TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 45, 2 December 1871, Page 7

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Auckland, November 25. Markets, dairy cows, £5 to £8 12s ; yearlings, £2 lbs, to £3. Beef, 255, to 30s per 100 lbs. Fat sheep in good demand. Shorn stores, 10s Gd, to lis 9d. Fat sheep 14s to 20s. Lambs, 10s, to 17s. Store wethers in wool, 12s, to 15s 3d. The Tookeys have commenced to work from the Caledonia low level. The quotations to-day are £45 ;' Caledonians, £9O ; Central Italy, £2 15s; Thames, £l9. November 30, The Provincial Council opened yesterday. The Superintendent in his speech referred to the reduction of the Provinces Capitation Allowance. He said the £4OOO granted as a special allowance alone represented the amount of aid accruing to the province from the Colonial revenue, and no doubt this sura would be required next year to pay the interest upon money spent by the Colonial Government in the province under the Public "Works Act. He was happy to say that the scheme of public works submitted by"himself and Executive to the General Government, although not wholly adopted, was to a large extent embodied in the scheme of the Minister of Public Works. The Waikato and Kaipara railways were to be proceeded with, and the Government was pledged to spend £15,000 annually for four years in opening up the country at the north. He drew attention to the fact that the Auckland Harbor Board Act could only be made operative by the Council foregoing its claims upon the revenues of the Board for interest on the provincial loan. He congratulated them upon the prosperity of the Thames goldfield; and thought there was a good prospect of Ohinemuri being opened up at an early date. The expenditure on the Thames had exceeded the appropriations. He had endeavored to secure the co-operation of the Colonial Government in securing the freehold of the auriferous land on the foreshore, and he hoped to sueceed. The trigonometrical survey of the province was being proceeded with. Bills affecting roads, highways, licensing, education, and educational reserves would be introduced. The financial position of the province was satisfactory. There is great excitement about Tookey's shares. A party of speculators chartered the Cooraerang, and left for Sydney last night to try and buy up shares. The shares yesterday rose from £3O to £4O, and stood to-day at £42 10s. The City Council loan of £20,000 at 6 per cent has been floated at parIt is secured on a special Gd rate. Caledonians, £9O ; Thames, £l9 ; Shotover, Bs. An amended Licensing Bill has been introduced into the Provincial Council simplifying the permissive clause, by making one signature a sufficient attestation "to the signatures to a petition It also increases the wholesale license fee to £3O. The Multum in Parvo case has been decided against the jumpers. Share market Caledonians £9O ; Tookey's, £42 10s ; Inverness, 325. Napier, November 25. The Napier Rifle Club has just fired a match with the Greymouth Hangers 400, and 600 yards. The Napier total is 371. November 27. Kereopa was placed in the gaol here at 9 o'clock this morning. He inime. diately cut his throat with a razor, which he had concealed on entering the gaol. The turnkey interrupted him by knocking him down. Doctors were promptly in attendance, and sewed up the wound. They say he will recover, although he has lost a good deal of blood. . A reward of £I,OOO has been paid to Ropata for his capture of Kereopa. Wanganui, November 25. Cattle market—Grown steers, £3 to £3 10s ; heifers, £2 to £2 10s. Two and -three-Year-old steers, 40s to 50s; yearlings, 90s. Fat sheep are in good demand, and prices are ruling high. Horses—Good draught, £3O to £4O; medium, £l2 to £2O ; roadsters, £l2 November 28. The Luna arrived in the Wanganui

River at 9 a.m., and was met by two Maori war canoes, fully manned, and Mete Kingi, in his general's uniform, epaulets and belltopper. At the wharf his Excellency was welcomed by Aperama, Topia, Kawana, Paipai, and others. The volunteers mustered strongly, and the detachment of the Wellington Artillery Volunteers having lauded from the Luna, fired a salute as the Governor stepped ashore. Mr Williamson, the Chairman of the Town Board, read an address from the board, and his Excellency replied, contrasting the present peaceful condition of Wanganui with its state during the period of native disturbances. His Excellency was loudly cheered. A brilliant carriage and four, with postillions, had been provided, but as the horses were restive, the Governor and Lady Bowen preferred to walk in the procession to the Rutland Hotel, where apartments had been provided for them. November 29. The Governor last night attended a very successful amateur dramatic performance. Today he opened the bridge. The various volunteer corps assembled at eleven o'clock, and the procession crossed the bridge in the following order :—Wanganui Cavalry, Veteran Volunteer Band, Marton Band, Drum and Fife Band, Marton Cavalry, Rangitikei Cavalry, Aramoho Cavalry, Alexandra Cavalry, Veteran Volunteers, Marton Cadet Corps, Militia Officers, Governor's carriage, Turakina Cavalry, Fire Brigade with engine, Reception Committee, citizens and Maori chiefs. Opposite the grand stand an address from the Bridge Committee was read by Mr W. H. Watt. The Governor replied. Major Kemp then read an address from the natives, to which his Excellency also replied. The procession then crossed the bridge, countermarched, and recrossed, halting on the bridge while a photograph was taken. The procession then proceeded to the Rutland Hotel, where the Governor thanked the volunteers and congratulated the contractor on the completion of his magnificent work. Cheers were then given for the Queen, the Governor, Lady Bowen, the contractor, and the bridge. A levee was held at.two o'clock, and to-night there will be a ball. November 30. The ball to the Governor last night was very largely attended. Nelson, November 25. The Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court closed yesterday. There were six cases. H. N. Firth, innkeeper at Canvasstown, Marlborough, accused of felonious assault with firearms, having fired a gun at a violent digger, named Quinlan, who was trying to batter in his door with stones, was found not guilty. David Henderson Murdoch was charged with the same offence, but was tried separately. Firth gave evidence admitting he had fired the gun, and that Murdoch had struck Quinlan. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, but that the prisoner was justified in what he did. The Judge held this to be a verdict of not guilty. Quinlan was then charged with escaping from custody while serving a sentence passed by the magistrate at Westport. Exception was" taken by his counsel, that the convicting magistrate had acted ultra vires in having passed a sentence of three months' imprisonment for an offence punishable only by two months imprisonment. Theobjecdon wassustained, and Quinlan acquitted. J. Homan, a lad in the Post-office, Havelock, charged with opening letters and inserting in them slips containing indecent expressions, was found guilty, and received a sentence of six months. James Cook, horse-stealing, Marlborough, was convicted, and sentenced to three years. William Thompson, charged with having set fire to Messrs Gibson Brothers' wool shed, Kaikoura, was acquitted. In charging the Grand Jury, his Honor Mr Justice Richmond said that, with regard to the system of grand juries, he did not mean to say that it could not be advantageously modified so as to bring the judges into more intimate relations with the whole common jury panel, and so preserving the real advantages derivable from the institution ; but he hoped the law would never be altered so as to prevent the Court

meeting the principal men of the community face to face Greymouth, November 30. Mr Harrison, M.H.R., met his constituents last night. There was a large attendance. At the close of his speech, an address was presented to him, on behalf of his constituents, and on the eve of his departure for Wellington. It thanked him for the services he had rendered them in Parliament during the last four years, and expressed confidence in him for the future. Hokitika, November 28. Cassius's claim, at Ross, still continues to yield splendid returns, 410 ozs having been taken out during the last fortnight. Christchuuch November 25. Produce market—Wheat, 3s lOd to 4s 3d. Flour is unchanged and stocks are heavy. Oats, 2s 6d to 3s. No sales of barley are reported. Butter is plentiful at 4|d to scl. Hams and bacon are in better request at 7d to 7|d. Cheese continues to be a drug at 3d to 3-i-d. A match with 12-pounder Armstrong guns between detachments of the Christchurch Volunteer Artillery and the crew of the Basilisk, was won by the latter by ten points. Lyttelton, November 27. The three-masted schooner Rifleman is supposed to be lost. She left here for Havelock on the 10th, and was seen in the Straits during the heavy gale. She has not since been heard of. Dunedin, November 25. The produce markets is firm and quiet Flour, reliable brands, £l3. Wheat is becoming scarce, and there are few transactions. Prime lots are worth ss. Oats are dull at Is lOd to 2s. November 27. The Rowing Club is building a new boat forty feet in length to compete at the Christchurch regatta. A meeting of the Dock Trust was held to-day, when a letter was read from the contractors refusing to accept the terms offered by the Trust, and gesting a reference to arbitration. This the Trust declined, and determined to go to law. Six men have arrived at Queenstown overland from Martin's Bay, after a journey in which they suffered many privations. They state that the present population of the Bay is twenty souls, and that no vessel has called there for three months and a half, There was when they left only 300 lbs of flour in the place, and unless immediate supplies are sent the.population must starve. They say the climate is splendid and healthy, and that the mining prospects are good. A Chinaman has been shot by Europeans at Naseby, but no particulars of the outrage have been received. The reefs in the>Carrick Ranges are exciting a great deal of attention. Several very promising new reefs have been opened up, and the following are the results of some trial crushings. 200 oz from 100 tons stone; 173 oz from 101 tons stone ; 255 oz from 242 tons stone. November 28. The body of Miss Currie, the late teacher of the West Taieri School, who disappeared two months ago, has been found in Scrogg's Creek, four miles distant from where her footsteps were traced to. The Inter-Provincial Cricket Match Committee, last night, decided that it was unaclvisable to play the match until the beginning of February. On Sunday morning, at St Bathan's, a Chinaman was discovered stealing gold from Swing's tail race. The watchman gave chase, and _ captured him, tying his legs with his pigtail while he went for assistance. The Chinaman got loose, and Ewing, seeing men scuffling, fired, wounding him in three places. The Chinaman is now in a dangerous state, and not expected to recover. Ewing has been admitted to bail. Mr D. F. Main's home station, Upper Taieri, was destroyed by fire on Sunday morning. It is insured in the New Zealand Office for £450. November 30. The man Ewing has been committed for trial for firing at the Chinaman. Bail was accepted. The Chinaman was charged with robbing the race, and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.

To-day, being St. Andrew's day, has been observed as a close holiday. The rain this morning, however, interfered a good deal with the sports. Port Chalmers, November 27. The body of a seaman who was drowned in the harbor on the 10th inst, was to-day found two miles outside the heads. November 30. The Samson proceeded to the wreck of the Ahuriri early this morning, and found the vessel broken in halves. The only portion of the after part visible was the boiler. The fore part was found listed on the broadside to the port side, on a rock with five feet of water over it at low water. All around there was from three to four fathoms of water. The wreck was nine cables' length from shore. Bluff, November 27. Husfh Blockmore, a, shepherd, has been missing since Saturday night, and is supposed to have committed suicide by drowning himself in the harbor. Melbourne, November 18. In Parliament there have been lengthy discussions on the railway guages. A measure for the protection of telegraphic messages from piracy is before the House, and will probably pass. The Houses are expected to be prorogued in a few days. A banquet to the Ministry took place in the Town Hall. Six hundred were present. The result of the inquiry into the wreck of the Loch Leven is an opinion that there was neglect of navigation on the part of the captain. The certificates have been returned to the officers. A man, named Chute, murdered his wife near Benalla. Two swagsmen saw the deed without interfering. The supposed cause is jealousy. Chute escaped, but was subsequently arrested. The death of Bishop Patteson was improved in all the Churches. The trial of Gerary and his wife, for the murder of Woodhouse at Collac, in 1854, is proceeding. Hob art Town, Nov. 18. Dr Brownell is dead. The Treasurer has announced his intention to introduce a bill to reduce the salary and allowances of the future Governor. Lyster's Opera Troupe have opened at the theatre. Sydney, Nov. 18. Bennett is acquitted of the charge of flogging a seaman. Bailey, a Roman Catholic priest, has been convicted of illegally marrying minors, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment and a fine of £SO. The Customs revenue for the month shows an increase of a thousand. The Governor, in opening Parliament, expressed his belief that the colony had entered on a period of great prosperity. The Nebraska is docked, and will not proceed to Melbourne. Adelaide, Nov. 18. An overland mail bag being lost, has caused great inconvenience. There are conflicting statements in the accounts of the crops. Little is doing in wheat. A proposal has been introduced to pay members of Parliament £2 per day for the session of eighty days, and free transit by rail and coach.