TELEGRAPHIC BREVITIES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXIII, Issue 3357, 22 May 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC BREVITIES.

[Under this heading we shall publish in brief a summary of those telegrams received too late for publication.] Christchurch, May 20. The Royal Purchase Lands Commission resumed sittinga to-day, but the Minister of Lands refused to allow the original purchase deed of Akaroa to go out of the Wellington office. A meeting of the creditors of J. J. Lee, of Leeston, was held, when liabilities were put down at L 36,000, and assets at L 40,000. This not being considered satisfactory, Mr Lee was asked to file a declaration of insolvency. There is war of the knife between the publicans and Temperance League of Sydenham. The League expressing a determination to oppose the granting of every license in the Borough, and meetings of the two parties are being held. There will be thirty-two candidates for the B.A. degree at the next University examination. Several schoolmasters are among the candidates for honors. A labor named Auguste Tiegs, working on the Sheffield Branch Railway, was found dead outside •of Cassidy's Hotel, Kowai Pass, where he had gone for refreshment. A verdict " Died from apoplexy" was returned, with a rider that the landloTd did not look properly after his house. The Committee appointed to enquire into the working of the Hospital have resolved to remodel the institution. Timaru, May 20. Mr Wigg, engineer to the Borough, died to-day. During the four weeks ended tc-day, 216,309 bushels wheat, 1077 sacks flour, 600 bales wool, and various smaller items of produce were shipped from this port. The steam-crane lifted and turned easily a forty-ton block, but when the strain was raised to sixty tons one of the stays from the jib parted. It will take about a fortnight to repair it. Oamaru, May 20. A mercantile firm in Dunedin have agreed to float the L 40,000 loan required by the Municipal loan for waterworks.

A lucky miner named Charles Thompson (says the Charleston Herald) who has been working at the Six Mile for the last three years, and who has during that time netted the handsome fortune of LISOO, took his departure, on Monday last, for the land of his birth— Switzerland. He, however, forgot to pay his debts, among which was the money advanced to enable him to buy into the claim in which he made his money. A clause has been inserted in the contracts to be let ty the Lawrence County Council prohibiting the employment of Chinese on the County works under a penalty of L 5 for every breach of the said clause. Mr Joseph Orams Sheppard. landlord of the White Harfc Hotel. Chriatchuroh. was fiaed L 5 on Monday for keeping his house open after hours. A number oF witnesses were called, who denied having liquor at the hours stated. The Resident Magistrate commented very severely on the evidence of tbe witnesses, especially of a young man named Day, whom the Magistrate said be wondereri how he (Day) could come before the Court and God and lie like that,