NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5999, 8 February 1881, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

[FROM OUR CO'X CORRESPONDENT.] THAMES, Monday. Mrs. Hampson commenced her evangelistic services here last night, in the Academy of Music. The building was crowded in every part. A large number had to retire without being able to get in. The building is full aj.iin to-night. A large number of visitors will go from here to Te Aroha races on Wednesday. Sir Julius Vogel's prize was presented to the successful scholar at the High School this afternoon. In the contest for this prize, the two first essays were considered of equal merit, and the Governors consequently present another prize similar to Sir J. Vogel's. The winners were Miss Watkin and Master Burns. DUNEDIN, Monday. It is rumoured here that the principal object of Major Atkinson's last visit to Dunedin was to make arrangements in the interests of economy for the removal of the Public Works Department from Dunedin to Wellington. This has been officially contradicted. Mr. Joseph Farra Jones, formerly of the Wainui Hotel, recently of the Grand Pacific, Ocean Beach, is supposed to have committed suicide this morning. Deceased has been in monetary difficulties, and it is supposed this preyed on his mind, and caused him to commit suicide. He could not have been in bed much last night. At all events he was seen on the balcony of the hotel at 5 o'clock this morning. A plasterer named Louis Rother states that about 6 a.m. he proceeded along the Queen's Drive to the beach, and getting near the water's edge, he saw a man's body being beaten about by the breakers, a short distance from the shore. On looking about him, he saw some clothing lying about fifty yards further up the beach. He then became frightened, and withoiit making any attempt to recover the body, proceeded to the Kensington Police Station, and reported the matter. Rother states that he was' sure it was a dead body, and it was that that frightened him. Constable Dudley, on proceeding to the place, found some letters in the coat pocket addressed to " Joseph F. Jones," and the clothing on being taken to the hotel was indentified by Mrs. Jones as that of her husband. The deceased leaves a wife and two grown up daughters. His life was insured in the Government Insurance Office for £1000, but it is understood that his policy was in arrears. The body has not been recovered. The Otago Acclimatisation Society disclaim the responsibility for the introduction of sparrows, whose destruction of grain crops is loudly complained against by farmers, and as the greenfinches are equally troublesome the society appear to think that the damage by those to the grain is counterbalanced by their destruction of insects and grubs during part of the year. Prior to the introduction of English small birds, it was impossible to grow barley owing to the ravages of caterpillars. [united press association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday. The first stone of the new harbour works was laid to-day by Mr. F. Carrington, late Superintendent of the province. The position of the new harbour is about two miles from Devon street, and the most sheltered of the whole beach frontage. The preliminary expenses have amounted to £SO,OOO. This includes plant, &c. Out of this £-10,000 have been spent in the excavations and men's wages. About 120 men have been kept constantly employed since the commencement. It is anticipated that the present loan of £200,000 will not nearly perfect the works, and a new amount must be raised. Only £120,000 of the loan remains to be expended, but this will be swallowed -up soon. Fortunately, there is magnificent stone at hand. It is as hard as granite, and on this account thousands of pounds will be saved. WANGANUI, Monday. A man named Dias was killed to-day by the accidental capsize of a dray. WELLINGTON, Monday. The inquest on the fire at which three 1 children were burned to death revealed nothing. A verdict of accidentally burned, with a rider calling on the Corporation to erect a firebell which has been lying on the ground near for many months. The police have received a telegram last night stating that the stabling at the Marquis of Normanby Hotel, Carterton, was destroyed by fire on Saturday night, and that an attempt had been made to fire the hotel. The stable and coach-house destroyed at Carterton arc insured for £300. One horse was burnt. The hotel and public hall were saved with difficulty. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, the charges against the three men for playing with games of chance on the racecourse were dismissed. GREYMOUTH, Monday. The Golden Fleece Extended, for 7A days' crushing, obtained 2530z5. of amalgam from 175 tons of quartz; the United Alpine (Lyell), 1450z8. of amalgam from 82 tons of quartz. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. A house in Sydenham was burned down this morning. It was insured in the Sun Office for £150. On June 4 last, a son of Dr. Rouse, of Lyttelton, in getting off the tram-car, fell and had his leg broken by the carriage wheel. The case was brought in the District

Court to-day, by the father suing the company for £200 damages. Witnesses for the plaintiff swore that the guard told the boy to jump off while the tram-car was in motion. The guard denied this. Tiie engine-driver's evidence as to the train stopping was contradicted point blank. Judgment was civen for plaintiff for £100. Dr. Rouse said" the lad was laid up for three months, and had never recovered his memory perfectly. __ At the annual meeting of the Canterbury bale Yards Coinp.my the profit, after paying ;> per cent, dividend for the half-vear, "was shown to be £4SS 3s Id. At the inquest on the body of the -jirl Eager, killed atLyttelton by a" stone rolling down the hillside, a verdict of accidental death was returned. A couple of men were charged with spearing fish m the Avon. The cases were test - eases to show the illegality of using such weapons, and a conviction "being secured in one instance no penalty was pressed for. William Eckin, S-t years of age, attempted suicide in the river Heathcote yesterday, but was rescued. DUXEDIN, Monday. Lectures on " Cooking " will be delivered free to all girls attending the Duncdra schools on Saturday next. In connection with the application for the discharge of a debtor at the Supreme Court this morning, Justice Williams made some important remarks affecting the operations of the Land Act. He said that when the deferred payment holders had a section which was likely to produce good crops', the Legislature did not intend that a bankrupt should reap the benefit of the crop and become a rich man at the expense of his creditors. The application was adjonrned till the result of the crop was ascertained, so that a compromise might be effected with his creditors. At the City Court, Thompson, of the Racecourse Hotel, was fined iT> for permitting throwing for drinks with dice in a licensed house. INVERCARGILL, Monday. Mr. Thomas Spurgeon, son of the wellknown preacher, was a passenger by the steamer from Melbourne to-day. The Hon. T. Dick, Colonial Secretary, who represented New Zealand in the recent Intercolonial Conference in Sydney, returned in the s.s. Rotomahana to-day. The Colonial Bank intend to erect brick offices here, having secured a capital site near the Government Buildings.