LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1701, 16 January 1874, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[Anglo-australian pkess te&egraph AGENCY.] Dtjnedin, Jan. 14. The inquiry into the wreck of the Surat continues. It has been proved that White was the only officer not intoxicated. The third mate is described as incompetent. John Picton, an able seaman, said that the mate attempted to shoot them when about to cut the lashings of the boat. John Booth, a passenger, and the sailmaker, worked the ship after she struck ; all was confusion, one of the witnesses saying that it was "everyone for himself and God for us all." The mate was drunk, and gave orders which the captain countermanded. The mate threatened to shoot the men getting out the boat, and tried to stop the pumps being worked, but the passengers threatened to cleave his skull with an axe if he interfered. He said "Let them drown, or go to the devil, he did not care a damn which." The safety of the ship then depended upon the pumps being kept going. The captain ordered the anchor to be let go when the sails were full, and the vessel could not be held. When the long boat was out of the ship the captain ordered it to come alongside, pointing a revolver at the occupants. There were about 50 in the boat. When the boat was dragging her anchor, Wm. Hargreaves, a passenger, entreated the captain for the love of God to fire a gun or hoist a distress signal. The captain threatened to shoot any who did bo. While lowering the boat the passengeis disarmed the mate, who was like a madman, and the sailmaker took charge of the ship, but afterwards became intoxicated. The inquiry is to be resumed on Saturday, when it will probably be concluded. ; A silver coffee service has been for-" warded to the French Government for Captain Jacquemart, of the Vire, the

rules of the service not allowing him to take a direct present. Port Chalmers, Jan. 15. At the Heads — Dunfillan, ship, from London ; blowing a gale and cannot get in to-night. . Sailed— Luna, for Wellington ; Governor's yacht, for Bluff. The Mikado has not got away. Wellington, Jan. 14. The Council opened this afternoon. The principal business is the passing a Bill authorising the construction of a number of public works; the Bill was read a first time. Wellington, Jan. 15. The duties collected to the 14th inst. were L 5386 ; tatal amount collected all of January, 1873, L 615 1; total* amount collected last year, L 88,654, against L 64,682 for 1872. The Provincial Council this afternoon authorised a grant of seventy acres of the Te Aro foreshore to the Corporation of the city. The Government Gazette of to-day contains a list of the successful and unsuccessful tenderers for sleepers for the Brunner railway. Maherand O'Connor's (of Greymouth) tender for 16,000, at Is lid has been accepted. Christchurch, Jan. 14. In the Provincial Council last night, Mr Beßwick, the late Provincial Treasurer, who had been severely criticised by the local journals during the session, moved that the reports of the proceedings of the Council in the Lyttelton Times and the Press had been partial and incorrect, and were garbled to suit members of the Council, under whose influence the papers were. Mr Kennaway, late Provincial Secretary, seconded the motion, speaking in a similar strain. No other member supported the motion. Mr Montgomery, the President of the Executive, and Mr Joynt, the Prsvincial Solicitor, denied the statements of the mover and seconder, and pointed out that their assertions were unspported in a single instance. Mr Beswick asked leave to withdraw the motion, which was refused on the voices, and the motion was put and negatived on the voices, only about two supporting. Christchurch, Jan. 15. Advices by cablegram yesterday reached the New Zealand Shipping Company, that the demand for emigrant passages had largely increased, in consequence of the adoption of the free nomination system. The agent of the^company in London, owing to the scarcity of ships, arranged with the Albion Shipping Company and Shaw Saville and Company to convey some of the emigrants. The New Zealand Company despatched during December eight ships, including the s.s. Mongol, which is expected alone to carry 600. The Provincial Council last night decided to increase the Superintendent's salary from LBOO to LIOOO. The Government announced their intention of obtaining a thoroughly competent Railway Manager, and that a salary of LBOO or LIOOO a year might have to be given. Auckland, Jan. 14. The Hero has arrived from Sydney, but brings no later news. The journeymen sailmakers have resolved to demand 10s a day. The master shipwrights met and agreed that 123 a day would injure the trade of the port, but determined to give 11s. Auckland, Jan. 15. The Governor Blackall sailed with the Californian mails and eight passengers. Mr Moriarty, the Government engineer, has reported in favor of the construction of a graving dock, to accommodate the San Francisco steamers, to the west of Queen street wharf. Nelson, Jan. 15. The Nelson Examiner ceased publication this morning. It was the oldest paper in the Colony, having appeared on the Ist of March, 1842.