TELEGRAPHIC.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7144, 23 April 1885, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

"*■ |PEB UNITED PKESS ASSOCIATION.! Auckland, Wednesday. The Hon. Mr Richardson, Minister for Public Works, was a passenger by the Coptic for Wellington to-day. The half-yearly meeting of shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand was held today. The usual dividend and bonus were declared, and a balance of £25,000 carried forward to the next half-year. The figures show a moderate increase both in deposits and advances. The coin, bullion, and Government securities held by the bank amount to £2,700,000. The Chairman congratulated the shareholders upon the steady progress of the colony, not* withstanding the operation of important^ adverse influences. Gisborne, Wednesday. At a large public meeting held last night a resolution was carried strongly urging the Government to have the sittings of the Native Land Court here, ag 1500 cases of all kinds are awaiting hearing. WanGANui, Wednesday. An old soldier named Charles Kelly was found drowned in the river this morningw-^" He had come into town at 10 o'clock lasfr night, and when last seen was quite sober.' When taken ouh he had several largo gashes on hiss face, the cause of which is not yet apparent. A charge of handinp a fraudulent marriage notico to the Wanganui Herald for publication will be heard to-morrow in tho Police Court. Later. At the inquest on the body of Oharlea Kelly, found in the river this morning,

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the evidence went to prove that he was Only seen by two or three persons after the arrival of the south train last night, by which he was a passenger. The medical evidenoe proved that the wounds on the head did not cause death, but that Kelly probably fell down the embankment and was stunned, and his head being under water he was suffocated. He was sober at the time. There was no evidence >v, to account for his being in that place. -* The deceased told the last man who saw hihi alive that he was going home, but the place where he was found is in a totally different direction. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence. Wellington, Wednesday. A meeting of the Executive Council was held to-day at Government House. The business transacted was purely formal and of an ordinary routine character. After the meeting terminated the Defence Minister had a conference with the Governor with reference to defences, but no information on the subject has been allowed to transpire. It is understood that the Government have sent Home further orders for defence material, but their nature is regarded aa confidential. The Minister of Justice has received a telegram from Auckland stating that two petitions are on their way to Wellington respecting the cisc of Prendergast, who is under seutence of death at Auckland for murder. One petition is from the jury who tried the case, and the other from residents in the neighborhood of Prendergast, and both refer to the state of the condemned man's mind. The Govornmcnt have therefore deferred their decision until the petitions have been received. A lengthy meeting of the Government Insurance Board was held yesterday, Bir Julius Yogel presiding. The proceedings lasted several hours. It is understood that the main business was the question of appointing local Boards. Thi3 was urged by Sir Julius Yogel, and opposed by several other members of the Board, the result being that it was shown that the majority were willing to carry out Sir Julius Vogel's wishes if at the next meeting ho determines on pressing them. The intention is to appoint local Boards at Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch *, only. This afternoon the Governor received a cable message from London with reference to the Kussian-Afghan difficulty, which indicated that the colony ought to be prepared with its defences. The Government anticipate that the British navy will be represented within the next few days in New Zealand waters by two •^ar vessels. Leviu and Co. have received a cable message from London confirming the news that the Coptic has been chartered as a cruiser by the Admiralty. The Coptic ia to come on to Wellington without delay to discharge all cargo here, and await orders from Home. The body of Barlow was found in the ruins of Te Aro House at 11 o'clock this morning. The body was very much burnt. Dpnedin, Wednesday. The mounting of the big guns at Forbury and Lawyer's Heads was completed to-day by Mr T. B. Low (Public Works) and Sergeant-Major M'Kay, of the Armed Constabulary, and should occasion require it the guns could open fire tomorrow. Dunedin is therefore ia a state of defence against bombardment from the sea. The mounting of the guns at Taiaroa Heads is expected to be finished early next week, thus completing the defence of the harbor. M. Da Harren, the Belgian CommisBioner, has returned to Dunedin. Mr S. H. Jenkinson, who is leaving Dunedin to take an important position on the Melbourne Argus staff, was made the . recipient of a handsome silver inkstand from the officers of the local Telegraph Department. His fellow employes gave him a gold watch, and from the members of the Press inDanedin he received a gold albert and appendages.