TELEGRAMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5585, 18 January 1879, Page 5

TELEGRAMS.

[TIMES’ SPECIAL WIHEJ NEW ZEALAND. AUCKLAND, ,Tis. 17, The Hon Mr Sheehan proceeded to Warkworth last night in the s.s. Lily, which bad been specially chartered for the occasion. He will probably take the opportunity to address his Rodney constituents. By news received by mail from London, it is stated that Mr Russell has been offered £SOO on his bargain to return the horse Musket to England, bat he refused. Musket is in Melbourne, and will roach Auckland by the s.s. Hero.

At the opening of the first lodge of the order of the Loyal United Friends under the Now Zealand Constitution, the mysteries of the Order were shown, and it was explained how much good lias been done in EngWd since its foundation in 1829.

In re the Thames pumps difficulty the Chamber of Commerce Committee see no other possible solution but for the Thames County Council to contribute for the Gold Duty received oae-balf of the cost of continuing the working of the pump to the 400 ft level, and the shareholders of the Companies interested to contribute the other half.

The body of the man littleohild, who was drowned at Biverheod yesterday, has been recovered. An inquest was held, and a ver* diet of "Accidental death" returned. Deceased was a native of England, 35 yean of age, and of remarkably steady habits. The sixth annual meeting of the Wesleyan Conference commenced its sitting this evening in the Pitt street church. There was a large gathering of ministers from different parts of the Colony. The session being open to the public, a largo number was in attendance, the church being well filled. After calling the roll, the retiring President, the Kev J. Crump, delivered a comprehensive address in review of the past roar. No death had occurred in the ranks or the Ministry, and there hod been an accession of eight candidates. During the year great progress had been made by the Church Extension Society, but a loan fund was much needed. The Conference then pro* ceeded to the election of its office-bearers, with

tb. following wulti-8., W. Morloj, Pro.ldent; Rev B. Bavin, Secretory j Rev J Richardson, Aerietont-Seoretory j Iter W. A* Lee, Journal Secretory | Rev 11. Bull, Oorreeponding Secretory. The President elect delivered a very able speech, thanking the Conference for the honour conferred upon him. Ho pointed out the chief feature* of work to be done, and referred to the fact that twelve additional minister* were immediately required. The Rev B. Bavin, Secretary, also addressed the Conference.

A man named Warr mot with a serious accident yesterday at Hamilton, Waikato. While working at a cutting on the Cambridge road about two tons of earth fell, nearly burying him. One thigh was broken, the other knee dislocated, one arm dislocated, and the spine seriously injured. Dr Waddington happened to be pawing at the time, and, temporarily setting the limbs, sent him homo in a dray, and afterwards visited him. He is too bad to-day to be sent to the hospital at Auckland, as was intended, and it is doubtful whether he will recover.

WELLINGTON, Jan. 17. Mr O. M. O'Xorke has been elected the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education.

Mr Bignold had a magnificent house on the occasion of his last appearance lost night. The leading members of the company wore all called in front of the curtain, and Mr Bignold made a speech, promising to re-visit Wellington. Messrs Darrell, Bignold, and company left for Christcburch to-day. The season has been the most attractive and successful one ever known here.

The City Council, last night, after a warm debate, negatived a motion to appoint Mr dimie as drainage engineer, and the minority then, to secure an adjournment, begdn* to talk against time, and kept it up till near daylight without, any result. The general entries received for the regatta lost night were satisfactory. To-day, a deputation from the City Council waited on the Minister of Public Works, to urge the immediate construction of the railway wharf. Mr Macandrew said that Mr Blackett had already prepared plans, and tenders would be called for as soon as the specifications had been prepared, that would be within ten days or a fortnight. There were materials on the ground to the value of £7OOO or £BOOO, and there was nothing to hinder the work being proceeded with as soon as the specifications were out. Still that would not suffice for the rapidly growing wants of the city, and the Corporation should not relax their efforts to find still further accommodation. The Government had been fully alive to the position of the town and the necessity for the railway wharf, and it was only extreme pressure of work which had prevented the plans being prepared before. Mr Macandrew laid on the table the plan of the new wharf, showing it to be directly opposite the Government buildings. There will be a small triangular reclamation for turntables, &0., from which the wharf will bo carried out to a distance of 930 feet, the width being rather less than that of the present wharf. It runs almost at right angles to the existing wharf in nearly the same direction as the cross jetty, and has provisions for arms running out like the fork of a tree with inner branches, but this extension is not to be carried out at once.

The Royal Commission to enquire into the Jackson’s Bay special settlement leave here in the Stella on Jao. 28.

The Auckland yacht Contrabandiere has I‘ust been overhauled by Messrs Coffey and )ixon, and supplied with a false keel, in preparation for the regatta. H.M.S. Nympbe is likely to leave for England to-morrow. The Hon. Ballance leaves for Dunedin tomorrow.

The National Bank has declared an interim dividend at the rate of 6 per cent per annum for the half year ending Sept. 30. In the- District Court to-day the case of the trustees of M'Donald v. J. £. Natban was tried. It was an action to recover £2OO for the wrongful conversion of the furniture of a boarding house, on the terrace, known as York House. Two grounds of defence were setup—one, that the furniture belonged to the defendant, and was simply leased to M'Donald, together with the house ; and the nthon-that theAfend«nt.daty’ \ ■*--*7g g «* tßr for arrears of rent. Verdict for plaintiff was given for full amount. The boy Bacon has made a written confession of the Anchor office robbery, and has been further remanded.

In the Special Jury case, M'Lean v. Nicholls, an action for defamation and assault —a verdict was given, for the plaintiff for £250 on the defamation count, and for defendant on the other. The Hon Mr Mjacandrew leaves in the Hinemoa for Dunedin. The Hon Mr Ballance will accompany the Hon Mr Stout on a tour through Otago. The Government have received a petition in favour of Walsh, and also a certificate from a doctor that Walsh has been and is suffering from mania. A Commission of three other medical men has been appointed to examineand report on him.

GISBOBNB, Jan. 17.

At the sale of the late Captain Bead’s property the suburban allotments facing the Gladstone road fetched at the rate of £6O per acre. This is lower than the prices ruling some months ago. Lot No. 1, near Budd’s quay, fetched £1400; Makauri, 650 acres, fetched £6500; The Willows, £3500. Lot 2 brought £IBSO. Mr Bees gave notice that the Natives intended to dispute the title. TIMABU, Jan. 17. The valuation for Borough of Timaru for 1879 amounts to £45,800, Ming an increase of £10,300 on last year. The schooner Alert sailed for Wellington to-day to take part in the regatta there. A marked improvement has taken place in the crops during the last fortnight or three weeks, and on higher grounds some splendid paddocks are now noticeable. It is believed that the yield, partly owing to the increased area sown, will bo fully equal to last season. OAMABU, Jan. 17. The town valuation this year amounts to only £42,000, just £166 more than last year At a meeting of the Municipal Council last night great dissatisfaction was expressed at the smallness of the amount, and a special meeting was called for to-night to make the necessary arrangements for appealing against the whole valuation. The immigrants ex ship Camara have all received employment. The married people have secured engagements at the highest wages ruling. There were 17 single girls, out of which nine have found homes with their friends, and the remaining eight, who were only capable of filling situations on farms, have been well placed, at wages ranging from £3O to £4O per year. Immediate employment on long terms was easily secured for the single men at £55 to £6O per annum (6 and 12 months' agreement), with premiums for harvest work.

A meeting, composed of a number of gentlemen, was held lost night at the Criterion Hotel for the purpose of forming a Volunteer Fire Brigade for this town, and the following resolutions wore carried: —1- “ That a Committee be formed to canvass for members, and that all the gentlemen present form themselves into a Committee for that purpose." 2, " That the secretary write to Dunedin to procure a copy of the Fire Brigade rules and ascertain the cost of an engine and other appliances."

DUNEDIN, Jan. 17. There has been a hot scrimmage at the Presbyterian Synod over the disposal of the surplus of the education fund, amounting to £OOO per annum. It terminated in a resolution being carried that the money be devoted to the endowment of a chair of moral philosophy. This makes the second theological chair established by the Synod. A protest against the decision was signed by 18 of the most influential members. One of the ministers said that " nine-tenths of the people of Otago were perfectly indifferent how the money was dealt with." At the, Police Court to-day, an elderly Scotch woman named Lockio was ordered to pay » fine of £6 and costs, or suffer one

month’s imprisonment, and also bound over to keep the peace, for committing an aggravated assault on an Irish woman twice her size. The victim of the assault presented a frightful picture, her eyes and their sur•roundings bring of a dark chocolate, and she exhibited a parcel of hair, sufficient for a chignon, which bad boon torn from her head,

INVERCARGILL, Jan. 17. At a meeting of the Railway Demonstration Committee yesterday, the knotty question of the accommodation to bo afforded to visitors by the opening train was debated. It was ultimately decided to tell off Committeeimn to do all they can under the circumstances. Without doubt, with such a fearful strain upon the hotel accommodation, through the crowds of people expected from tpe country, and the invited visitors, shako-downs of the roughest style will bo at premium. Visitors will bo none the worse off for providing themselves liberally with traveliiug mgs. The action of the Ministry in pardoning the murderer Walsh receives general condemnation.

The official declaration of the Matoura poll took place at 12 o’clock to-day, and Mr Shanks was declared duly elected. Both candidates mode appropriate speeches, the successful one contradicting Mr Kinross’ statement that lie had sailed under false colours. Ho assorted himself a thorough supporter of the Groy party. The Rev 0. J. Byng, of Dunedin, lectured in the new Theatre to-night on the “ Archives of the Universe.” The lecture was a success. An inquest was held at Ohriti to-day on the body of a man named Hayes, who had been killed by a dray passing over him. A verdict of “ Accidental death ” was returned. [FBOM OUB OWN COEEBOPONDBNT.] AUCKLAND, Jan. 17. At the Police Court to-day, Delmorah Hood, proprietor of an hotel at Ngaruawahia, was charged with travelling on the railway without a ticket. He was fined £3 and costs. A similar charge against Alice Yell and Cook was withdrawn. The evidence showed great laxity on the part of certain railway officials.

DUNEDIN, Jan. 17. The case of M’Donald v. Proctor concluded this evening, the jury giving plaintiff £SO damages. At a meeting in the Athenceum to-night re reading the Bible in schools, about 80 persons were present. Addresses wore given by the Rev L. Mackie, and Messrs J. A. Connell, A. C. Begg, E. B. Cargill, and Thomas Dick, all in support of the motion, which was carried unanimously, and is as follows: daily reading of the Bible in, public schools be established by law.” A committee was formed to forward the resolution.

The Synod has discussed the question of the introduction of reading the Bible in the schools, and adopted the following resolution :—“ That the further discussion of this overture be adjourned, and that a Committee be appointed to frame a resolution expressive of the mind of the Synod on the overture.” During the discussion the Eev W. Bannerman said the present system of education was unpopular, and that its integrity could not be preserved. If the people of Otago were polled tp-morrow, it would be found that 19-20ths, he might say 99-100ths, of them would vote for the restoration of tbe Bible to the schools. If the secularists did not compromise and join with them, the denominational party would triumph over a divided host and gain the victory. The secularists would consequently have to choose between them and the denominationalists.

A second meeting of the promoters of the Boslyn Tramway Company was held this evening, when the route for the tramway was determined, and it was agreed that the Com* pany’s nominal capital should be £50,000, about one-third ef which it is expected will be called up. The cost of the tramway is estimated at £17,000.