TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5275, 8 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[By Cable. J fItEUTER'S TELEGKAMS.] LONDON, December 31. The appointment of Mr Pope Hennessy to the Governorship of New South Wales is not confirmed. The Council of Engineors have resolved to resist the threatened extension. »f working hours. January 1. The Government is understood to have arranged a scheme of University education with the Catholic Bishops "of Ireland. A secret manifesto, circulated at St. Petersburg, urges " Young Eussia " to destroy the present yoke. January 3. The Provincial Con'espondent> the Governmont organ at Berlin, regards the political horizon as clearer than it has been for a long time past, and that confidenco is gaining ground of the strict execution of the Berlin treaty. The reception of tho ambassadors by the Sultan was most friendly. Friendly assurances wore exchanged on behalf of tho Powers. Consols, 955; discount,' wheat, flour, and securieties, unchanged..' MELBOURNE, January 7. On Thursday four men answering to the description of, the Kelly gang, well

mounted, crossed the Murrumbidgee, going towards a station. They had two pack-horses. The cricket match between Canterbury and Melbourne was continued to-day, Canterbury having one man out for 39 runs. The Canterbury wickets fell rapidly to the bowling of Kendall and Alexander, the first innings terminating for only 87 runs, or 56 in a minority. In the cricket match between Canterbury and Melbourne, the latter won by 169 runs. A deputation from the Harbor Trust waited on the Minister of Lands with a proposal to supply half a million of tons of silt for the reclamation of the swamps around the city, at a cost of 2s per ton. Mr Longmore said he would consult his colleagues. SYDNEY, January 7. The miners and others employed at the Bulli colliery have been dismissed ; all work is at a standstill.

I PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. | WAIROA, January 6. Our town had a narrow escape yesterday from being the scene of a conflagration, the extent of which could hardly be estimated. Between 3 and 4 o'clock volumes of smoke were observed issuing from the corner of a shop occupied by Mrs Finlayson, draper. The alarm was given, but no fire could be discovered in the shop, but thick smoke issuing from beside a case of matches. On going outside the building it was discovered that a kerosene tin containing ashes and papers had been placed by the occupant of the adjoining house, J. Casley, under the shop floor, within a few feet of the case of matches. The rubbish in the tin had evidently been placed there in an ignited condition, and was increasing in strength when removed. The matter was placed in the hands of the agent- of the New Zealand Insurance Company, in whose office the building is insured, and it is likely that the jury will express their strong disapprobation of such extreme" carelessness. Had the tin of rubbish been placed there later in the evening and remained undiscovered until dusk, nothing would have saved the whole block of dwellings, including the Wairoa Hotel. The County Council met last night. Present— Messrs Strachan, Sutherland, Maney, Shaw, Burton, and Arnold. A i long discussion ensued on the question of maintaining roads by contract. Eventually it was decided to settle as to the acceptance of tenders in committee.— Messrs Kinross and M. Miller were recommended as Government nominees for members of the Wairoa Harbor Board. — Mr J. A. Smith was nominated as the "Wairoa representative on the Napier Hospital Committee.— The Council voted £50 as a grant to the hospital for the current year, but declined to take the responsibility of contributing tothe erection and maintenance of the hospital, as it is understood that the Government contemplate granting a large endowment of Wairoa lands to maintain the same. — A strong letter of remonstrance was directed to be sent to the Government, objecting to the practice of expending Government grants through the staff. — The Council sat till 11 p.m. They are engaged this morning in committee on the valuation lists. [By Special Wire.] AUCKLAND, January 7. The police are very active now in putting down gambling, " Yankee grab," and other forms of dice throwing in hotels. When Mr Peacock was elected Mayor recently, the vacancy caused in the Council was advertised to be filled up, a day fixed for election, and one for nomination, in the usual way, by the returning officer. On the day of nomination only one person was nominated, ex-Councillor D. Goldie, but the returning officer declined to declare him elected, and postponed the declaration until the day named for the election. This action will cause Goldie to be absent from one meeting of the Council at which important matters will be discussed. The returning officer's ruling caused a good deal of angry discussion, and Mr Swanson, M.H.R., being one of Goldie' s nominators, submitted the case to the Attorney-General to-day, who replied by telegraph as follows: — "I am of opinion that the Returning Officer should have declared the candidate elected ion the nomination day, and that if he has not done so he might be prosecuted for the penalty under section 44 of "The Eegulation of Local Elections Act, 1876," News has come that R. G. Bachelder's Panorama has been burned with the Town Hall at Deniliquin. While lecturing for thej evening's entertainment, one of the kerosene oil lamps exploded and set fire to the place. The jury at the inquest found that the occurrence was purely accidental, and no blame seemed to attach to any one. Threshing of wheat has been generally begun, and to-day the first deliveries of this season's crops was made. The grain generally is smaller than last year. CHRISTCHURCH, January 7. The Mayor of Lyttelton has received the following telegram from Mr Sheehan, relative to the R.M. Court : — " Have requested Mr Mollish to act for a few days longer. A new man will be appointed at once." The first sale of sugar under the reduced duties took place to-day. There was a large attendance, and though the sale on the whole was satisfactory, the bidding did not seem to come up to expectations ; 2191 bags were disposed of at rates varying for finest white crystals from £38 5s to £38 10s (duty paid), and £30 10s to £42 for yellow counters. The Acclimatisation Society have determined to order from England the following birds : — English Pheasants, 12 brace ; grouse, 20 brace ; black game, 20 brace; partridges, 75 brace; Egyptian quail, 50 brace ; golden plover, 50 brace; pewit and grey plover, 20 brace ; redstart, 20 pairs; wagtails, 50 pairs; hedgechanters, six dozen ; wheatear, 80 pairs ; common thrush, 20 pairs ; misleto thrush. '36 pairs ; nightingales, 20 pairs ; wrens, six dozen ; nutthatch, 20 pairs ; common brown owls, 10 pairs; jackdaws, 10 pairs; swallows and martens, a few. Mr Bills will bring the birds out, and he will also make another effort to introduce the humble bee, the first and last attempt at which, a few months ago, failed lamontably. DUNEDIN, January 7. There is a very heavy lot of cases for the civil sittings of the Supreme Court on Monday next, including the Otago Harbor Board v. Proudfoot.. i The business at the R.M. Court is in- ' creasing. No less than 85 cases are on the list for to-morrow. ! At the Supreme Court criminal sessions to-day, Eli Coolen, hoiisebroakiner. acquitted ; Margaret Scott, for the manslaughter of an infant female child, acquitted. The Court adjourned till next day. The Age to-night says, "We regret our inability to compliment Dr Lemon and some of his subordinates on the energy aud promptitude which they are displaying in connection with the special wire and Press Association experiment." The Chinaman suffering from leprosy, who was confined in the lazar-house at Tuapeka Flat and made off therefrom, hung himself at Waipahuna yesterday. A correspondent of the Star says that Mr Blair, the engineer in charge of the Middle Island, accompanied by Mr Usher, resident engineer, inspected today the railway contract from Balclutha to Clinton. They found the line generally in good order, and it will be opened after some minor works are completed; but the exact date of opening is not yet fixed. NEW PLYMOUTH, January 7. A surveyor will shortly proceed to Mokau for the purpose of surveying the land prior to its being passed through the Native Court,

The survey party engaged on the "Waimate Plains resumed work yesterday after their holiday. TE AWAMUTU, January 6. ] The Native Minister, accompanied by Mr Rusden (Clerk of the Parliament of Victoria), Mr Brodie (Chrirman Thames County Council), Messrs Lewis (Private Secrotary), Gill, Grace (Native Agents), Bush (R.M.), Stewart and Eees (Engineers), arrived here at 5 p.m. from Auckland, which place they left by the 7 o'clock train. The Native Minister and party proceeded immediately to Punui, whore Rewi Maniapoto was waiting his arrival. On nearing that place, Mr Shcehan was received in Maori custom, with shouts of welcome and waving of shawls, by a large party who had come out to meet him, and who led the way to Mr Ross's house, where Rewi is staying. Mr Sheehan was warmly welcomed by Rewi. Rewi said he would to-morrow have something to say to them. Some friendly speeches were made, and the Ngatiawa natives invited tho Native Minister to nieot them at Whakatano, which he will probably do. The interview then closed for the day. WANGANUI, January 7. Tho schooner Arthur Wakefield has partly discharged her cargo. She is warped to the edge of tho channel, and will be towed into the river by the steamer Clyde. She will re-load, and come up to the wharf. The vessel is slightly shaken, but there is no serious damage. WELLINGTON, January 7. Railway workshops are being built at the Hutt, and a steam lathe erected in Wellington. The footballers, last night, resolved to j guarantee £200, or if necessary, £250, to i the expenses of an English team. In the Supreme Court to-day the following sentences were passed : — Jamea \ Murphy, attempted rape on a child, t three years' hard labor and 25 lashes; i George Webb, alias Smith, forgery, one year; William Wats6n, alias Sutton, I larceny from a dwelling, three years. i The Post publishes this evening the following specials : — " London, 31st I December. The Pope appeals to the i German Bishops to inculcate the duty of obedience to the laws of the land. He also directs the Bishops and the clergy to pray for the welfare of the secular 1 powers, including the temporal sove--1 reigns of Europe. — Another intended assassination of a European sovereign [ has been discovered, a plot to murder the Prince of Servia. having been detected. — The report of the liquidation of the city of Glasgow Bank is of a very unfavorable character. — Ist January. General Hill has for the present stopped ab traffic through the Khyber Pass. Four of the Ameer's regiments have deserted his stadnard. Three-fourths of General Biddulph's division have taken up a position on the plain of Candaha, and there is a general advance of the British troops on . Candahar. — 3rd January. One of the 81 ton guns on board H.M.S. turret ship Thunderer exploded, destroying the turret, killing seven men, and wounding forty others. — Melbourne,' 7th January. The seamen belonging to the ships now in port have struck. They demand £7 per month for the voyage from Mcl- ] bourne to London, or £6 per month for the round trip. Fully 150 men are ! already out on strike, and the movement i is spreading rapidly. Several ships are now lying idle in port unable to procure hands to work them.— -An absurd state- : ment has found currency in reference to Eromett and Ulyett, the two Yorkshire J professional cricketers who are playing in Lord Harris's English team. It is broadly asserted that they sold the recent match with the Australians, which was won by the latter with 10 wickets to spare, and that having arranged with the bookmakers that the English team should lose the match, they took care by their play to bring about the pre-arranged result. This allegation is absolutely untrue, as the match was played and won entirely on its merits, This is fairly admitted by both sides. — The miners in the employ of the BulliJ Company, who struck work on on the 24th of December because the directors had employed Chinese seamen on board the colliers owned by the company and engaged in their trade, have intimated their willingness to return to work, now that the Sydney anti-Chinese strike has been settled. The company, however, have decided to lock out all those of the miners who belonged to the Union and joined the recent strike." The Premier returned in the Hinemoa this morning. The Chronicle thinks the question of secular education will be maae a party question next session. The Government are making careful enquiries regarding the feeling throughout the colony on this question. They will support secularism, and the Chronicle thinks the Opposition will take up denominationalism. Last night the army of supers engaged in Henry V. struck just before the curtain rose, because the management refused to give them two free passes each during the remainder of Rignold's season. Mr Darrel, with a number of friends, made up a volunteer army. Messrs Levin and Co. have received a telegram from London, dated the Ist of January, stating that the Chimborazo arrived at Plymouth on the 30th of December, and the Garonne sailed thence on the 31st, with 407 passengers and a full cargo. In the Supreme Court to-day, Charles Schmidt, formerly night watchman at the Empire Hotel, was convicted of stealing £200 from Robert Cooper, a lodger ; sentence was deferred. In the Police Court to-day, E. Holroyd Beere, a well-known suryeyor, appeared to answer a summons for embezzling £133, the property of his brother and two other surveyors. The prisoner was remanded for a fortnight, in order that .Mr Brissenden, who is an important witness, might be in attendance. An impudent robbery from the offices of the Anchor line of steamers on Custom House quay was committed last night, when bank notes to the value of £265 were carried off by the thief or thieves. It appears that yesternay afternoon Mr Brind, the purser of the a.s. Murray, brought into the office a sum of £265 in bank notes, which he had received on various accounts during the round trip of the steamer. Mr Brind requested Mr Cloiiston, who was in charge of the office, to lockup the money in the safe. Mr Clouston promised to do so, and instructed the clerk accordingly. The notes were wrapped up in a piece of white paper, one of the steamer's snipping forms, and during the office hours were placed on the top of the safe by the side of the cash-box, where the roll remained until the office was closed, shortly before six o'clock. At that time it was supposed to have been put into the safe with the cash-box. The safe was locked up and everybody left the office, the door of which, however, was not locked, while it was also easily .accessible by the window, which was unfastened. Mr Clouston and his clerk returned to the office at 8 o'clock p.m., and remained at work until 10, when they left, closing for the night. This morning, on opening the safe, no sign of the money was visible, and then the clerk suddenly recollected that he had forgotten to put the roll of notes into the safe when he shut up the cash-oox, its appearance with the white paper round being so much like other parcels lying about that it did not attract his attention or prompt his memory. Many people were in and out of the office during the day and could have seen the money lying there, while no one could have found the smallest ■ difficulty in effecting an entranco and abstracting the notes, either between 6 and 8 p.m., or after 10 p.m. Tho affair has been placed in the hands of the police, but as the numbers of the notes are not known serious difficulty is apprehended in tracing the robbers,