"EXPRESS" TELEGRAMS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XI, Issue 877, 20 December 1876, Page 5

"EXPRESS" TELEGRAMS.

London, Dec. 14. At the first Conference of the Representatives of the European Powers held on Dec. 12, at Constantinople, General Ignatieff, the Russian envoy, was elected President. A conciliatory disposition was manifested on all sides. The proceedings were conducted with closed doors.

The French Ministry has been remodeled with radicals. M. Simon as Premier and Minister of the Interior, M. Martha as Minister of Justice ; and the other members of the Ministry remain the same.

A serious disagreement lias occurred between Pre iclent Mncmahon and the Representatives on the Left.

London,' Dec. 18. A full conference of the Great Powers is to take place at Stamboul next week. ' The English Government have received a despatch from Villazet, on the Danube, to the effect that Russian agents are enticing the Bulgarians to send a deputation to Stamboul to solicit Russia's occupation of their provinces. ' Sydney, Dec. 10. The City of Sydney sailed yesternight. Sydney, Dec. 18. The weather for the last three days has been intensely hot m some parts of the country where the thermometer ranged from 130 to 140 degrees m the shade. Intercolonial telegrams report similar temperature and a number of deaths from sunstroke. The Government have requested the colonies and New Zealand to consent to a cable conference m Sydney instead of Melbourne or Launceston. An Adelaide telegram states that the schooner Postboy capsized m a squall off Glenelg. Six passengers and the crew were drowned. The mate was rescued after being seven hours m the water. Sydney, Dec. 13. The Northern' District twenty were all put out for 31. The Englishmen are taking their second innings, and have two wickets down for one run. Arrived — s.s. Albion. Dec. 14. Arrived : Hero. Sailed : Wakatipu, yes- | terday. I The vote of censure against the Govern- ; ment was negatived. Melbourne, Dec. 19. , The Barb and Melbourne have been scratched for the Melbourne Champion Race. ■The new steamer Kent from London has arrived after being fifty-three days out.

Wellington, Dec. 16. The Gazette to-day publishes an order m Council prohibiting absolutely the importation to New Zealand from fifteenth April next and for the following two yeai'3, any cattle, sheep, or swine from Great Britain, Ireland, or the continent of Europe.

The wharf committee of the City Council agreed at a meeting yesterday to an expenditure of L 20.000 upon improvement and ex-

tension of the wharii according to a plan which has been approved by the p'nblic Works Department. The City Surveyor was instructed to prepare th« necessary specifications and advertise for tenders for the proposed ivork'as speedily as possible. WELLINGTON, Dec. 3.(!. The Wellington Font's Dnnedin covrespondent telegraphs the following English items received by the Suez mail : — Sir fGarnet Wolsey leaves the War Office to enter the Indian Council. General Airoy Las boon 'raised" to the peerage. The sentence of five years penal servitude on Count Von Arnim. produced a great shock throughout England. A formidable conspiraej' m Spain has b3en discovered. One hundred and twenty-six persons, including 18 generals were arrested. Earl Norfchcote meets Parliament as first Lord of the Treasury ; Hunt as Chancelloi\ The Western Australian Government steamer Georgette has been wrecked off Kalyap. Twenty-five persons are missing. Wellington, Dec. 19. The acceptances for the Wellington Cup and Derby will close at the Empire Hotel, on Friday the 22nd inst., at 8 p.m. Tenders will shortly be called for making the following additions to the wharf : — To widen the main wharf to the extent of 22 feet along its whole length, to widen the middle T by eleven feet on the east side, and lengthen it sixty feet at the North end, and 260 feet at the South end. " Auckland, Dec. 1(5. The entries for the races are thirty-two. Acceptances for Steeplechase include all entered. Walters accepted m Derby with Fanny Fisher Colt, and entered same m Maiden Plate, Publican's Purse,' and Auckland Plate. The other acceptances for the Devbj' are Aerolite, Danebury and Middleton. There is n considerable number of nominations for thp County Council m the suburbs. Auckland, Dec. 18. A settler named Martin Curtain living m the Araremu district beyond Papakura has been anested on a charge of murdering a neighbour named Dennis Shanaghan. Bad blood was known to have subsisted between them for some time. On Saturday night Curtain came into Papakura looking for the clerk of the Court with the object he said, of laying and information against Shanaghan for a breach of the peace. Shanaghan did not return home on Saturday night, and Ms wife went m search for him. On Sunday she found him lying dead m Curtain's paddook with severe wounds about bis head. Curtain was then arrested. His version of the story is that they had a quarrel about cattle and Shanaghan attacked him with a stick. An affray ensued, and Shanaghan was knocked down. No one witnessed the quarrel. The mmdered man leaves a young wife and child.

Auckland, Dec. 18

Arrived, the Jessie Henderson, from Levuka. She brings news to the 29th November.

Governor Gordon delivered an important speech at Suva on the 23rd, m which he reviewed the condition and prospects of the Colony. After observing that lie had boen right m warning them not to expect immediate improvement after the establishment of jthe new form of government, he added that he fully expected that during the next year the tide would turn, and happier clays would commence, m spite of all drawbacks the estimates of revenue and expenditure would be nearly i-ealised. The amount received under the Native Taxes Ordinance had been much larger than ever,- and st the same time had been loss expensively collected. In reference to the Lands Titles Enquiry, complaints had been made of the slowness with which the work was performed. He thought these complaints were exaggerated, for the Commissioners had worked zealously and had desided over three hundred cases m as many days. A great deal of unmeaning language had been used respecting the Ordinance, which provided that all sums advanced by the Crown for laborers' wages and passage money, should be made a first charge on the lands on account of which it had been incurred. He called attention to the unreasonableness of the dissatisfaction at the Government opposing its own terms m regard to loans which it was under no obligation to advance ; besides SirH. Robinson had publicly notified such an intention soon after the Islands became a Crown Colony. A large portion of the address was devoted to the difficulties attending getting labor. Both Coolies and Polynesians, although suitable, were too expensive, an-'l Fijian labor while m any case insufficient m amount was further restricted by social and political considerations which forbade depopulating the Country districts. He proposed to ask the sanction of the Imperial Government to raise a loan to be applied partly to the introduction of immigrant labor and partly to advances •to facilitate agricultural operations, and to establish sugar manufacture on a sound principle, and a large scale. As to the question of the seat of Government four localities had been submitted to the Imperial Government, namely, Levuka, Suva, Savu Savu, and Nadi. lie believed the choice would rest between the first three. In conclusion he said his policy was one which regarded the Colony and its inhabitants as a whole, and as such was likely to seem tame and cold to those whose thoughts, hopes, and passions were engaged m one particular object. He hoped that theislanters and settlers would take every opportunity of personally conferring witlr him

on matters of importance to the Colony. Auckland, Den. 19. Further particulars of tlio Ararimu murder show that t.hreo years ago Unrca n brought an action against the nmnlered ui.i.i and got worsted, and his grass seed had to be seized. This caused a grudge, and about a week ago ho said to Mrs Shanagan " Yon will not have him loiv/. " Onvtain's statement to the police is that he met Shauaghan who said, " Come and sec me burn your house down ;" • that they then fought, he getting the better of Shanaghan, wlio said " You've -done enough, Curtain, let me up now." Curtain refused, and tied Shanaghan to a stump with a half -inch rope, with his hands behind his back, and then rode into Papakura to get a warrant, which was refused. Upon returning on Monday morning he went by candle light and cut away the cords binding ; the body. . Drops of candle grease wei*e. found on the trousers of the man, and a piece of sperm candle was m Curtain's pocket when he was arrested. When Shanaghan's wife was looking for her husband she asked Curtain where he was ; and he said "He is lying down where he got his deserts." Shanaghan appears to have struggled desperately to free himself, the rope having cut into the wrist and the stump he was tied to. One of the marks on his skull was made by a sharp instrument,' and an axe was found m the ashes of a fire m Curtain's house, with the handle burnt off.

Napier, Dec. 19. At the Supreme Court John Langham, convicted of the manslaughter of his wife, was sentenced to twenty years penal servitude. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter m its most serious aspect, the prisoner having kicked his wife about the head until all the muscles became a pulp. She died four days afterwards. In the case of the Colonial Bank against Withey, an action for £200 on a promissory note, a verdict was given for plaintiffs.

There is 'considerable excitement m the country districts about the county elections.. There appears to have been ( a. bungle between the Government and Returning Officers as to the number of seats for. the Ridings, and m one case the Returning Officer has declared two candidates who were nominated to be elected, because the Gazette gave the riding two scats, while a telegram from the Government said that there was only one seat. The Returning officer declined to act upon the telegram as against a Gazette proclamation. Another case' of the kind has occurred, but the Returning officer has not declared the persons nominated; to be elected. There is also a bungle as to the plurality of votes. Some of the Returning officers will only allow one vote and others allow lip to seven m accordance with the Provincial Highways Act. Pour Chalmers, Dec. 20. Sailed — Invercargill for London, with 22 passengers and 4013 bales -wool, 113 casks and 5 packages, valued at £113,380. Arrived — Union Compan's steamer Rotorua, from Glasgow, m sixty days. Christchurch, Dec. 18. The anniversary proceedings on Saturday were very successful. During the interval m the races the Hon. John Hall presented Mr Rolleston, ex-Superintendent, with a testimonial of . plate and money, value eight huudred pounds. Great enthusiasm was shown by the people. In the evening the Fire Brigade had a torchlight procession and there was a great display of fireworks. Inveruargill, Dec. 16. The Junction Hotel, a large building containing iip wards of 13 rooms, bar, &&or. r situated 4£ miles from Invercargill is totally destroyed by lire. A story connected with the affair is a very sad one. The hotel belonged to Mrs Ott whose husband died about a year ago leaving all the property to his wife. During the last two months it became known that Mrs Ott was about to marry again, when the relatives of the family inteiv f sred, and insisted that she should make over the property to the children ; five boys. For some time back Mrs Ott has shown evident symptoms of insanity ; she was taken to reside a few days with her uncle at Longbush, but has never been placed under strict surveillance. Her friends succeeded m persuading her to transfer her property to the children. Since then the ardour of the man who wanted to marry her somewhat cooled. The Hotel has been m the market lately for lease, and yesterday a party went to inspect it. Mrs Ott was evidently averse to leaving the place and this no doubt preyed upon her mind. This morning between six and seven o'clock, she went up stairs and deliberately set fire to several rooms, then came down stairs, took one of the boys into her own room, set tire to it and locked the door ; only a man servant and a maid servant were on the premises. The man went up stair« to extinguish the fire, and not seeing Mrs Ott went to look for her. With great presence of mind he broke into her room, and got her and the boy out with difficulty. The place was quickly all m a blaze, and although several neighbors wore soon on the spot, only about £100 worth of furniture was saved. The buildings were insured m the National for £500, furniture £300, stock £100. The National re-insured with the Royal £300 furniture and £100 stock.

Melbourne, Dec. 13. <: The following news has been received per I^ihgarooma : — ■The Government having withdrawn their

Railway Bill the session will close before Christmas.

The Government, m conjunction with New South Wales, will ask for the services of an eminent en^inaev to report on defence. Some Ballarat firemen are on board the Ringarooma to attend the competition m New Zealand.

A terrible murder has been committed at Mornington. Ann Hastings, a married woman, was found dead, with her skull battered m. Her husband has been arrested. An axe covered with blood and human hair was found close to the house. The first match with the English eleven takes place here on Boxing Day. The local team is not yet chosen.

The markets are quiet, but prices are fullysustained. Company's sugars, brandies and other articles have been largely operated on lately.