TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5304, 11 February 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

« [By Gaums.] [reuter's telegrams.] LONDON, February 8. Lord Hartington, speaking at Liverpool yesterday, explained the programme of the Liberal party to be .the extension of the franchiso in the counties, the reorganisation of tho distribution of seats, reform in local government, religious equality, and a large reduction in taxes. The Board of Trade roturns show that the imports for the past month amount to 26| millions, showing a decrease of 4J millions. The exports for the past month were 14 3-16 millions, showing a docrease of sovontoon thirty-twos of a million. Tho dock laborers and sailors at Liverpool have stnick. MELBOURNE, February 9. Tho steamer Korangie is a total wreck at Cape Evcrard. Tho mate and four of the crew havo arrived at Gabo Island. SYDNEY, February 10. Advices from Now Caledonia^ state that the natives are completely satisfied, and that an early resumption of operations at tho nickel mines is probable. In the return cricket match between the English team and the New South Wales team, the latter made only 49 iv their second innings, the Englishmen winning in one innings by 41 runs. Tho heavy rain had so hardened the wicket that Emmet's bowling was not playable. (Received at 2.25 this morning.) MELBOURNE, February 10. Terrific fires are raging in the Colac forest, and fears are entertained for tho safety of the township. The Minister of Lands will not at present press for payment of rent by tho selectors who havo suffered from rust in their crops. [By Special Wire.! CHRISTCHURCH, February 10. Mr Towle's opera class havo" H.M.S. Pinafore" in rehearsal. Sergt. Beck, for many years a member of the local constabulary, has resigned. The Blue Cliffs station has been sold to Mr R. Rhodes, juu., for £64,500. It consists of 8000 acres freehold, 22,^00 sheep, and a lease — subject to a very heavy rental— of despasture over 28,000 acres. The price is considered highly satisfactory. The contractor has finished his contract additions to the Kaiapoi woollen mills. With the new machinery, the Company will be able to turn out any kind of tweed required. The Acclimatisation Society are busy making preparations to receive the white fish ova. The Christchurch Tramway Company held their first annual meeting on Saturday. The report and balance sheet were read and adopted. The rolling stock will be shipped from home and from America, in about three months. DUNEDIN, February 10. The enquiry into tho matter of the drowning of the boy Win, Taylor from the barque Easter Hill was concluded to-day. The additional evidence called by the officers of the vessel went to show that tho boy had been kindly treated. Evidence was given that he was punished on one '.occasion, and was kept holystoning. 'The captain said that he ropeended the boy for answering back. He also said : " Sometimes my officers ordered th& boys to carry a handspike across their "backs ; but that is nothing, it simply keerps them awake, for if they let the bar fall on the deck it makes a noise." The principal evidence was given by Peter Louis Johnstone, the seaman who jumped overboard after the boy. He said: " When I came on deck I did not know that Taylor had been aloft before, nor did II know that he was tired, but one of the starboard watch told us that the boy \ras going upon the main royal, and the three others besides myself went to look a.t him go up. I had no suspicion that he was in danger, and can't explain -\yhy we watched him. I can't say whether the helm was altered to put the ship off her course. She did not come to the! wind. I have seen the boy punished. o>nce. The second officer lashed a capstan bar on his back for not striking five foells. He was made to walk the pooi j>, with the capstan bar on his back, from half-past two till a quarter pas t five in the morning. Then the chief offic er ordered the capstan bar to bo taken off his back. One day he came forward to me and Charles Charleston, crying a aid complaining that they had kicked hii in out aft. He was kept all that afternooi i holystoning when it was his watch belo w. Charleston and I told the second nu »te that it was very hard to abuse the bo; j so much. Mitchell said that he had nothing to do with it, and told us to n idnd our own business. I don't remeinUer any other punishment being inflictei i. The second mate told us that the mas fcer had ordered the punishment. If a life-buoy had been thrown to me, I coulid have let go the rope and got to the body quite easily. There was no sign of any blood about it. If I had had a life>-bu6y I could have held the body up until assistance came. The sea was almost calm. I did not notice the skid after the accident. There was no blood on the rigging where he struck, nor anywhere else. His sheath knife was picked up on the deck. In the last vessel I was in, the second mate fell down from the fore yard, and landed between tho rail and the skids. There was no sign of life when we picked him up. His nose and mouth were full of blood, but we cleared them out, and the man came to life again. I cannot tell whether the boy Taylor was alive or dead after he fell. So far as I know the lad was liked by the hands. I never hoard him express any fear when ordered aloft. He obeyed orders, so far as I know. Ho was thick-headed, but not what I should call a loafer. It was nothing new to stop the buntlines. Tho port clew of the mainsail was hauled up so that I could see him from below. The yards were right square. The boy was not kept on deck during the middle watch on the night he was lost. If the line I had hold of had been two fathoms longer I could have reached the body. As I was hauled on board I remarked that I was rather late to save the body. I think we could have got a boat out in ten or fifteen minutes." The Chamber of Commerce to-day appointed an exhibition committee, in response to the request from the Royal Commissioners. TIMARU, February 10. A fire broke out this morning in a shop occupied by Mr Neilson, tailor, Main South Road; but it was extinguished before much damage was done. The circumstances look suspicious. No one belonging to the place had been in it since Saturday night. The contractor has notified that tho 60-ton steam crane for tho harbor worVs is now ready at Christchurch, and it is expected to be delivered in a fortnight. The works will then be pushed on rapidly. Bishop Redwood is visiting various parts of this district. He will leave for the North this weok. At a special meeting of the Hospital Committee to-day it was resolvod to forward an urgent request to the Government to provide funds for tho maintenance of a resident surgeon. Mr Macandrew will arrive here tomorrow, and will remain one hour, when be will be interviewed by various public bodies regarding a new railway station, i railway tariff, court-house accommoda- I tion, etc. i

A man named Edward Gray had his arm nearly cut off by a circular saw at Clayton's saw-mill. Mr Eoseby lectured on the Chinese question to a large audience to-night. The general feeling hero on tho subject is adverse to any prohibitory legislation on Chinese immigration. ■ j WELLINGTON, February 10. The Hyderabad was just afloat when she sprang a leak, and as pumping could not keep it under, she had to be left, or she would have gone down in deep water. On Saturday night the Wellington gold cup was presented to the owner of Maritana. The total amount of stakes paid away was £1351 17s, besides the gold cup, valued at £100. E. Kay took £475 and tho gold cup, for his winnings with Maritana and Bribery; P. Butler received, £261 for the Hurdles, W.E.C. Handicap, and tho Free Handicap ; Vallance, £237 10s, for the Maiden Plato and the Derby; J. Belcher, £71 ss, for the Empire Plate ; D. Knight, £71 ss, for second in the Cup and second in the Empire Plate ; E. M'lvor, £71 ss, for the Handicap Hurdles ; W. H. Gibson, £61 15s, for tho Consolation Stakes, and second in the W,C. Handicap; H. C. Horsfall, £47 10s, for the Flying Handicap; Whitehouse, £19 for the Hack Hurdles; Cartwell, £9 10s for the Hack Race; T. Eay, £9 10s, fortheHackEace; Webb, £9 10s, for second in the Consolation ; and A. Young, £57 12s, for second in the Free Handicap. Later. After consultation with Lloyd's agents, Captain Gibbon and Mr Holmden have determined not to abandon tho Hyderabad yet. They will beach her, and ascertain whether the leak can be repaired, and will discharge the remainder of her cargo. If the leak can be stopped, another effort will be made to get her off. The Governor was entertained at dinner by the club on Saturday. To-mor-row he leaves by the Arawata for Christchurch, to fulfil his engagement to dine with the Christchurch Club. Eay has bought the colt Volunteer for £200. A smart shock of earthquake was felt here at 1.46 this evening.