TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4407, 29 December 1875, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC.

|F£OM OCR OWN COBBESPOJTDENTS.]

Thames, Monday. Owisg to the rain the Friendly Societies' demonstration is postponed till Saturday. Frederick Haggar, of Tairua, went to bathe, and on diving from off the wharf, came in contact with the bottom o£ the creek, receiving such injuries about his neck that fears are entertained of his recovery. A messenger came in for medical assistance, and Dr. For went over this morning. The vessel built by Mr. Robert Stone, of Shortland, to be called the Ada, about 30 tons, will be launched at Thursday, at 9 a.m. The Foresters marched with banners, and escorted with music to St. George's Hall, where the soiree and dance will be well patronised this eveniug. Coromajtdbl, Monday. Nothing doing in the mines. The Kapanga resumes work next week. The races are postponed, the weather is abominable, the town full of miners, all miserable, and many of them "tight" in sheer debperation. At Mercury Bay a Maori has been killed by a half-caste in a quarrel at cards. The Maori was buried, and disinterred again to await an inquest. Tuesday. The Union Beach have commenced work, but nothing is shewing at present. The races to-day were a great snccess. There was a large number o£ people from all parts. A son of Mr. Fenton's was thrown in a hurdle race, bnt was not much injared. Alexandra, Monday. Last Friday afternoon S visited Pikia's settlement of Whatiwnatihoe. Twentyeight Hauhau chiefs and their wives from Kawhia were there. At sunset 1 attended the tareao karakia. Four priests and two priestesses prayed and chanted. The new form of Hauhau worship is good. They inToke the Almighty to pour down his blessings equally alike on the pakeha and Maori. After prayers I had a talk with them till midnight. The Alexandra races came ofF yesterday ; both jockeys and horses seemed to do their level best. The races were well contested. The Maiden Plate was won by Mr. Higginson's Larry Prince. Tu Tawhiao was present, and about 200 Earopeans and Maoris. At night a concert and ball was held in the Alexandra Hall, and was well patronised by a full house. Dancing was keyt up till the small hours of this morning.

[press agency.]

HORRIBLE AFFAIR. Wellington, Monday, 6.5 p.m. This morning a German, at McCready's Camp, Upper Hutt, wa3 accused of theft by one of his mates, upon wliich he struck his accuser down with an axe, and served three other men in the same manner. He then made for the bush and has not since been captured. One only of the four escaped with slight wounds; the other three were brought into the hosipital this afternoon, but two of them are not expected to live many hours. 7.50 p.m. Sapphire Maj is the name of the man who committed the murderous assault at Upper Hutt. One victim (William Paul) had his brains protruding from a fearful gash in his skulL Harry Young has his skull laid open and the jugular vein cut. William Leedle has eix terrible wounds, —the collavbone cut in two, and the thick part of the thigh cut into the bone. The Armed Police are out searching, Trith the people living in the neighbourhood, and the road is guarded. The assault was committed with an American axe, used for felling timber. Maj went to the tent and called Harry Young first, who, S3 he cane out, was struck down. The others were struck down as they came, one by one, oct of the tent. Maj was also armed witli a revolver, and, when he made off, he hid, the revolver and axe with him. ~ l Tuesday. AplS's music shop, Lambton-quay, was burned down about 4 o'clock this morning. The stock was insured for £400 in the Standard, and £400 in the Imperial, and the building for £400 in the Standard. The Talue of the stock destroyed is said to be about £1800. The origin of the fire is unknown. When first seen, the flames were issuing from a skylight in the roof of a house which was uninhabited. Sapphire Maj, the murderer, was caught in V"! bush yesterday, after running half a inii. vf'hen discovered he.gave in without resistant ; Te was brought up this morning, but was at sent off to the hospital to be identified by the dying men. The case svands adjourned. This afternoon a quantity or the Cook Straits cable, which had been coiled away under the Telegraph Office, was taken on board the Xuna. It is expected that the whole of it will be got on board to-morrow, and that a start will be made on Thursday. The cable stowed away seems to be in excellent condition, and strong hopes are entertained th&t the broken cable will be recovered. Patea, Tuesday. Mr. Ivera addressed a crowded meeting last night, and a vote of confidence was carried in his favour by 25 to 6. The candidate supports Abolition and the main policy of the present Government. He is supported on local grounds. Nelsojt, Tuesday. Beautiful day for regatta. Champion ■whaleboat race, five miles, Brown's Thistle ■ (Nelson crew), Ist; Wellington Club, Cure, 2nd; The Star of Titokowari (pulled by Nelson crew), 3rd. The Star Club pulled in the Colonist, bnt gave in after the first round. There was great excitement, the Wellington men being freely bucked. The Thistle took the lead from the start, and increased it throughout, winnicig by a minute and a-half t Palmmiston North, Tuesday. Honi Meihana (John Mason), an intelligent, cmliaed chief of the JEtangatikei tribe, is

offering himself for the Western Maori Electoral District. He will be opposed by Major Kemp and'the Hon. Wi Parata. A sharp contest is anticipated. : Grbymouth, Tuesday. I GRBYMOUTH RACES. The Trial Stakes were won by Nero, beating Cloth of Gold, who ran off the course about a hundred yards from the post The Midsummer Handicap was won by Nectar by half a neck, beating Tadmor and Septimus. Railway Stakes : Lanty, Ist; Tommy Dodd, 2nd; Black Eagle, 3rd. Oamabtj, Tuesday. At the nomination for the House o£ Representatives the shew of hands was: Hislop, 35 ; Schrimski, 30 ; O'Meagher, 24; W. J. Steward, 22. A fatal occurrence took piece at Kakanux. Several men were drinking at the hotel, when a dispute arose. Mr. Andrew Black attempted to prevent a quarrel between two men, when one McEvoy struck Black. He retaliated, striking McEvoy a heavy blow on the ribs and killing him instantly. Black bears the character of a quiet, inoffensive man. Port Chalmers, Tuesday. The nomination for the General Assembly took place on the 27th instant. About 300 persons were .present. The Hon. W. H. Reynolds and Mr. James Green were nominated, and, having addressed the electors, the show of hands was taken. The Returning Officer declared the show of hands to be —Mr. Green 42, and Mr. Reynolds 40. A poll was demanded by Mr. Reynolds, who has every chance of success. Ixvercaegill, Monday. The result of the poll for the election of a member to represent this place in the General Assembly is as follows : Lumsden, ISO; Cuthbertson, 150.