TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5286, 21 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[By Cable.J [itEUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] LONDON, January 18. Sir Michael Hick's Beach, speaking at Stroud, admitted that English goods were undersold by European and American competition. The Government would, in consequence, endeavor to provide a fresh outlet in Africa. January 18. A French Ministerial crisis is believed to be inevitable. New Zealand fives are 1 per cent, higher. MELBOURNE, January 20. The Government will shortly prepare a programme for next session. The Rev. A. R. Fitchett was ordained yesterday at St. Andrew's Church, Brighton, by the Bishop of Melbourne. SYDNEY, January 20. A tremendous hurricane has occurred at Norfolk Island, doing serious damage to the plantations. It is expected to reach Samoa. [special to the press association.] LONDON, January 18. The depression in wheat centinues in consequence of large Californian arrivals. Adelaide is quoted at 48s to 49s per 496 lbs ; New Zealand, 40s to 455. Arrived— Chasea, from Wellington ; Waimate, from Lyttelton ; Aikhall, from Oamaru. There was a partial run on the London County Bank on Friday, but it was quite causeless. The directors announce a dividend of 5 per cent, for the half-year. MELBOURNE, January 20. An extraordinary sticking-up case occurred near Sandhurst at midnight on Saturday. A cab with seven passengers was bailed up by a man in a white gown, who presented a revolver. He only got sixteen shillings. No resistance Avas offered. The police have a clue to the man. The Victorian Government have decided to co-operate in the Sydney Exhibition. They will vote £2000 for it. ADELAIDE, January 20. Large parcels of wheat are offering, for forward delivery at the out ports, at reduced rates. The market is weaker. BRISBANE, January 20. Mr Palmer's joining the Ministry is doubtful. The other names are correct. There is a new rush to the Laura River ; 300 Europeans are working there, averaging half a pennyweight to the dish. The German ship Fritz Reuter has arrived. She had 30 deaths on the voyage ; seven from typhoid fever. SYDNEY, January 20. Several destructive fires have ocourred in Melbourne and in this colony, involving serious loss. Three children were burnt to death at a fire in Collingwood. [FKOJI THE PRESS ASSOCIATION.] GISBORNE, January 20. Captain Porter has interviewed many j of the native claimants in Read's estate, and he feels assured that all difficulties may be amicably settled by mutual concessions. Mr Mills' allotments on the Gladstoneroad, three miles f.iom town, were offered at auction, but none were sold, the biddings not being near the reserve. [by special wire.] AUCKLAND, January 20. In reference to the Press Agency tele- ; gram that has been published, purporting to give Rewi's terms with the . Government, the Native Minister states that it is absolutely without foundation, and false in every possible respect. Rewi has never asked for, nor would the Government accede to any such terms. The representation can only come from persons who at the present time are doing all in their power to prevent a final settlement with the King peoplo, and who are prepared to sacrifice everything, even the peace of tho country itself, to their own personal Schemes. At the Wesleyan conference to-day it it was decided to receive tho Rev. E. Best from the Irish Church. It was resolved to admit Messrs Salter, Dollon, and W. Wills, sudents of Wesley College, to be probationers for the minis-

try; also to admit the Rev. Mr Stauage of the Victorian conference in exchange with the Rev. Mr Shaw. . The consideration of the case of twd English ministers seeking adiriissidn to the New Zealand conference Avas deferred. The Rev; G. Harper was continued as supernumerary, and the Rev. J. Berry received permission to rest for another year, on account of failing health. The Rev. Mr Isset was made a superanumeray. Eight candidates for the ministry presented themselves for admission to the college, and were examined in the usual subjects by the president. CHRISTCHURCH, January 20. The Mary Bannatyne, from Hokitika, reports the loss of one of her passengers named Poster, a man of eccentric habits, between 50 and 60 years of age. He was always quiet, but appeared to be particularly careful when moving about the vessel, never going very near her side. On Wednesday evening he was talking to Captain Smith, and saying that he felt much better and would go and turn in. Captain Smith noticed that Mr Foster had been much better that day, and advised him to go to bed and have a good sleep, at the same time calling to one of the hands to see Mr Foster safely forward to the forecastle, whore he slept. The man saw Foster undress and turn in, and then went on deck. Shortly afterwards he saw a great glare of light in the forecastle, and on going there found that Mr Foster had dressed himself and pricked into the wick of the lamp till it was flaring tremendously. The man turned the wick down, and while he Was doing so Mr Foster ran on deck and jumped overboard. Captaim Smith at this time (9.40 p.m.) was below in the cabin, the vessel being under all sail, making about four miles an hour, with the wind E.S.E. Hearing a cry of " man overboard " the captain rushed on deck, picked ap a life-buoy and had the vessel brought up in the wind. Ho then ran forward, and saw one of the crew holding on to Mr Foster, who was then half in the water. Captain Smith went over the vessel's bow on to the back-rope, and succeeded in getting hold of Mr Foster, but the man letting go his hold the Captain was unable himself to hold Mr Foster, who was a man of from 15 to 16 stone weight. The mate reports that as he came up on deck he heard Captain Smith say, " Hold on Foster," and the next minute call out, "He is gone." The mate then picked up the life-buoy that Captain Smith had brought forward, and hove it within two feet of Mr Foster's hands. The captain at the same time hove some lines to him, but he seemed to make no effort whatever to save himself, and when about 10 or 12 yards from the vessel ho sank. Every possible effort was made to save him, but without avail, and those on board were unable to lower a boat, as both had been smashed in the gale of the previous day. Mr Foster has two sons in Christchurch. Mr M'Pherson's Leonidas and Javelin, noted horses both, were shipped North on Saturday. The first is for Tauranga, and the second goes back to Napier. It is intended to cover the whole of the railway platform with a verandah, as a large portion of the east of the building is wholly unprotected from the sun and the rain. Two of the American engines intended to work the traffic between Dunedin and Invercargill left for the South at an early hour yesterday morning. Yesterday afternoon a determined suicide took place at Rangiora. A man in the employ of Bassingthwaite, named George Buttler, was found lying dead in a stable on Bassingthwaite's property. The deceased had been in Bassingthwaite's employ as groom and general hand for about eighteen months. He was about fifty years of age. According to Mrs Bassingthwaite's statemont, he was the owner of the money, amounting to £800, found on her person, and which was supposed to belong to Bassingthwaite's insolvent estate. At a sale of effects belonging to the estate on Tuesday last, the deceased purchased several things, for which he paid cash. It has also been found that one of the cottages built recently by Bassingthwaite was the property of the deceased. As he was working for Bassingthwaite at the rate of £1 per week, and when examined by Detective Benjamin he stated that £10 was due to him for services. How he became possessed of so much cash and property is a mystery. It is presumed that the cause of his suicide was the dread of having to undergo an examination, and fear of not being able to give a satisfactory account as to his position. Yesterday morning he breakfasted with Mrs Bassingthwaite and a female servant as usual, saying that he would shave himself and take a walk to the river. He went out during the afternoon. Mrs Bassingthwaite subsequently found the door of the stable locked inside and sent for the nearest neighbor, Mr G. Cone, who came across. The deceased was then found in a crouching position, stiff as if dead for- some hours. He had evidently hung himself, and the rope had given way after death. An inquest will probably be held tomorrow.

The Napier Harbor Board case was resumed in the Supreme Court to-day, when three of the defendants' witnesses I were examined. The ease is likely to last two or three more days yet. A man, supposed to be a cook belonging to a surveyors' party on the north bank of the Eakaia, attempted to ford the river on Saturday evening, and has not been heard of. His horse was found all right, but the man, whose name is not known, was probably drowned and his body washed far down, as the search party have been unable to find it. DUNEDIN, January 20. During a recent visit to the MaraI whenua Goldfield Professor Ulrich expressed himself much pleased with the j appearance of the district, and said that in Victoria such a field would attract a I largo population. The great drawback to the district is the want of water. The Hinemoa, with the Hons. J. Mac- | andraw and J. Ballanco and Mrs Ballance, arrived this morning. I The opening train to Invercargill is to leave Dunedin at 12.15 a.in, on Wednesday, and arrive at Invercargill on the afternoon of the same day. NEW PLYMOUTH, January 20. The Harbor Board committee on the charges made by Mr Irvine, the engineer, against Messrs Kelly and Weston, members of the board, report that the conduct of Messrs Kelly and Weston was not improper, and that having made such grave charges through a solicitor without foundation and declined to withdraw them, it is inadvisable that Mr Irvine should remain in the services of the board after the 18th of February. The Waiwakaiho Bridge was set fire to to-day by a spark from the engine of a train setting fire to the grass in the neighborhood. There was no damage done. The railway contractors offer 12s a day for plated layers without response. All complain of the scarcity of labor impeding public works. 1 WELLINGTON, January 20. It is proposed to give the Governor a banquet prior to his departure from Wellington. The Loan and Investment Company propose to pay 7£ per cent, dividend, which, with the interim dividend already paid, will make 12£ per cent, for the year. A meeting of the committee of the New Zealand Rifle Association to-night fixed the date of the firing at Nelson for Monday, the 3rd of March. Subscriptions received after the 18th February will not be taken into consideration in fixing prizes. A fire occurred this morning in Courtney Place, but it was confined to a bakehouse. The damage done was slight. The premises are insured in the New Zealand for £150. The fire is supposed to have been caused by a candle left j lighted falling against some woodwork. '

. In two actions against the Tramway Company for damages to vehicles by collision the Magistrate gave judgment for £10 and costs. . , The news of the death in Christchurch of H. M. Moor, late manager of the Neio Zealander, has caused general regret.