincmoa about midnight, after attending the Citizens’ Ball to-night. lI.M. Sapphire leaves to-morrow for Auckland. Port Chalmers, April 18. Arrived —Barque Victoria, from Newcastle. Sailed —Wakatipu. Dunedin, April 18. The Hon. D. Reid leaves for Oamaru tonight and will proceed overland to Christchurch, thence to Wellington. The Waste Lands Board decided to-day — “ That, with the view of arriving at a proper decision in dealing with run leases, which are now falling in, it is desirable that the Board make inspection of the same.’[ Mr Justice Williams decided in a case in which the Caversham Road Board was plaintiff, that the Resident Magistrate has no power to grant a re-hearing after a successful appeal has been made to the Supreme Court. Wellington Wharf Grievances. [from a correspondent op the press.] Wellington, April 18. A ball is to be given to-night to the officers of the mcn-of-war now in port. A deputation of the merchants, shippers, and importers of Wellington waited on the Wharf Committee of the City Council this afternoon to make certain representations relative to wharf management. The principal points urged were as follows : —First, the necessity for reduction in certain wharf charges, especially those on grain, flour, and other grain produce. It was pointed out that at present Plimmcr, Reeves and Co., by making much smaller charges, were diverting all that part of the trade to their own wharf, numerous instances being adduced. Second, it was ui-rred that the wharfinger, Reeves, ought not to be°allowed to continue to retain both his appointment as wharfinger and his connection with the firm of Plimmer, Reeves and Co. A number of statements were put in signed by various masters of local trading vessels, 1 o the effect that they had been offered bonuses by Reeves to discharge at Plimmer, Reeves and Co.’s wharf, instead of at the Queen ’s wharf. Third, it was contended that the wharfinger ought to devote his time to the performance of his duties. A number of complaints were made as to his conduct of the wharf management, and instances were adduced of alleged favoritism. The Wharf Committee having heard all the deputation had to say, promised that the matter should be instantly considered. Reporters were then requested to withdraw. Another Charge of Sheep Stealing. Timaru, April 18. Duggald Blue, a well-to-do farmer at the Totara Valley, was charged at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Timaru, to-day with stealing one owe and five lambs, the property of the Canterbury and Otago Association. Levels. The evidence went to show that the accused had branded the sheep with bis own brand, in some instances placing the brand over the Levels brand, and that lie had destroyed the Levels’ car mark on the ewi by making a fresh ear mark. The Magistrate considered that a prima facie case hud been established, and committed the accused to take his trial at the Supreme Court af Timaru. The Ship Duke of Sutherland. Dunedin, April 18. The whole of the crew of the ship Duke of Sutherland have been sent to gaol for dis-

obedience of orders. Thomas Thomson, in the first case called, said he declined work owing to the ship’s unseaworthiness. She leaked fearfully, and in the late gales her decks opened fore and aft, considering which he did not think his life safe in proceeding home by her. Ho thought the wool in her hold must he wet, and considering the many accidents which have occurred through fires he wanted the matter enquired into for the safety of all concerned. James Cook, another seaman called by the defendant as a witness, stated he considered the ship unscaworthy from the time it occupied to pump her out. She had been pumped as many as four times in a watch, and the operation took from twelve to fifteen minutes every time. She had never been properly examined since she had been in port. The square of the hatch, which had been examined, was always the driest part of a ship, being covered with tarpaulins. It would be necessary to break out cargo to ascertain the state of the vessel. The damage done to the poop was very little, and that had been repaired, but it would not make the ship seaworthy. Morguay, chief officer, stated that all wooden ships made water more or less. He had been in this vessel two years, and she made very little, lie was positive little water could have got into the hold. Ohas. Hardcastle, seaman, stated the ship was not fit to make the passage home round Cape Horn, as, besides making water, she was insufficiently ballasted and badly stowed, tin and copper being on the top of wool. Charles Hardcastle, James Cook, Francis Simmon, Win. Homes, Alfred Henderson, Alexander Vincent, and James Stevenson, A.B.’s, were all charged with the’same offence. The Bench considered the case fully proved, and sentenced each to four weeks’ hard labor 1 . A Road Board conference is to be held with a view of asking Parliament to increase the Board’s powers. The companies who took part in the volunteer demonstration at Queenstown are petitioning for the next Colonial prize-firing to be held at Queenstown. At Waikaka, on the rush adjoining Logan’s land, four shafts are bottomed on gold. It is not equal to rushes of olden times, but is so far payable that holders are preparing their winter quarters.