LAST NIGHT'S TELEGRAMS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 245, 14 October 1886, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S TELEGRAMS.

Wku,in(;ton, Octol>or 13. It is understood that Mr John Kerr, M. H. R., who bought Hooker's gas patent all over New Zealand for .CSOOO, has Ijcen offered that sum for the Auckland right alone. The patentee, who has met witli considerable opposition on various grounds, has succeeding in attracting favorable attention to his invention from the Government, who have consented to try it at the HeacliJ'c Asylum, where ordinary gas making' apparatus was to have been erected at a cost of .-C2OOU. A number of private people are beginning to use it lie re for houses which arc not supplied from the yas mains. Mr Hooper is now negotiating with the Jilenheim Corporation, to establish works for this light in the town on his. system. Mr Scott has returned to Ghristchurch after a number o£ lengthy interviews with the authorities on the subject of the Midland railway, in order to get the contract drawn up in accordance with the Act of last session. Everything will then be ready for a start. The charge againat Charles Cheymol, of having on the Ist February, 1886, or thereabouts, feloniously forged and uttered a certificate of deposit of the Queen's bond warehouso for ton casks of brandy, was resumed in the li.M. Court to-day. The accused was committed for trial, bail being allowed, himself ia £100 and two sureties of £200 each. The prosecuting counsel mentioned that the present charge was only one out of H separate forgeries, amounting in the aggregate to a large sum. Auckland, October 13. At the annual meeting of the South British Insurance Company, the attendance of shareholders was large, Captain Dally presiding. The Chairman moved, at the suggestion

of a shareholder, that the balance at the end of the year standing to debit of profit and loss account be written off the reserve fund, which would then be reduced to £86,500, and leave the account quite clear. The motion was unanimously adopted, and the Directors' report as amended was moved by the Chairman, seconded by Mr Barstow, and carried. Hon H. C. Chamberlain in a lengthy speech made many charges against the Directors as to they way they had managed the affairs. The statements were contradicted by other speakers, and on the motion of Mr J. Clarke, seconded by Mr Ralph Keising, a resolution was carried expressing regret that Mr Chamberlain had made statements which he had been unable to prove. A resolution was carried reducing the Directors' honorarium from £1400 to £700. Mr Compton moved that the retiring Directors, Messrs A. Buckland and Eichard Hobbs, be re-elected, but Messrs A. Buckland and David Goldie had the show of hands. A poll was demanded, resulting in the old Directors being re-elected —A. Bueldand, 33,150; Eichard Hobbs, 32,599 ; D. Goldie, 23,283 ; J. Elkin, 12,700. A vote of thanks to the Directors and Chairman was passed after a prolonged meeting. Chhistchuiich, Oct. 13. Tho Cant?rbury Cricket Aspociation i.aye decided to play with 22 men against the Australians, and declined to agree to the suggestions from the Wellington Association for representatives to play the Australians, or to hold North Island v. South Island matche?. Dunedin, October 13. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce waited on Mr Larnach to bring under his notice the desirability of establishing a monthly or bi-monthly steam service between Dunedin and the various settlements on the West Coast. The Minister promised to bring the matter before the Postmaster-General. He thought £2000 would be spent in establishing a service.