TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 39, 21 October 1871, Page 14

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Auckland, October 12. The jury on the inquest respecting the death of a man by the late boiler explosion recommended the appointment of an inspector of.boilers It would appear that in this case the boiler was not in a state fit for use. A great native tangi has been held at Riverhead on the body of Rewiti, Paul’s brother. The missing mail bag has been recovered unopened from the Ohinetnuri natives by Mr Puckey. Mr Lennox reports Caledonians, £125; Thames, £24 10s; Tookey’s, £32. October 14. Ohinemuri correspondents state positively that Te Hira has not only consented to the construction of the telegraph from Tauranga to Grahamstown, but that a large section of the natives have expressed a determination to open up the Upper Thames to diggers at once. The body of John Ferguson, fireman of the Weliington, was found floating in the Manukau. The deceased fell over Onehunga Wharf at night, when proceeding on board his vessel. Despatches from Opotiki report another engagement at Rotorua between Te Kooti, Mair, and Preece. None killed on either side. Major Porter, with eighty men, was to leave Opotiki on the 11th, to join Mair. . The Auckland farmers have altered their market day from Saturday to Friday. The Caledonian pumps have again broken down, and the shares are falling. Mr J. M. Lennox reports Caledonians, £117; Thames, £23 ; Nonpareils, firm £5 7s fid; Otago, £2 17s 6d; Shotover, lls. October 18. It is announced here from the “Sydney Morning Herald” that telegraphic communication with Europe by the Australian overland line will be established in January, 1872. Caledonians are quoted at £99 to

£IOO, Thames £22 10s, Central Italy £2 10s, Golden Harp, Coromandel, at 2s 6d to 3s, Moanaiairi £3 12s. JS. A. Cohen, auctioneer, died suddenly al the age of 28. Arrivals Frowning Beauty, and Briton, from Hewcastle. Hapier, October 14.

Mr Lyndon reports steers, two to three years, £2 5s to £3 17s 6d ; three years and upwards, £4 to £5 7s 6d; fat, £5 5s to £lO ; cows, £4 12s fid to £5 15s ; heifers, £1 lOs to £2 ; sheep unaltered. A burglary was committed in Robinson & Co.’s, drapers, last night, and £7O was stolen.

"Wanganui, October 14.

Mr R. S. Low reports fat cattle as scarce and firm at 20s per lOOlbs. Stores in demand at advanced prices. Fat half-bred wethers, 12s to 15s. Fat merinos, 7s to 9s. Good draught horses, £3O to £4O ; roadsters, £lO to £2O. Blenheim, October 14.

Gibson Brothers’ woolshed at Waipapa station, Clarence, has been again burned. It was partly insured, and incendiarism is suspected, although there is no trace of by whom. Greymouth, October .14.

A crowded meeting was held last night—the Mayor in the chair—to obtain an expression of opinion on the proposed Government measure to annex the Grey district to Helson. The following resolution, moved by Mr Smith and seconded by Mr Guinness, was carried unanimously : “ That the inhabitants of Greymouth consider an alteration of the boundary line an absolute necessity; and that they approve of the changes contemplated by the Government in the annexation of the Grey district.” Mr Hicol moved—“ That the County Chairman misrepresented that the inhabitants were averse to annexation, that the thanks of the meeting be conveyed to Mr Harrison, and that the Mayor be requested to forward the resolutions to Mr Vogel.” This resolution was also carried. Hokitika, October 18.

At a sale, yesterday, fat cattle of average quality realised £lO, and inferior, £7. Sheep from 103 6d to l Is. A coal company has been formed, and all the shares have been taken up. October 19. The following resolution was unanimously carried at a crowded meeting held at Kanieri last night, “ That this meeting protests against the dismemberment of the County, and is directly opposed to the proposal to unite a portion of Westland to the Province of Helson.—F. Dale, Chairman.” Timaru, October 17. A public meeting was held last night, in the Mechanics’ Institute, to consider the question of the Brogden contracts. There was a small attendance, and Mr Turnbull was the principal speaker. Resolutions were passed condemning the Brogden agreements, and a petition was got up for presentation to the General Assembly. Mr Woolcombe, Resident Magistrate, met with a buggy accident yesterday, near Geraldine. His collar bone is broken. Dunedin, October 14. The Coroner’s jury impute the deaths of the Chinese to the bad manner in which the vessel was found, and acquit the captain of all blame. At a public meeting at Roxburgh, strong resolutions have been carried condemnatory of (ho sale of land to Mr Clarke, and a petition was adopted to the Assembly praying that the sale might be declared illegal. Another resolution was carried calling on Mr Bradshaw to resign for traitorous conduct in not acquainting his constituents with the intentions of the Government.

A public meeting is to be held on Monday in reference to the Brogden contracts.

The usual fortnightly escort brought down 13,6600z5. There is no alteration in breadstuff's. Flour in better sale at £l3 10s ; bran, overstocked ; wheat, nothing doing—market very bare at 5s to 5s 3d ; oats, quiet at 2s Id to 2s 3d. October 17.

A meeting was held last night to consider the question of the Brogden contracts. The meeting was a crowded one, and the mayor presided. The speeches were poor. Messrs- Prosser, Hawkins, M‘Laren, of Wellington,

Cutten, Grant, and Barnes, were amongst the principal speakers. The following resolutions were carried:—

Ist. That in the opinion of this meeting the Brogden contracts are unfair, one-sided, and highly detrimental to the interests of the colony, especially in so far as they are uncertain, and the question of prices is left to be settled by agreement or arbitration, and this meeting deprecates the confirmation of the contracts by the Assembly. 2nd. That the principle of entrusting the construction of any public works to persons without public competition, is highly objectionable. 3rd. That plant and rolling stock could be more advantageously manufactured in the colony. 4th. That railways should be constructed by cash payments, and that, if it were found that the Brogden contract, were binding upon the colony, it would be less detrimental to its interests and more economical that the contract should be rescinded, and Mr Brogden compensated. The resolutions have been forwarded to his Excellency the Governor and the members of both Houses, by the Claud Hamilton. Creed v. Dalgetty, a great sheep case, has terminated, after ten days’ trial, in a verdict for the plaintiff. October 19. George Wells, a commission agent, late of Victoria, has poisoned himself with a dose of sulphate of zinc. The cause is said to be depression of spirits, caused by inability to obtain employment. At the inquest a verdict of temporary insanity was returned. Port Chalmers, October 19. Arrived at the heads—The Union, a French barque from Hong Kong. Sailed—At 2 p.m., the Ahuriri, for Napier via intermediate ports, and in the afternoon, the City of Newcastle barque, for Newcastle. Invergargill, October 19. The inquiry into the circumstances attending the late fire has extended over three days and terminated to-day. In the midst of the proceedings the Coroner announced that all questions should be put to him. The lawyers engaged on behalf of the Insurance Companies and the Bank of Otago protested against the irregularity of the proceedings, and ultimately left the Court. After three hours deliberation the jury returned the following verdict at 6 o’clock this morning :—“ The jury are of opinion that the fire commenced between the Bank of Otago and the store of Messrs Hunter and Hawkshaw, and they were also of opinion that the fire was first seen in the wall of the bank, but there is no evidence to show how it originated.’* Melbourne, Oct. 7. Result of the intercolonial conference. Two postal lines, Suez and San Francisco, £123,000, distributed between Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, pro rata to population. New Zealand allowed to join in agreement. Her quota would be £16,000. Provide own branch service. Mails to be fortnightly. A fracas occurred “ Under the Verandah” between Vowel and. Spargo, mining speculators. From argument they came to blows. The former was hurt internally by a fall, and is since dead. Rcsenevax, a pawnbroker, levanted to Fiji. His creditors and other dupes subscribed, and sent the steamer Balclutha to intercept and fetch him back. The murder of Ann Mariote is reported, but probably it is a case of suicide or a death resulting from a fit. Sydney, Oct. 6. Valuable tin ore is being obtained from Inver tell mines. The Goulburn Meat Preserving Co. have decided to suspend operations for the present. Sales of Tookey’s have been made at £37 10s. Adelaide, October 6, Bishop Shiell has excommunicated Sister Mary, Lady Superior, and Sister Saint Joseph. The reason is not given. Wheat, 4s 7jfl. Market quiet.