LATEST TELEGRAMS

Kumara Times, Issue 823, 21 May 1879, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS

[PRESS AGENCY.]

Westport, May 21. At the inquest on the body of Mrs Crawford, her hus'.and said " she got up to come to Slieehau's for him at halfpast three o'clock in the morning; they went home together ; they had in. words; she was unusually sober; she then went out at the back door." The medical testimony went to show that death was not caused by drowning. Her shawl was tied round her neck, covering her head. The verdict was, '■" Death from suffocation ; causes unknownl"

Auckland, May 20. It is anticipated that the loss of Government property fiom the fire at Mercer is over £IOOO.

The Bell Brandon, which has arrived from the Marshall group, reports continued fighting on the island of Majura. {Several Natives, men aud women, have been killed.

Sir George Grey leaves to-morrow morning for Wellingtom. The Hon. Mr Sheehan will probably accompany him.

The Working Men's Club has pre-pai-ed an anti Chinese petition, which, after being largely signed, will be presented to Pax-liament by Mr Swanson, M.H.R.

Grahamstown, May 20. The exorbitant demands of landholders for property where the proposed railway was to pass through will stop any further work at present. Instructions from the Public Works Department have been received stating that the work will not be further proceeded with nntil the whole land necessary has been acquired.

Napier, May 20. Owing to the depressed slate of agricultural matters, the Hon. Mr Russell has culled his workmen together and told them they must accept a reduction of 25 per cent., or he would have to reduce the number of employees. They accepted the reduction. Inspector Scully has received £25, and a complimentary letter from Col. Whitmore for his conduct in the captuie of Mc'Lennan. Constable Raymond receive £5.

At a meeting of the unemployed, resolutions were read, to be forwarded to the Government, asking that certain authorised public works be proceeded with.

Wellington, May 20. The question of paying members of the Wharf Committee an honorarium will be again debated by the City Council. The legality of the practice is being still disputed.

Letters received from Mr Barton, M.H.R., who is now travelling in A merica, state, his health is much restored, and that he expects to be back in New Zealand by the 7th July next. The. Times says some members of the police force lately taken on are a disgrace to the force ; and says, " one supposed to be on duty on Saturday on the principal thoroughfare was quite intoxicated ; and that on Sunday morning two other members of the force, in plain clothes, were under the influence of liquor, and behaved in a most abusive manner to several passers-by in Manners stveet."

A noLice of motion has been given in the City Council, " That the Corporrtion keep a list of all contractors who fail to cany out their contracts, as a gui e to the Corporation in the acceptance of future tenders." Wm. Thus. Martin, barman at the Post Office. Hotel, charged with stealing £2(5, the property of 11. D. Monk, the

proprietor, was fully committed for trial. Several mia'6f charges of a similar nature we're dropped oil prisoner's committal.

Several fresh casSs of typhoid fever have made their appearance in the same locality outside of the city where the disease first broke out, and it is supposed that these fresh cases originated from some persons who had been working in the place thinking all danger had now passed. Commander Hewitt, and Captaius Rose and Cross, who have been appointed a Royal Commission to inquire into all circumstances attending the lo*s of the steamer TaUpo, leave tonight for Taupo, in the s.s. Wanaka. Several shopkeepers are being proceeded againt for hanging goods outside their shop windows. The case of alleged arson against Mrs Phillips, Eaiwarra, is adjourned for a week.

The second Resident Magistrate is to take office here almost imiiieidately;

Two more of the Maxted family were fo-day ordered to pay 7s 6d per week each towards the support of their aged parents.

[NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, May 20. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment in the case of Proudfoot v. Dunedin Harbor Board. The case of Henderson v. Napier Harbor Board was partly heard. Owing to the depaiture of the mail, Saturday as a holiday will not he observed at Post Offices at Timaru, Christchurch, Wellington or Napier, bur. Monday will be observed a close holiday at those offices.

The charge of arson against Mrs Phillips, of Kaiwarra, was partly heard to-day. The prosecution is, that Mrs Phillips, who was supposed to be at the Hutt when the fire took plaee, came back to Kaiwarra by the midnight train, arriving about 20 minutes before the fire broke out. It is further alleged that the " motive" lay in the fact that the building -was mortaged, and that six months' instalments were due to the. mortgagees. It was threatened that if the instalments were not paid by a given date the property would be sold.

Nelson, May 20. The City Council, at a special meeting last night, resolved to join the Waimea County Council in taking over the management of the Nelson Hospital. Mr Stanton, agent of the Norwich Union Company, writes in the Colonist in reply to M'Nainara's letter in the Post, stating that a flagrant fraud had been successfully resisted, as much in the interest of the comniunity as of the Norwich Union. The plaintifi 5 , he continued, swore his precise loss at £760 19s Bd, whilst witnesses proved that all the contents of the store were saved except some inappreciable articles. "Napier, May 19. A man, name unknown) was found lying dead in the Waipuna River yesterday.

Few firms had to call meetings of creditors in the district, and bank pressure is not felt, while work is plentiful. The rise in the price of wool will make a difference of £40,000 on the value of the wool clip sent from Hawkes Bay.

Dunedin, May 19. The contract for the Wingatui section of the Otago Central Railway has been let for £48,839 7s lOd to Mr D. M'Kenzie, and is to be completed in eight months. Mills, Dick, and Co. are abottt to issue " The Old Identity,"a book of 300 pages containing the history of Otago from its commencement.

Roderick M'Keuzie was charged at the Oamaru Police Court with crossing the railway line after being cautioned. He was remanded for medical examination, as it was alleged that he was insane.

Auckland, May 19. A fish hawker attempted suicide at Grahamstown whilesuffering from drink. The railway station, refreshment and ladies' waiting rooms at Mercer were destroyed by fire, caused by an iron stove pipe passing through a wooden wall. Mr Arcell, the proprietor of the refreshment room, was insured for ,£4O in the Norwich "Union Company. He estimates his loss at between £4O and £SO.

Sergeant-Major Tolty fell down in a fit at the Newmarket entrance to the domain. He was taken to the Hospital, where he has since died.

The Waikato train was delayed over two hours in consequence of the line being flooded. Portions of the line are unsafe, and the Waikato River is rapidly rising.

The Native Minister and Rewi have agreed, and the result will be the opening of a large district for settlement. Christchurch, May 19. Both papers take the Wellington

Post to task for making misstatements regarding the time taken by the Stad Haarlem in discharging and loading at the respective ports of Wellington and Lyttelton-.

Another meeting of tfce unemployed was held in Cathedral Square this afternoon, at which the Mayor promised to do all he could for them.

Timaru, May Is. An inquest was held on the body of Edward Hunt-, wh<J died from the effects of a wound in the thigh) caused by a fall while in a state of intofciGatidn. The jury blamed the publican for supplyiug him with drink

The steam crane will be tried to morrow with A lift of 60 tons.

For remainder of news see last page-.