RUSSIANS OCCUPIED MATCHIN.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3936, 27 June 1877, Page 2

RUSSIANS OCCUPIED MATCHIN.

PASSAGE OVER THE DANUBE CONTINUES.

SINGAPORE, June 26. 1.15. The Russians have occupied Matchin. The passage over the Danube still continues. AUCKLAND, June 2G. To-day Colonel Haultain commenced an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the Old Men's Refuge. The inquiry showed that grog had been clandestinely smuggled into the refuge. The Ladies' Benevolent Society having instructed the manager to search the inmates returning home from visiting town, one man named Harris resisted, and in the struggle fell and severely injured his back. He admitted that there was no intentional violence used, but denied the right of the manager to search another inmate. Walker, an old soldier and Waterloo veteran, left in a pet, owing to being abused by another inmate, but was allowed to return. Several persons have been summoned for light weights. One of them, a baker, who had 57 light weights, was fined only five shillings. At the Auckland Institute Captain Brown read a paper on Coleoptera. He believed thit New Zealand contained a hundred species, whereas only fourfcy-four had been discovered in Europe. Fortythree species had already been discovered in New Zealand. CHRISTCHURCH, June 26. The calendar for the Supreme Court criminal sessions, commencing on Monday, is unusually light. A private letter from the West Cook's says that .over one thousand feet of tunnelling is completed in the Rangitoto silver mine. Specimens of Canterbury marble sent to England are being favorably reported on. In the Supreme Court to-day, the appeal case, Regina versus Barrett, came on for hearing. Barrett is a publican at Christchurch, and was fined some time ago for not paying the fee for what the magistrate termed an extra bar. The socalled bar was a sort of half door in a taproom, and the defendant's counsel being of opinion that only those bars opening direct on to the street came within the definition of the word " bar," as used in the Licensing Act, appealed against the decision of the magistrate. After a long argument to-day, the matter was referred back to the Magistrate's Court for a restatement of the case, but Judge Johnston expressed himself to the effect that a bar must open direct on to the street before a license fee under the Act can be demanded for it. DUNEDIN, June 26. Steps are being taken by the directors of the Peninsula and Ocean Beach Railway Company and the settlers to extend the railway to Portobello. The cost will be about £40,000. In the Supreme Court this afternoon a rule was granted upon Mr W. J. M. Larnach to show cause why he should not be committed for contempt of Court for having, as alleged, gone to Australia to escape examination in the case of Chalmers Brothers against Clarke and others, re the Moa Flat station. WELLINGTON, June 26. It is proposed to relieve Mr Passmore from his duties as Superintending Engineer of Constructed Railways in the North Island, Mr Higginson combining this with the appointment now held by Mr Knorpp, -who takes Mr Higginson's present duties in the Middle Island. Mr Conyers retains his appointment, but his head-quarters will be Christchurch, until, probably, the railway is completed to Dunedin. The Government steamer Stella returned from the Chathams to-day. She left on Sunday, at 4p. m. She brings the Resident Magistrate, Mr Deighton, and others, as witnesses in a case of perjury against the mates and apprentice of the Ocean Mail. The Stella did not visit the scene of the wreck. There is no chance of saving any more cargo, the wreck having almost entirely disappeared. About £600 worth of tallow, dry wool, and sails Avas recovered. The schooner Island Lily, with a cargo of wool and tallow, sails from the | Chathams for Lyttolton. in about a week. The schooner Cleopatra took timber to the Chathams for sheds, for drying and storing wool on the beach, but for some unknown reason she left for Lyttelton without dis- ■ charging the timber. Edwards, of the Kaiwara Hotel, and two others, whose licenses were refused on the regular licensing day, had their licenses granted in each case to-day. (from our own correspondent.) GISBORNE, June 26. The election for Mayor, yesterday, terminated in favor of Crawford by an overwhelming majority, the numbers being 95 to 38. It was miserable weather, but nevertheless there was a fair amount of enthusiasm shown. The successful candidate was chaired to the Argyle Hotel amid the greatest excitement. The betting all through was in favor of Crawford, but Mr W. W. Wilson, the unsuccessful candidate, was considerably taken aback, as he was confident of a majority ; his last words were, "I have been sold." The Pretty Jane in going out of the river, this morning, broke her propellor by striking on a rock. The cattle shipped by Mr Bucklancl had to be unshipped ; no further damage as yet.