TELEGRAMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5601, 6 February 1879, Page 5

TELEGRAMS.

NEW ZEALAND. [TIMES’ SPECIAL WIRE,] AUCKLAND, Feb. 6. A man named Thomas Eosser, ef Newton, while oiling Journald’s machinery got his clothes entangled in it. Fortunately his clothing gave way, and he escaped with several bruises. Thomas Isitt, alias Fidgott, was charged with wheat burning at Otahuhu. After hearing the evidence, the Magistrate reserved his decision for a week. In tho meantime enquiries will bo mode as to his sanity. There are rumours of a dispute between Mr Eonald M'Donald and the authorities of the Thames Catholic Church, which will probably be brought before tho Supremo Court. Money matters are said to bo the cause. Frederick Ooombes, a nephew of the late Coombos, of Ooombes and Daldy, was found drowned this morning in the well at the rear of the firm’s promises in Queen street. Yesterday he tola tho clerks that tho key of tho premises had been stolen, and that ho would watch and listen for anyone coming. Ho was last scon at 9.30. The cover of the well was quite new, and so small (hat it would be difficult for a man’s body to get through. Two months ago ho fell through the old cover of tho well at midnight, and bis cries arousing (he neighbours at three o’clock in the morning, ho was rescued.

A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce has been called for Friday, to make arrangements respecting the Sydney Exhibition. The Captain of the Gorman war vessel in harbour states that when in the Pacific, ho heard of the Bov George Brown’s action in punishing the Natives. He went to Now Britain, 13uke Islands, and made a searching investigation into the whole circumstances Or the case, both from the Missionary and Native side, and the conclusion he was forced to] come to was that Bor. G. Brown acted judiciously, that his whole conduct in the affair was commendable in the highest degree, and that he had written to the Gorman Government to tldit effect, and also recommended his Government to communicate has opinion on Ber, : G. Brown’s proceedings to the British Government. Ho considers Mr Brown’s action will bo of vast benefit to civilisation, Christianity, and trade throughout the whole Pacific. Since the big pump at the Thames ceased

working carbonic acid gas has been rising rapidly in the Caledonian .haft, and extendto other mines. Yesterday the Golden Calf men hod to stop work, being driven out by the poisonous gas. In the afternoon a stronK westerly wind partly cleared the working*, but daring the night, and to-day it has been accumulating rapidly, and it is now feared that operations in many mines will have to cease in consequence of this gas. During January there were 82 deaths in Auckland, as compared with 18 during the same month last year. There were 18 children' died under: one year, the prevailing causes of death being diarrhoea and whooping Cough. Tliis afternoon a collision occurred In the harbour between a North Shore ferry boat aud the cutter Mercury. The steamer wae nearing the wharf at the Auckland side about twenty yards distent, when the cutter, In stays, came* down upon her. The steamer was too near the wharf to go full steam ahead, and the cutter too near to reverse engines, and to get outofthe'way she increased speed, expecting to 'dear the ratter’s course. The cutter, however, was : struck amidships, carrying bulwarks, etc., away. The hull of the steamer escaped serious injury, and the damage done on the cutter was very alight. NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. B. A boy has been sentenced to A month’s hard lab our for destroying telegraph insulators. ’ Sir G. Grey and Mr . Sheehan both sent telegrams of condolence to Mr Shore, senr., of Mokan, whose sOnraraa drowned. The Harbour Board election is exciting great attention. GISBORNE, Feb. 5. Five deaths, three adults and two children, occurred here to-day. WANGANUI, Feb. 2. The correspondent of the . NewiT Pfyt, month SeraU telegraphs i-r Oh /Sunday night, on the Waimate Plams,;Teitopeha raised the question whether anything' was going to be done to etop tha Government surveys.” Patu Wareu, 1 a leading Native, replied that the surreys would not be interfered with, as his fighting with pakehos had ended at Teugutuotemana. This whs unanimously agreed to, and he repeated the statement to Major Brown and Mr Williams yesterday at a meeting, in the presence of leading chiefs and Tito Aowaro. WELLINGTON, Feb. 5. Lady Normanby’s ill I health will detain His Excellency toe Governor here until Feb. 17. A man named Collier has been killed in a gravel pit at Fielding. Information has been received that a seaman named Kelly was washed overboard from the schooner Mary in the Straits, on voyage hence to Newcastle.

One hundred pounds advance has been offered and refused on two sections purchased at the laud sale yesterday. The Commissioners of Higher Education leave for Auckland to-morrow. The Premier and Hon Mr Fisher also go. The Hinemoa will bring the mail down. A bookseller named Jones is reported as missing. He had been for some time in depressed spirits. A movement is on foot amongst the supporters of Mr Hutohinsonat the late Mayoral election, to present him with a testimonial. At a meeting of toe Exhibition Commissioners, a letter was road from the Sydney Government respecting the admission of live stock—cattle, sheep, and horses for exhibition, which stated that the regulation respecting the admission of -sheep, requiring those imported to be kept a short time in quarantine and be dippea would be enforced in respect to sheep for exhibition. There were no restrictions in respect to other stock. Owing to the programme of the Exhibition: Oommisssion notnaving come to hand it was impossible to reply to numerous communications already received from would-be exhibitors. Mr Oallis was elected Secretary out of a list Of 26 applicants. It was resolved that (he Press should be invited to attend the meetings of the Commission. It was explained that the Government proposed to ask the different Chambers of Commerce to act as Local Committees in large towns. The Chairman stated that he hoped to be able to procure and tranship a good specimen of a Maori house, but, as the negotiations entered into were incomplete, it was inadvisable to publish particulars. OAMARU, Feb. 6. At too meeting of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, the Chairman read a letter from Mr G. S. Cooper, Assistant Colonial Secretary, requesting the co-operation of the Chamber towards obtaining Waitaki County exhibits for the Sydney International Exhibition, and enclosing copies of (he New Zealand Gazette containing the classes of articles to be exhibited. It was resolved—“ That an advertisement be inserted in the local papers to the effect that all goods for competition at the forthcoming Exhibition in Sydney will be received and forwarded by the Chamber of Commerce.” It was also resolved to solicit toe co-opcration of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association towards this end.

A very fine trout, weighing 51b, has been caught in the Island Stream, Kakanui, by Mr Kelt, of the Royal Hotel. This is the first trout caught in the district.

Great interest is taken here in the forthcoming ride contest at Nelson. It is expected that several local shots will compete. The following are tho vital statistics for the month of January Births, 41 j marriages, 8 ; deaths, 9. For the corresponding month of 1878 the numbers were—Births, 34 j marriages, 9 ; deaths, 10, DUNEDIN, Feb. 5. Last night two trolly wheels were placed on tho line of railway between Palmerston and Goodwood stations. When tho “special” passed this place it was too dork for the obstruction to dc seen. Tho cowcatcher of tho engine, however, cleared tho line, and no damage beyond that caused to the cowcatcher was sustained. The Government have offered a reward of £IOO for evidence which leads to the conviction of the persons who committed this criminal or mod act.

A largo quantity of Mr Proudfoot’s tramway plant lias arrived, and a start was made in George street this morning with tho work of laying tho city tramway. Tho amount of revenue on goods cleared in tho Customs to-day was £4379. Tho increase of imputation in Otago by immigration over emigration during tho month of January is 1019 souls. Mr Bartloman has resigned his appointment in tho Colonial Bank of Now Zealand to go into a general commission and agency line m Dunedin.

A deputation waited on Mr Mooandrew this morning from the Harbour Board re the gazetting of the site of the railway station, sheds, ivc. In reply, Mr Macanrtrew said that the matter of gazetting the site now rested with the Public Worts Department, and there was no reason why it should bo delayed, ■ The Harbour Board have been alarmed at the return by the Marino Department of the plan and specification of the proposed harbour alterations and improvements, accompanied by a letter stating that the Department refused to submit them for approval of the Governor in Council, as they would interfere with the railway reserves. A deputation, headed by the Mayor, waited on the Minister of Public Works Department to-day, and wore informed that the letter had been written in ignorance of the arrangements made with the Public Works Department, that tenders for the now railway station would be colled for immediately, and steps taken to have the harbour alterations gazetted. A deputation appointed by a meeting of settlors also waited upon the Minister, and represented that two runs at Waikoumli, recently surveyed for settlement, were likely to bo sacrificed through the notion of the Waste Bonds Board in offering sections by auction instead of by deferred payments. ; It was nromised that the matter would he represented to the Minister of Bands. Xho J [anting Herald's balance-sheet for the veav ceding Nov. 80 shows o balance of £640 of revenue over expenditure, but only £2O cosh i» hand and in the bank.

INVERCARGILL. Feb. 5. Mr Conyers condition is favourable. Au bid settler named Bernard Hill has been presented with two testimonials, a valuable watch and desk and tea and coffee service. He was ones a partner of the lion H. Holmes. Consequent upon the Wallace County Council having unanimously elected Mr J. It. Outhbertson to a seat on tlio Bluff Harbour Board, that gentleman will in all probability withdraw his candidature for the town. A general desire is expressed that the Governor should visit Invercargill before leaving New Zealand. The man Paterson was this morning charged with being of unsound mind. A remand was granted until to morrow, to allow of medical evidence being adduced. BLUFF, Fed. 5. Mr Geo. W. Nichol Las boon elected to-day first Mayor of Campbell Town. He polled 64 and his opponent 19.