TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 68, 11 May 1872, Page 14

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Auckland, May 4. A public meeting of merchants was held to-day to consider the steps to be taken in consequence of the dissatisfaction expressed at Messrs Shaw, Saville and Go’s mode of conducting the New Zealand business. It was resolved to form a Freight Company for the whole of New Zealand, and to charter vessels for the New Zealand trade. A prospectus will be issued shortly. The Government intend introducing the Customs Drawbacks Bill on a liberal scale. The Chamber of Commerce is preparing local information on the subject for the guidance of the Government. Jones has the contract for removing the Fort Britomart structure, and the men are now employed upon it. M.ay 6. Mr Vogel was offered a dinner by the citizens, but declined it. The rumoured strike amongst the workmen at Fort Britomart is incorrect. The only foundation for the report is the fact that a reduction will take place in the number of hands in consequence of a change in the work. | 7.38 p.m. The herald of a special messenger from the Maori King to his Excellency the Governor is on his way to Auckland. The messenger following him will be the bearer of an urgent request to his Excellency to attend the great nati\e meeting at Waikato. May 8. The body of a boy named Webbson has been found floating in the harbor, with fishing tackle in his pocket. Messrs Ward and Gellion report the market depressed ; leading stocks somewhat declined —Caledonian, £lB 10s to £l9 ; Moanatairi, £4 15s; sellers Tokatea, £3 5s to £3 7s 6d ; Nonpareil, 97s 6d, 95s ; Thames, £5 to £5 3s 6d ; All Nations, £3 15s ; Otago, 27s 6d, 30s ; Cure, 30s, 32s 6d ; Harbor View, 208 ; Bed Queens, ss, 4s 9d ; Bismarks, 62s 6d. The Rangatira sailed to-night with nine pi’isoners from the Mount Eden gaol for confinement in the Dunedin gaol. Two wardens and two policemen accompany them. Wanganui, May 4. His Honor Mr Justice Johnston gave a Shaksperian reading last night in aid of the Church Parsonage Building Fund. The entertainment was a great success. The Commissioners in the Waitotara Compensation case here stopped taking any further evidence towards the criminal charge made against Colonel Whitmores. May 7. John Anderson, charged with stealing from the person, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment. Patrick Duffy was acquitted on a charge of stabbing a policeman. william Ryan, for robbery at Wanganui, and stealing, was sentenced to twelve months. Peina, a native, for forgery, was sentenced to eighteen months. Harvey Thompson, charged with embezzlement of public funds, was acquitted. The Grand Jury threw out the bills against M‘Coy for murder and manslaughter ; and against James Edmonds for subornation of perjury. The calendar is finished. Nelson, May 8. The races here to-day were very successful. The weather was favorable, and there was a large attendance.

Distance, three miles. Sailor Boy was nowhere, owing to his continually baulking. ladies’ PUItSE. Slander ... ... 1 Black Eagle ... ... 2 Mystery ... ... 3 Black Hawk ... ... 0 Distance, one mile and a quarter. Slander came in with hands down; Eagle whipping hard. Time, 2min gOsec. The second heat of the Ladies’ Purse resulted as follows : Slander ... ... 1 Eagle ... ... ... 2 Slander won easily, Hawk being a bad third. May 4. There was a thin attendance at the races, and the course was heavy. TOWN PLATE. This was a two -mile race, and was won easily by Peeress in 4 minutes 4 seconds. Flying Jib came in second. CRITERION. A three quarter mile race. Awatea ran first, Lacenfeed second, and Peeress a bad third. Time—l minute 26 seconds. STOKE HANDICAP. A mile race. Slander, 1.; Peeress, 2 ; Black Eagle, 3. CONSOLATION. Black Eagle, 1; Mystery, 2 ; Black Hawk, 3 ; Fides, 4. The Lyttelton was unable to tow in the wreck of the Ocean Bird to tliis port owing to the state of the weather. A second attempt will be made. May 7. The wreck of the Ocean Bird was towed in last night. The masts were carried away on the bar. The hull has been righted. There are no bodies on board. May 8. We are indebted to the Collector of Customs for the following telegram : The Ocean Bird is now in Nelson Harbor. The bedding and clothes are all out. The foremast appears to have been cut down about 12ft above the deck. The steamer Murray reports seeing a dingey, painted white, about three miles westward of the Sandspit Lighthouse, the crew supposed to have left her. The steamer Lady Barkley will arrive from Golden Bay to-morrow, and will inform you if anything is beard respecting them. Charleston, May 7. A miner named Devine has been found dead in his bed at Brighton. At an inquest on the body thejury returned a verdict of “ died from natural causes.” Another miner named Callaghan had his collar bone broken by falling into a pit. He has been removed to the hospital. • May 9. To-day was held as a close holiday, all offices.and places of business being closed, and the whole toVrn decorated with flags. There were thanksgiving services in all the churches, though the Gazette with the proclamation did not reach here till last night. Hokitika, May 7. A crowded public meeting was held last night at the Town Hall, relative to the construction of the road hence to Reefton. A resolution was carried that the General Government be memorialized to recommend the Assembly to appropriate from the Loan Fund a sum of money sufficient to construct a road from the thirty-second mile-post on the Christchurch road, through Bell, to join the Reefton road to Abaura at Napoleon’s. The co operation of the Canterbury Government with the memorialists is to be sought. Greymouth, May 6. In consequence of the action of the. Superintendent in cutting down some leases, and refusing to grant others, a great indignation meeting has been-held at Reefton, when a resolution was passed asking the General Government to withdraw the delegated powers from the Superintendent, and take over charge of the South-west Goldfields. May 8. A cargo of potatoes ex 10, from Wainambool, was sold at the wharf to-day, at from £6 10s to £7 per ton. Lyttelton, May 6. The plank picked up at Lismere and supposed to have been a portion of the wreck of the ship Harvest Home bound to Liverpool, is now believed to be a piece of lumber thrown overboard, after

the vessel left port. The pilot says he saw the ship thirty miles off the land under a full sail breeze. May 7. Arrived—The ship Dover Castle, from London, with Government immigrants. The vessel cleared all well, and there has been no sickness on the passage. Christchurch, May 3. There are active inquiries for wheat. 4s 4d is freely offered, but there is very little in the market. Flour, £ll 15s to £ 13. Oats are moving more freely at Is lOd. Barley is badly wanted, and 5s is offered for superior samples. Provisions are unaltered in price. May 9. To-day was kept as a general holiday throughout the province, and special thanksgiving services for the recovery of the Prince of Wales were held in the churches of all denominations. The volunteers also paraded, and a special service was performed by the regimental chaplain. Timaru, May 8. The Makikihi Hotel on the South Road was entirely destroyed by fire this morning. There was scarcely anything saved. The premises were insured in the New Zealand Company’s office for £650. Dunedin, May 3. Flour is very firm at £l2; wheat is in good demand at 4s 9d, stocks being light; oats are plentiful,'but there is no demand : milling, Is Id ; feeding, Is 9d; malting barley is firmer at ss. May 4. A committee has been appointed to prepare a congratulatory address to her Majesty the Queen upon the recovery of the Prince of Wales. At Waimatakau Bush, Southland, a man named Robert Hitchcock shot a neighbor named Benjamin Wymack; but fortunately he is not dangerously wounded. Jealousy is supposed to be the cause. Hitchcock has since been arrested. Four ladies have already entered for the University classes. Walker writes offering to fire any man in the colony for from £2oo to £IOOO a side at Grahamstown or Auckland. He will pay the travelling expenses of the competitor, and allow a reasonable time to practice at the match range. Dunedin, May 6.

The Otago Daily limes to-day praises the new contract made by Mr Vogel for the San Francisco mail. Mr Sparrow has finished a wooden locomotive for the Palmerston tramway. It attains a speed of ten miles an hour. Bishop Moran delivered an address last night on the subject of education. Referring to the possible introduction of a secular system for the colony, he said whoever believed that Roman Catholics would pay rates for the support of a system they conscientiously objected to would .find himself mistaken. The Otago Daily Times says the new San Francisco contract is as good a one as could be made, and is entirely due to Vogel’s energy and perseverance. Mr James Smith, of the Australasian , continues lecturing with success. Last night in the theatre he addressed a crowded audience on <! spiritualism. ’ The Rev Mr Rosely accuses him of spreading scepticism. Mr Smith replies that Christianity and spiritualism are one. Captain Wales, the champion, writes to the Otago Daily Times, exonerating Colonel Harrington from blame . He states that the colonel was impartial to the Southern representatives. May 7. In committee on the Shires Bill in the Provincial Council last night, the Hon Mr Holmes’ motion to the. effect that ladies be eligible for election as members of County, Councils and Boards was negatived on a division by 15 to 12. Mr Macandrew addressed his constituents last night at Port Chalmers upon his conduct during the late session of the Assembly, He received a unanimous vote of thanks. Chief amongst the topics to which he referred amongst other matters of general interest was the education system of Otago, which he praised He said he hoped the new Education Bill would share the same fate that it met with last session. Referring to the San Francisco contract, which he highly approved of, he said the credit of the contract was entirely due to the Hon J. Vogel, who had done more for the colony than ull the so-

called statesmen put together, and no doubt if Mr Vogel left New Zealand he would be heard of again taking his place amidst Imperial politics. Judge Chapman to day, on behalf of the citizens of Dunedin, presented a very handsome testimonial in the shape of a piece of plate to Mrs C. B. Cargill prior to her departure for Europe. * May 8. Mr Reid has introduced the Land Bill. •. Messrs Tolmie and-' 1 Menzies have given notice of a series of resolutions leopening the whole question. Mr Macassey has secured the appointment of a committee to confer with the Council of the University, with a view to the establishment of medicine and law classes. A Committee of Inquiry has been appointed relative to the Moa Flat sale. Mr Macassey has moved for papers relative to the appointment of Judge Ward, contending that it was wholly unnecessary. May 9. A report has just reached town that a man whose name is unknown was shot dangerously while crossing the line of fire of some volunteers practising at the Anderson’s Bay range. Captain Macfarland, of the Artillery, who is about leaving for Melbourne, was entertained at a dinner and presented with a handsome testimonial by the battery. , To-day was observed as a close holiday, and the services in mostly all the churches were well attended. The Council yesterday adopted .an address to the Queen. The Land Shires Bill is virtually disposed of. Mr Reid promises a financial statement on Tuesday le the Land Bill. Holmes’ motion has been negatived. The constitution of the Land Board evoked an acrimonious discussion. Macassey’s proposal to make it non-political was negatived. The Waste Land Board, acting on the Superintendent’s suggestion, has given notice to cancel the Preservation Inlet coal leases, unless executed within a week.

Port Chalmers, May 6. The steamer Maori collided with the schooner Coronet, hound for Auckland, off Oamaru, at midnight on Saturday, striking the port bow, and knocking down two planks between the covering board. The Maori towed the schooner into port, where she will discharge for repairs. Bluff, May 3. William Baillie, alias “Wandering Will,” in going on board a cutter at the wharf to-night fell into the water and was drowned. The body was recovered with a drag shortly afterwards. , Hokitika, May 8. A private telegram, dated Adelaide, 2nd inst, from the captain of the ship Mary Cumining, states that he found the Magnet’s boat at sea badly smashed. A telegram from Melbourne states that ot the annual meetingof the Mutual Provident Society the report showed 2337 new policies, amounting to £830,904 ; new premiums, £32,733 ; gross amount of revenue, £249,016 ; credit balance for the year, £146,682 ; accumulated fund, £964,824. Melbourne, May 2. Parliament met on the 30th. Parties are fairly divided. The Opposition is proposing an amendment to the reply on the Governor’s address, on the ground that the speech does not contain any reference to the important subject of public instruction. The debate is proceeding. The Governor’s speech proposes to subsidise a postal service via San Francisco and New Zealaud, and another by the Cape and Ceylon. Tookey’s shares have been sold at £7, and are now wanted at £6 15s. Flour is firm at £l6. Wheat is slightly easier. Sales have taken place at auction at 6s 6d to 6s Bd. Sugars unaltered. Oats, good feeding, 3s. Sydney, May 2. The Martin Ministry have resigned. There are great reports froom the Tambaroora gold mines. A. crushing of 17 tons yielded 5630 ounces. The Dido is expected from the Cape to reinforce the Australian station. Wool is quoted slightly dearer. 'There is a good demand for maize; good samples, 2s 6d. Adelaide, May 2. The Trans-continental Railway Bill has been read a first time.

maiden plate. Awatea 1 Squally 2 Fides ... 3 Nightingale 0 Diomedia ... ••• 0 This was a good race. Time , 9 min 25sec. Distance, one mile and threequarters. turf club handicap. Yntterina 1 Peeress 9 Flying Jib 3 Distance, one mile and three-quarters. This was a capital race between Yatterina and Peeress, the latter being beaten by half.a head, after a splendid run all round. Time, 8min 33sec. STEEPLECHASE. Ronald 1 Siren 2 Eclipse 3