TELEGRAPHIC.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7141, 20 April 1885, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC.

[ PEB XJKITKD PRESS ASSOCIATION.! Auckland, Saturday. The s.B. Coptic has been chartered by the Imperial Government as a fast cruiser for the New Zealand coast, and arrangements are now being made to avoid Bending her on her homeward voyage. She will low the ship Northumberland to Napier to take in the cargo of frozen meat which is now ready at that port, and the cargo which was to have followed in the Northumberland will be put aboard the ship Lyttelton and the steamship Arawa. The Coptic will go from here to "Wellington with her original cargo, and will then be at once fitted up for her new service. She may for the purpose have to go to Australia.

At the inquest to-day on the body of Mr Clarke, the Queensland squatter who died at the Star Hotel from narcotic poisoning, a verdict of death by taking an overdose of chlorodyne was returned.

Among the passengers by the Coptic was Mr VVm. M'Candlish, who comes out here in connection with the proposed railway between Tauranga and the Hot Lakes.

This morning Mounted Constable Kelly and Detective Hughes caught sight of M'Kelvie near the old Whau blackhouse and pursued him. M'Kelvie, seeing his capture inevitable, shot himself with a revolver. The body was brought to town to await an inquest. The deceased's son told the police, before going in pursuit, that his father would never be taken alivo.

Sunday. The Hinemoa arrived to-night with a torpodo boat in tow after a passage which S stain Fairchild describes as one of tho |st he ever experienced in coming OBS the Bay of Plenty. The torpedo boat towed well. The manner in which she rode the heavy seas was a matter of surprise to all on board the Hinemoa. For the safety of the torpedo boat it was necessary on Thursday, in a fierce northeast gale, to take shelter under Cape Runaway on the East Coast ; on Friday at the lee of Mayor's Island ; and on Saturday to run for Port Charles, which she left this morning, arriving as above. Charles Strong, a waterman, fell over the wharf to-night, and was drowned.

Before the Coptic sailed from London George Townshend, a fraudulent bankrupt, was arrested. His wife and family came off in the vessel under an assumed name. From instructions received from the Wellington Police Department, on the strength of a cable message from Home, an officer of the Auckland police boarded the Coptic, and discovered the woman on

board as a steerage passenger, and in' getting her to disgorge *fr£lloo, made up of eleven £100 Bank of England notes. Gisboene, Saturday. A man named Parion fell off a dray yesterday, and the wheel went over his back. He died to-day from the injuries received.

Wellington, Saturday. Sir Julius Yogel received this afternoon a cable message from the Agent-General, stating that the prospects of peace are less gloomy. The Newcastle Herald of the 11th April has a paragraph as follows :— " The American schooner Quickstep arrived here yesterday morrang from Melbourne. Capt. Jacobs reports that on the 6 th, when 25 miles from Cape Howe, he passed a Russian sloop of war steering W.S.W., coming from the eastward, but had no communication with her. She had fore- - and-aft canvas set, and was steaming. The Government have cabled to the Agent-General to procure and at once forward 2000 stand of the latest militery rifle (the Martini-Henry) to the colony, together with all necessary appointments. Mr Tole. Minister of Justice, returned from Wanganui yesterday morning. A supplementary Gazette issued today contains new regulations under the Grovernment Insurance Association's Act, and I^ftrar number of new tables. The result of the local option polling for Lambton Ward was in favor of additional licenses by 46 to 35. An action claiming damages for alleged slander is to be heard in the Supreme _Court next week. The plaintiff U Chas. Wm. Cutton, solicitor, the defendant brang Daniel Olimio, civil engineer. It is alleged that the latter slandered the former by stating to a friend in the street 'that plaintiff had improved his property to the extent of £180 or £190 at the expense of the Island Bay Park Company. In the Divorce Court to-day in the case of Moukton v. Monkton, his Honor refused with regret to grant a decree nisi. He considered the case of an unprecedented nature, but the nreaent law gave ft ..: '

him no option, cruelty in the eyes of the law not having been proved. He expressed a hope that the case would be the means of amending the law which deprived a woman of remedy in such a oase as the present.

The local option polling for the Thornton licensing district yesterday resulted in power being given for an increase of hotels.

A fire occurred this morning at four o'clock in a shed belonging to the Tramway Company, containing chaff and cutting machinery, which were completely destroyed. The damage is between £400 and £500. There was no insurance. The cause is unknown and the circumstances are Buspicious. Sunday.

A most serious conflagration broke out last night, which resulted in the total destruction of Mr James Smith's Te Aro House. This establishment was one of the largest draper's and clothier's businesses in the town. At about 6 o'clock last night one of the assistants in lighting the gas in a window accidentally set fire to some fabrics. The flames speedily spread, and resisted all efforts to extinguish them. Immediately that the fire was found to have a firm hold all the shutters were dropped to prevent a draft, and tho fire brigade were on the spot without delay, but not in sufficient time to stay the destruction of the building. It was raining heavily at the time, and what stock was removed, if not damaged "by water insido the building, was destroyed by tho rain. Owing to tho insurance offices being closed no convict information respecting risks can be obtained, but it is estimated that tho building and stock are covered for £10,000 distributed over several offices.

A heavy galo set in last night. About 4 o'clock this morning half the Exhibition building 1 in the course of erection was blown down. The contractor estimates the damage at between £400 and £500. Tlwaru, Saturday. Frederick Lucas, charged to-day on remand with attempting to murder V' wife Katherine, on the Bth instant, was furrher remanded till the 23rd instant, the medical attendant of the woman having stated she was unable to appear to-day, but might do so nest week.

Sunday. The Defence Minister having agreed to accept the services of the Timaru Rifle Volunteer company the roll is §bei;>g rapidly filled up. Over 50 names were signed last night. Dunedin, Saturday. A crack four inches long ha 3 been discovered in one of the seven-ton guns recently sent hero for defence purposes.

Sunday. The Otago Early History Society held a highly successful conversazione on Friday night. Amongst the many interesting exhibits there was a Tasman's chart of New Zealand 230 years old, which was obtained by Dr Hockeu when on a recent visit to Europe. The express train from Christchurch was delayed in arrival last night for three hours by the breaking, down of the engine just as it got out of the long tunnel between Blueskin and Port Chalmers.