Telegraphic News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 245, 29 July 1876, Page 9

Telegraphic News.

Auckland, Saturday. At the nomination for City West Tonks and Farnall were proposed. The meeting was entirely in favor of Tonks, but the other declared a determination to go to the poll. Captain Daldy considered it an insult to City West for Farnall to come forward while he owes the city seven hundred pounds. He moved that the meeting request Tonks to proceed to Wellington as early as possible, pledging itself to secure his return. The motion was carried. Mr. Tonks, at the request of the electors, leaves for Wellington on Monday, trusting to his supporters to secure his return. Tuesday.

The report that fresh cases had broken out aboard the Bebington is untrue. The vessel will probably be admitted to pratique tomorrow. A largely attended meeting of Eden electors was held last night, convened for the purpose of supporting Auckland members in the House; Robert Graham, chairman. All the speakers spoke against the Government. Graham, referring to the sale of the Piako Swamp, said the Government must have been deceived regarding the nature of the block. He could say that twenty thousand acres of it was good arable dry land, worth £3 an acre. The following resolutions were carried:—"That our representative, Tole, and the Auckland members be asked to support Whitaker's resolutions to make land revenue colonial revenue; and failing to carry it, to support separation of the two islands." "That the thanks of the meeting be forwarded to Sir George Grey and the Auckland members for their united and bold stand on behalf of the province of Auckland." For City West, the polling resulted —Tonks, 656 ; Farnall, 38 ; Rochfort, 13. The official declaration takes place on Friday. The Franklin electors meet to-night to discuss political matters. Wednesday.

In the divorce case, Grace (Native Interpreter) against his Maori wife, the evidenceof adultery was clearly proved, and a verdict given for the petitioner on all the issues. The case will be further considered in Wellington.

A meeting of the Franklin electors at Otahuhu last night passed the following resolutions: —"That the thanks of the meeting are hereby given to Messrs. Busk and Hamlin and the united Auckland members for their action with Sir George Grey on behalf of this province." 2. "That, in view of the pending changes in the constitutional and financial legislation of the colony, this meeting are of opinion that it is of first importance that members representing the province of Auckland should act unitedly with Sir George Grey; and this meeting further specially request the members for Franklin to act accordingly." 3. "That this meeting, while sympathising with the family of Dr. Featherston, object to the vote of £3OOO, considering such to be an unjustifiable expenditure of public money." 4. "That the meeting request Eusk and

Hamlin to oppose by every legitimate means the vote proposed to be given to Sir Julius Vogel for services while in England. That no further sum should be voted than had been agreed to between Sir Julius and the Ministry previous to his departure." Grahamstown, Monday. A fearful easterly gale occurred last night, accompanied by the heaviest rainfall experienced for years. The extent of the damage done has not yet been ascertained. The lowlying portions of the borough are under water still. The Karaka creek was so flooded that large logs were brought down. These coming in contact with the struts of the bridge in Pollen-street weakened the structure, and the road sank about a foot on one side of the street, which will necessitate almost a new bridge. The Thames school was surrounded to such depth that it is unapproachable. Culverts and open drains are much injured, and there have been several landslips. Rapana Maungaroa was buried according to European custom on Saturday afternoon. Thursday. McMasters has extracted 43ozs. pure silver from one cwt. regulus on molten ore, from the Richmond Hill Silver Mining Company. It is stated that the yield is equal to 140ozs. silver to the ton of ore. Tauranga, Friday. Much interest is evinced re the result of the East Coast election petition. Kelly is certain of return should Read be unseated. The appointment of Brabant to the investigation of land titles here is much approved. Native matters are quiet. At a native fracas yesterday one European was assaultad. Wednesday. A large native meeting takes place on Monday, convened by Hori Tupae, re opening of the Kairui block. Commissioner Brabant attends. The Bay of Plenty Times urges the completion of the purchase and the survey of the Te Puke block. Napier, Friday. A meeting of the benefit societies is to be held to-night re Friendly Societies Bill. A special meeting Municipality re reserves is to be held to-night. There is a meeting to-night of the Atheneeum committee to draw up annual report. Routledge sold the whole draying and coaching plant lately used on the Taupo line. The Bale realised £2500. Sunday. • C. Weber, Provincial Engineer, whilst trying to catch a horse in a paddock was severely kicked, causing him great pain. He is under medical treatment, and it is hoped the injury is not dangerous. Great sympathy for him is expressed throughout the community. The Municipal Council added the Botanical Gardens reserve to the schedule of the Napier Reserves Bill. The Town Clerk was requested to write, and ask Messrs. McLean and Russell to support Mr. Ormond in getting the Bill through. At the friendly societies' meeting the secretary was instructed to thank Mr. Ormond for his attention, and ask him to use his influence to get the Bill postponed to next session if possible. Monday. It has been blowing a stiff gale, and raining hard all day. The barque Coq du Village, from Newcastle, with 400 tons of coals consigned to Vautier, stranded on the Petane Beach. No lives were lost. The wreck is to be sold to-morrow. The vessel is said not to have been at her right moorings when the accident occurred. The Falcon is at anchor, riding heavily, but will probably ride the gale out safely. Tuesday. The wreck and cargo of the barque Coq du Village was sold for £4O. Inquiry will be held as to the cause of the wreck. The Falcon rode out the gale in safety, but she had a narrow escape. A portion of the railway near Te Aute was washed away by the heavy rain yesterday. The traffic is partially stopped, but will be resumed in a day or two. The damage is not serious. The Clive and Meanee are flooded. The gals has abated, but it is still raining. At the Harbor Board meeting to-day the question arose as to whether the Superintendent can delegate certain powers vested in hiinjto the Board. No decision was arrived at. Wednesday. The floods are subsiding, and railway through traffic has been resumed. The river at Petane was higher than in January, and overflowed the banks, doing damage along the valley ; washed down telegraph posts and submerged the wires. The Poverty Bay line of communication Avith Gisborne has been stopped since Monday. Robert Craig, employed in repairs on Ngarurora bridge, was drowned whilst walking home. It is supposed that he fell down in a fit in his garden, which was covered with water. Subscriptions are on foot for the officers and crew of the barque Coq-du-Village. About £IOO has been collected. Thursday. The Simonsens' Opera Compnany played Aubei's " Masaniello " last night to a crowded house. Morley was splendid. The opera was an immense success. Patea, Thursday. A large meeting of settlers was held yesterday, when the following resolution was unanimously passed:—" That this meeting considers that the boundaries of the Patea couuty, as proposed by the Government, are in every respect the most suitable that could have been chosen, and trust that no alteration will be made." A copy of this resolution is to be forwarded to the Hon. Major Atkinson. New Plymouth, Tuesday. A large meeting was held here last night. It was convened by Mr. E. M. Smith, in order that he might explain why the smelting at

Henui had proved a failure. He exhibited diagrams, and said that he defied the whole colony to prove that the iron sand could not be smelted with commercial success. He pointed out that very little of the iron sand had been put into the furnace, and a man who had no confidence in its success had been sent to "blow in" the furnace. If he (Mr. Smith) had a trial, he would prove that it could be run. Mr. Vivian, who was not a shareholder, thought Mr. Smith should have a chance. Mr. Matheson, a shareholder, said he had pointed out twelve months since what would happen, and his words had been verified. He moved—- " That having heard Mr. Smith, this meeting is of opinion that the directors would be consulting the interest of the shareholders and the community in allowing Mr. Smith the use of the furnace and the needful materials to smelt the iron sand." The resolution was carried unanimously. Over four hundred were present at the meeting. Blenheim, Wednesday. The Taylor and Omaha rivers being both high yesterday, the town was much flooded. Fortunately, the Opawa was not in flood, and so all the water rati off from the town during •the night. A few yards of the embankment of the railway were carried away near Koromiko station, and the train did. not run yesterday afternoon. This morning the mail was brought through on the line on a trolly. The train has not resumed running yet. Gkeymouth, Friday. Ah Wong, a Chinaman, was committed for trial to-day for an indecent assault on a child nine years old. Wednesday. At the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, Charles Donovan, charged with the manslaughter of James Wood, on board the Sarah and Mary, was discharged, the body of Wood not having yet been found. Hokitika, Sunday. W. R. Jones, one of the proprietors of the Star died this morning. Christchurch, Friday. The Good Templars celebrated their anniversary last night. Over eight hundred were present. Dr. Turner, a travelling lecturer on hydropathy, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, with hard labor, this morning, for stealing a coat belonging to a fellow passenger by the steamer Wellington. Saturday. The first issue of the Akaroa Mail was made yesterday. Tuesday. The Acclimatisation Society voted a sum of money to-day for the introduction of humble bees from England. In the Supreme Court to-day, in the case of Bush v. Eightband and Allen, the plaintiff, who claimed £2OOO damages, obtained a verdict for £SO, for annoyance caused by great noises and the smell of burnt leather from the defendants' boot manufactory. The verdict would have been greater had not the defendants considerably abated the nuisance complained of since action was commenced. The manufactory is in the centre of the city. Thursday. A considerable advance has taken place in the wheat market. Some heavy lines have changed hands for English shipments and speculation. Stocks are considered insufficient for New Zealand requirements. Millers' stocks are low. At a meeting of the Christchurch shareholders of the Titanic Steel Company it was reported that a man from Melbourne who has discovered a flux for smelting the Taranaki sand has gone North in the Arawata. Dunedin, Friday. Marshall has been committed for trial on two charges of assault with intent on two children aged eleven and eight respectively. He has been bailed in four sureties of £IOO each and himself for £4OO. The result of the election for Mayor is a tie between Reeves and Woodward. A freßh election must take place. It is rumored there will be a combination between the Queen's and Princess theatres management by which one theatre will be shut up. Saturday. Mr. Walters retires from his second contest for the Mayoralty. Monday. In the case of Bridge v. Brogden, for injuries sustained by plaintiff from a casualty on the railway line near Oamaru, damages laid at £ISOO, a verdict for £4OO was returned. The Guardian says that the gentleman appointed by the Government as Eunacy Commissioner is a Dr. Scrae, late of the district asylum in Stirling, Scotland. For the Cup in Melbourne there has been a run in betting on Torchlight, at 100 to 3 ; Irish Stew is supported at 100 to 4 ; and Melbourne, the Painter, Superstition, &c, at 100 to 3. Tuesday. The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners held their annual dinner last night. Sale, arrested at Wellington, charged with larceny, was discharged without a stain on his character, and considered by the Bench an injured man. Wadnesday. Samples of the water in which the salmon were hatched at Invercargill have been analysed by Professor Black. The analysis shows nothing deleterious in its nature to account for the high rate of mortality amongst the young salmon. It is understood the Provincial Government have decided to remove the present members of the Southland Waste Bands Board, and to appoint others. At the Colonial Bank meeting held to-day the report as telegraphed previously was read and adopted. The chairman in his address referred to the satisfactory condition of the bank's affairs, and spoke in high terms of the

acquisition of Mr. Cowie as general managei. He stated that the capital of the bank was now held among 2467 proprietors. ■ The directors considered the capital sufficient for the present, and that it would not be necessary to make another call for a considerable time The note circulation showed an increase ot £lO 139. 669 new accounts have been opened with the bank in the colony since December last Several changes in the direction of economy were referred to. Mr. H. S. Chapman, in seconding the adoption of the report, considered that the directors acted prudently in not declaring a dividend at so early a period of the bank's existence. A vote of thanks to the officers of the bank was passed. One hundred shareholders were present. The result of the ballot for directors will not be known till about ten o'clock. , A portion of the scaffolding of the new telegraph offices gave way, and several men fell a distance of sixteen feet, three being taken to the hospital seriously injured. Michael Healey, clerk to Keist and McCarthy, brewers, has been found dead in his bed. For the proposed co-operative store shares are going off freely. G ° Thursday. Mr. A. W. Morris has been elected a director of the Colonial Bank. Captain Lloyd has been presented with a gold chain and locket and an address by the officers of the Taranaki. . Poet Chalmers, Friday. Mr. McKinnor has been elected Mayor for the third time. Wednesday. The s.s. City of New York is detained by a heavy roll on the bar, the sea breaking on the bank. She may possibly get out to-night. A fisherman named Alfred was killed yesterday at Sandfly Beach. While attempting to climb a cliff 200 feet high he missed his hold, falling on the rocks beneath, and died four hours°later. The man and two others were compelled to abandon their boat, and were trying to reach the mainland when the acedent occurred. Invercargill, Friday. The polling for the election of Mayor resulted as follows :—J. R. Cuthbertson, 266 ;B. Matthews, 108 ; B. Cleave, 75. Thursday. Great indignation is expressed here at the action of the Deputy-Superintendent in abolishing the Southland Waste Lands Board, with a view of getting rid of Messrs. Mitchell and Dundas, the only members who have lately attended to their duties. It is not unlikely that a public meeting will be held to memoralise the General Government on the subject. Bluff, Saturday. A trial of Captain Thomas Thompson's patent boat lowering and detaching apparatus was made here to-day. A boat secured for sea was put in the water ten feet clear of the side by men who had never seen the apparatus before in eight seconds, and with oars out in fifteen seconds. Nautical men of standing who witnessed it pronounced it much superior to anything known. . Biverton, Friday. John Robert Mills has been re-elected Mayor. The voting was—for Mills, 92 ; for Monckton, 29. Considerable excitement was manifested throughout the proceedings. Monday. At a public meeting, attended by most of the influential residents of this district, held on Saturday, the following resolutions were carried unanimously :—(1.) That this meeting support the shire boundary fixed by the delegates appointed by the Biverton Town Council and the Aparima Boad Board, and are utterly opposed to the boundary proposed in the Bill. (2.) That it is of the utmost importance that the harbor of Biverton should be improved, and that the Biverton Harbor Board should be endowed with a large grant of land, as recommended at its meeting. (3.) That the most effectual method of abating the rabbit nuisance will be for the Government to pass a measure making it compulsory on every owner or occupier of land to destroy or keep down rabbits on his own holdings, and that the Government appoint an officer to enforce the same. THE DETENTION" OF THE CITY OF NEW YOBK. (per press agency.) Dunedin, Thursday. Captain Thomson, Harbormaster of Port Chalmers, reports at the request of the Post-master-General, that the detention of the City of New York is owing to a heavy sea on the bar, set up by the recent S.E. gale in the offing. The steamer draws 21ft. 3in., and the exact depth of water on the bar at low water on the 20th, was The rise of the tide yesterday was barely sft.; to-day it is sft. 4in. Allowance for wave on bar, 3ft.; thus leaving no margin for the ship to get out without striking. The bar to-day is still dangerous, but notwithstanding the present S.W. gale, the sea is going down, and hopes are entertained that the steamer will get out to-morrow. She has made three attempts to get out, as she ought to have left yesterday morning. The Harbormaster wrote a letter to the Harbor Board, re the detention of the mail boat, as follows : —I regret exceedingly that in consequence of the heavy sea on the bar the mail steamer City of New York has been detained for the last three tides. She is now drawing 21ft. 3in. The exact depth of water on the bar at low water before sea set in was 17ft. 6in. Last night the tide barely rose sft. This morning it rose sft. 4in., from which 3ft. has to be taken off for the wave on the bar. Therefore, as no margin whatever is left for the vessel to escape striking, I ordered her detention, and am sorry to say that, as this morning's tide is very late, she cannot now proceed to sea sooner than to-morrow morning. There is nothing left undone that is necessary to insure the vessel being taken to sea whenever it is safe to do so.

SPECIAL TELEGRAM. (FROM OUR OWN CORKESPONDENT.) Dunedin, Monday. He local opinion on Stout's Licensing Bill, a meeting is convened for to-night at Balclutha at 8.30, when the following propositions will be submitted :—l. That this meeting views with tfrave apprehension the passing of the Local Option Licensing Bill in its present form, seeing that the carrying into force ot the provisions of such Bill must involve a large amount of loss and distress being incurred by numbers of respectable individuals, who have pursued a legitimate business and invested a large amount of capital for carrying out satisfactorily the requirements of the general public in erecting suitable buildings, so as to carry out faithfully the provisions of the present Act now in force. 2. That the passing of the Bill in its present form would most certainly cause the suppression of well regulated hotels, the continuance of which this meeting consider a necessity, and would substitute illicit traffic in liquor, which no possible amount of supervision could suppress. 3. That this meeting condemn the Bill as unjust and tyrannical, inasmuch as no provision has been made to indemnify individuals in the trade who may be partially or entirely ruined by its operations. 4. That the Chairman of this meeting be requested to telegraph these resolutions to Wellington, to the member for the district and Mr. Macandrew, requesting them to do all in their power to assist in stopping further progress of the Bill, and to acquaint the House of these resolutions. SUEZ MAIL NEWS. Bumors of difference of policy between Turkey and Egypt are denied. Bumors of a European conference have been dispelled. In the House of Commons, on the 9th June, Disraeli said all the Bowers had agreed to exercise no undue pressure on the new Sultan, but to allow time for his advisers to mature a new policy. In reply to a note of the Grand Vizier, the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Servia has given an assurance of the peaceful intentions of Servia. It is considered that recent _ events are a decided check upon Bussian policy. On the 15th June, in the House of Lords, Lord Derby said that the guarantee of the Treaty of Paris, with regard to the integrity of Turkey, remained unmodified, but that the clauses in the treaty only refer to aggression on Turkey from without, and not to internal quarrrels. Telegrams from Constantinople on June 20 report a disagreement amongst the Turkish Ministers on the subject of the creation of a National Assembly. An indefinite postponement of the Constitution is considered probable. Lord Northbrook is created an earl. The Duke of Edinburgh, in the Sultan, has arrived at Malta. The report of the Fugitive Slave Commission has been issued. It deprecates active interference on the part of commissioned officers against slavery where legalised, or of H.M. ships being made an asylum for slaves. The report favors discretion being given to commanders, and defines general principles for their guidance. The Emperor William has gone to Ems to meet the Czar. It is probable there will be an interview between the Czar and the Emperor of Austria at Warsaw. The Nord, a Bussian organ, published m Belgium, contains an article virulently attacking the policy of England. The Ascot Cup was won by Hornblow ; the Gold Cup by Apology. The Cincinnati Convention selected (governor Hayes, an Ohio Bepublican, as candidate for the Presidency. Bristol has resigned the post of Secretary to the United States Treasury. The English Government having refused to surrender °Winslow, the American forger, he has been discharged from custody, thereby terminating the extradition treaty of 1842. A great fire occurred at Brooks' wharf, a million and a-half pounds of tea were burnt. H.M. frigate Doris is in quarantine at Simons Bay in consequence of an outbreak of small-pox of a malignant type. _ Some of the officers and several of the crew died. Latest telegrams from the Continent state that an outbreak of war between Turkey and Servia is imminent. % Sir William Hackett, now in Fiji, has received an appointment in Ceylon, at a salary of £2500 a year and allowances. There is a rumor that the British India Company have offered to take over all the P. and O. Company's fleet and property, guaranteeing seven per cent, in perpetuity to the shareholders. Lord Lytton is likely to resign the GovernorGeneralship of India at the end of the year, the climate not suiting his health. Sir Phillip Wodehouse retires from Bombay at the end of the year. Colonel Gordon is making satisfactory progress with his Egyptian expedition. He expects that in two years a regular trade will be opened up between Lake Albert and Egypt. AUSTBALIAN NEWS. Melbourne, July 17. The proceedings in Parliament so far have been very mild. The address was carried without a division, and, after very little discussion, the new Electoral and Education Bills have been introduced. The Government are negotiating with the Hobson's Bay Bailway Company for the purchase of the line. It is now ascertained that twenty-seven persons were lost in the Gettwood, including the captain's wife and some passengers. Captain E. Cooper, of the barque Armistice, well known in the New Zealand trade, was found in the Yarra on Saturday, having probably fallen into the river when leaving his ship. About one hundred and fifty pounds have been subscribed for Van Heimart's orphans at

Dunedin, and further subscriptions are being received. The mail steamer grounded on leaving Adelaide, but got off in a few hours. Our rainfall this year is seven inches below the average. It is the same in all the colonies, and this, coupled with the great fall announced in fine wool in London, is not a hopeful sign for squatters. The weather has been magnificent ; very cold and clear, with dense fogs at night and morning. The Bingarooma will take the next Suez mail about next Monday. Melbourne, July 22.

An Education Amendment Bill to bring into operation compulsory clauses is being considered in the Assembly. The financial debate takes place next week. No special interest attaches to the Statement, as no fresh taxation proposals will be announced. A letter from England announces the present as the best time for the colonies to obtain money. Australian securities are in demand, whue for some money only 14 to 2 per cent, is obtained. . Stevensons' case is at length decided, so tar as the business of the firm is concerned. The weather has been beautifully fine. The cold season is very disastrous to squatters. Two million sheep died in Biverina for want of grass ; same cause is against lambing. Only a very small per cent, saved. This, with the immense fall in the price of wool, will be severely felt in the colonies. The Altcar, which last year was. in New Zealand, made over 145 days' passage home, no doubt owing to foul bottom. Fifty guineas premium on her was asked and paid. Mr. Nottingham, who was coming out as organist to Christchurch Cathedral, Christchurch, has left seven children. He died from a fatal accident aboard the Lincolnshire on the way out. Baven and twist tobacco in good demand. Timber advancing ; wheat, 6s. Id.; currants also much higher, 5Jd. paid. The Pall Mall Gazette writes :-—"The increase in our unarmoured fleet, which Mr. Ward Hunt considers as entitled to the first consideration in the present condition of our navy, is rendered the more necessary by the steady development of our commerce with our Australian colonies. Their unchecked prosperity is doing much to compensate for the loss of those dangerous foreign customers who bought English goods with English borrowed money, and, now that the principal has disappeared, can neither buy more nor pay interest on the sums lent. Australia and New Zealand stand in a very different position. They have spent and are spending large amounts on public works, the manufactured materials for which are chiefly imported from this country ; but there is good reason to believe that even in New Zealand, the most extravagant colony in this respect, the expenditure will be eventually justified by the results. There is a growing feeling, however, that at the present time shipping under the English flag is very insufficiently protected in those waters. There is even some talk of petitioning the Home Government to place one or two ironclads on the Australian station. This demand, if made, would probably be based on the fact, that whereas ironclad vessels belonging to other powers have visited English ports throughout the South Pacific, no English ironclad has yet been told off for colonial service—the Victorian Cerberus is only for harbor defence, and the unarmoured vessels now on the station are by no means powerful engines of war. Though it may not he found convenient to comply literally with this request, it would certainly be desirable that in the event of a war with a European PoAver we should have the means of dealing at once with any hostile cruisers that might attempt to prey upon our commerce there as well as elsewhere. The cheap coal of New South Wales and New Zealand, and the admirable harbors in which our ships could refit, and which would not be open to the enemy, ought to secure for our flag a supremacy as undisputed from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Horn as it ever held in the Channel. In order to gain the full benefit of these advantages, however, it is necessary to bear in mind that ships that may do very fairly for peace duty are useless in war, and that just now, according to Mr. Ward Hunt, we have not the means of replacing these inferior vessels by heavy-armed unarmoured cruisers of a superior class."