Telegraphic News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 288, 4 August 1877, Page 14

Telegraphic News.

MastertoN, Saturday.

Mr. R. G. Williams was elected first Mayor without opposition. Eighteen candidates are nominated for councillors, and four for auditors.

Auckland, Friday.

William Gamble was crushed to death at Tairua by a boulder rolling down the hill upon him. Tuesday. An open air meeting of the unemployed is called for Saturday next. Wednesday.

At a meeting of the Waste Lands Board today plans and schedules of confiscated lands were laid before the members. It was resolved that the Government be.requested to place the land under the administration of the Board. The Chairman stated that the amended terms offered by Mr. Vesey Stewart for an additional grant of land at Kati Ivati had been approved of by the Governor. Mr. Vesey Stewart was a passenger to-day to England. Mr. W. Walters takes the brood mares Peeress and Fanny Fisher to visit Yattendon. Thursday.

At the Supreme Court to-day an application was made by the trustee in the estate of Levy and Goldwater to set aside two transfers of mortgages made shortly before their bankruptcy, on the ground that they were fraudulent. His Honor declined application to immediately set aside the transfers, but ordered an appearance of witnesses.

Napier, Monday,

The Waha Maori case was resumed this morning, this being the ninth day. By the request of counsel on both sides the Commissioner has agreed to sit on up to ten o'clock every night until the evidence is closed. Mr. Sheehan, M.H.R., left by the overland route this morning for Wellington. Mr. M. R. Miller reports the sale of Mr. William Lyon and Co.'s Pororangi properties, 11,000 acres freehold, and 2000 aeres leasehold, with all plants and improvements, and 13,500 sheep to be delivered after shearing, for £22,500. Wednesday.

Yesterday the Taradale Board of Conservators awarded the bonus of £SO, which they advertised for best plan of river protective works, to Douslin's floating spur, brought before the Board by James Gorrie, who is Douslin's agent. Douslin's floating spur has been tried with success in the Opawa River, in the Marlborough District.

New Plymouth, Friday '.

There is considerable excitement here respecting the continued opposition by Colonel Trimble, Major Standish, and a few others, who oppose the arrangements made by the Harbor Board respecting the harbor. There have been some strong letters in the papers, and a figure supposed to represent the firstnamed gentleman was burnt in effigy on the beach last night. As it was a fine night, a large crowd assembled. Monday.

The body of Newbegin has been found in the Waitara River, just above the bridge. An inquest is now being held.

Westport, Sunday,

Ellen Wan was committed to gaol last night, under the coroner's warrant, for manslaughter of her infant child eleven, months old, through neglect and ill treatment. Tuesday.

The actual votes in the Buller County Council election were: Karamea Special Settlement, lugs 26, O'Conor 20 ; Mokihinui, Ings and O'Conor, 3.

Greymouth, Friday.

The Grey County Council Committee appointed to draw up suggestions for amendment of existing gold regulations agreed, by a majority of one, to suggest that the gold duty should remain as at present. The counterproposition was to recommend that the duty be increased to 2s. 6d. per ounce, and miner's rights reduced to 10s., available over the whole Middle Island.

Monday,

The Wealth of Nation returns for the month are 464 ounces smelted gold, and a dividend was declared of 3s per scrip. At the inquest at Ahaura on the man alleged to have been starved to death in the lock-up through cold the jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased died from alcoholic poisoning.

Kumar a, Friday.

Mulrooney, one of the men injured in the mining accident yesterday, died shortly after being released. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

Timaru, Tuesday. The Customs returns for July, including auctioneers' licenses, &c, are £1365 ss. Heavy seas have been coming in throughout the day.

Lyttelton, Friday.

The water from the Lyttelton Water Works at the Heathcote Valley was turned on into the town for the first time to-day, so as to test the pipes and the height to which the water would flow. The trial was in every way satisfactory, the water reachiug the highest levels.

Christchurch, Friday,

The land sales yesterday realised £25,000. London advices received by the New Zealand Shipping Company state that the Opawa, which left Lyttelton on the 13th May, arrived prior to 25th July, thus making the passage under seventy-two days. Also, that the Otaki has sailed for Auckland, and the Pareroa for Port Chalmers.

The Press this morning warmly commends the Government for the readiness displayed in bringing forward important public business. The Times does the same, while both papers congratulate the Hon. Mr. Bowen on the general features of the Education Bill. Monday.

Lightband, Allan, and Co., large manufacturers of boots by machinery, have closed their establishment for a fortnight, preparatory to reducing the scale of wages. Sixty employes are thus thrown out of work. They have telegraphed to the association in other parts of the colony and Australia to support them in resisting the reduction. Several butchers were fined at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning for having light weights in their possession. A rather curious action was commenced in the Supreme Court this morning. Dr. Campbell was the plaintiff, and the executors of the late Mr. McKay defendants. Plaintiff's evidence showed that he had attended Mr. McKay professionally at various times for three years prior to August 6, 1876, when Mr. McKay died from heart disease. The day before his death, Mr. McKay gave to Dr. Campbell a deposit note for £SOO and a promissory note as a parting gift, and also a cheque for £550 to enable him to draw the money represented by the deposit note and promissory note. Mr. McKay knew at this time that he wa3 in a dying state, and made his will the same day. There was no witness present when Mr. McKay made the gift. Dr. Campbell filled in the cheque by Mr. McKay's request, and Mr. McKay signed the cheque and endorsed the deposit note and the promissory note. After Mr. McKay's death the doctor presented the cheque at the bank; but payment was refused, on the ground that, the signature was unlike Mr. McKay's. The executors under McKay's will refused to recognise the cheque, and Dr. Campbell now sought to recover the amount. The landlady of the boarding-house where Mr. McKay lived gave evidence that she was called into the sick room by Dr. Campbell on the day on which the gift was made, in order to find Mr. McKay's cheque-book. At that time Mr. McKay was sitting up in bed, smoothing the bed clothes so as to write, and Dr. Campbell said, " You have given me these papers." Mr. McKay replied, " 1 have." Dr. Campbell then said, "But what about your mother and sisters ; whereupon Mr. McKay replied, "Never mind them, they are all right." During this time no sum of money was mentioned. The case will be continued to-morrow.

13,226 letters were despatched from the Christchurch Post Office last Saturday, the San Francisco mail day. Tuesday.

During the past twelve months twenty-five alarms of fire occurred in Christchurch — twenty-one being in buildings, one chimney, one gorse fence, and one haystack. Eight buildings were totally destroyed. None of the fires were of a very important character. The case of Dr. Campbell v. the Executor of the late Mr. Mackay was resumed this morning. The evidence adduced for the defence was to the effect that Mr. Mackay was always a very hard man, not at all likely to make presents of large sums of money ; that prior to his death he was more than once wandering in his mind ; that old friends were refused permission by Dr. Campbell to see Mr. Mackay; and that the latter, while in bed, had several times said he had lost confidence in Dr. Campbell, and would like to have another doctor. After the conclusion of the evidence, the counsel for the defence asked for delay, in order to enable him to amend the issues. On resuming, the counsel for Dr. Campbell said, after what had transpired, he would ask the Court to enter a nonsuit against his client, which, after some discussion, was done.

The land sales for the month of June have realised £175,000. Wednesday.

Lightband, Allan, and Co. write to the Times this morning, denying that they locked out their hands with the view of effecting a reduction in wages. They also sn.y:—" Having had four years' experience of the trade union, we have found not the slightest disposition on the part of the men to fall in with any idea whatever that meant a change in the system of work when such change did not affect their interests in the smallest degree. We recently imported from England aud America some new machinery, and a few weeks ago put two or three hands on weekly wages, with the idea of ascertaining its capabilities, and intended eventually to fix the price for piece work, as we don't at all object to the piece work system. The Union drove those men off the premises under threats, and from thattime we thoroughly made up our minds not to recognise their society any longer." The letter further says it was intended to adopt a system by which the men could earn better wages with them than elsewhere, and that the men were not locked out for a fortnight, but, so far as the old mode of working was concerned, for ever. The Acclimatisation Society has sent to San Francisco for prairie hens. An application from Melbourne for song-birds was refused by the society. Thursday.

At a meeting of journeymen bootmakers last night it was resolved to form a trade union to resist reduction in wages.

Port Chalmers, Saturday. A hole was pierced through Deborah Bay tunnel at 4 p.m. to-day.

Dunedin, Friday. The nomination of Councillors for the city of Dunedin took place to-day. There was opposition in every ward except Leith, and the contests promise to be keen. Street, late chief clerk of the Magistrate's Court, is to be presented with a testimonial by the members of the Bar. Mr. Hay, engineer, reports that the cost of the railway from Dunedin to Auno, 73 miles, will be £29,700. Saturday. A donation of £SO has been forwarded to the Dunedin Hospital to-day by the mother of a young Englishmen who died in it in 1875. Mr. Bastings, who was yesterday elected Chairman of the Tuapeka County Council, will not accept any salary. A meeting was held last night at which there was a large attendance of delegates from workshops and factories, and a feeling was generally expressed that a demonstration of all trades should be held to support the members of the House who have taken up the matter of Government importation of manufactured material. Resolutions were unanimously passed, fixing the 4th of August for the day of meeting. The movement will take the form of a trade procession, which will meet at the fire brigade depot, and march through the town to the place of meeting, which will probably be in the open air if the weather is fine. If not the meeting will be adjourned to one of the public halls. The meeting was most enthusiastic, and the feeling was expressed that all the trades should take part in it. A good working committee was formed. Monday.

A conference of clergymen was held at Knox Church to-day, for the purpose of considering the religious clauses in the new Education Bill. The Rev. Dr. Stuart was in the chair, and there were about eighteen ministers present. The chairman explained the object of the meeting, and suggested that the_ Government proposal should be accepted. This having been seconded, Archdeacon Edwards moved, as an amendment, —That ministers of religion or persons authorised by them shall be permitted to give religious instruction in schools during school hours. Mr. Fitchett seconded the amendment, and the Rev. Mr. Lewis moved,, as a further amendment, —That this meeting thankfully accepts the provision made by Government for beginning school by Bible reading and prayer, and asks in addition what is stated in Archdeacon Edwards' amendment. A motion for an adjournment, in order to invite Roman Catholic and Jewish ministers, wa3 rejected by a large majority. The Ven. Archdeacon's amendment was rejected by 11 to 4 ; and on the motion of the Rev. J. J. Lewis being put, there voted 7 for and a like number against it. The chairman voted with the noes. Mr. Davies' motion was then put in the following form, and carried by a large majority : That whereas —(1) There are very diverse opinions concerning religious instruction in the schools. (2.) The purely denominational system would irritate, and purely _ secular system would shock the general public. (3.) The proposed compromise runs closely along the lines already pursued by the chief provinces—(4.) This meeting deems it desirable to accept the Government compromise. Tuesday. Dr. Scott, professor of anatomy for the Otago University, arrived by the Ringarooma. Strenuous efforts are being made to render the demonstration against the system pursued by the Government, of importing from England railway rolling stock and other material capable of being manufactured in the colony, a decided success.

Last evening a meeting of bricklayers, plasterers, and builders' laborers was held, with a view of making arrangements about the procession of united trades, which takes place on Saturday. Wednesday. The names of those who sent in designs for the Dunedin Town Hall have just been made public. The following is the result:—First premium, £2OO, T. B. Cameron, Auckland ; second, £IOO, R. A. Lawson, Dunedin ; third, £SO, George Browne, Melbourne. The other competitors were—Mathew Henry, Auckland; A. W. Simpson, Christchurch ; M. de H. Duval, Timaru ; William Rash, Melbourne ; Petrie and Bolden, Dunedin ; G. Aitken, Auckland. Mr. C. S. Reeves has been appointed delegate to represent the Dunedin Council at the Wellington Conference. At yesterday's meeting of the City Council a resolution was carried unanimously that the Corporation should come under the new Act. As the result of this another election for Mayor will require to take place in November. The number of births, deaths, and marriages for July are—l 39 births, 59 deaths, and 32 marriages. Twelve designs have been received for the University buildings. The municipal elections to-day resulted as follows : South Ward, Fish and Gore ; High Ward, Barr and Webb ; Bell Ward, Woodland and Davidson ; auditors, Wain, Street, and S. James. In the Police Court to-day D. Aitcheson was charged by the captain of the Waikara Rifles with having absented himself from inspection parade. The case broke down in consequence of the prosecution not proving that defendant was a Volunteer. Riverton, Friday. The inquiry into the origin of the fire at Patrick McNeil's house, lately known as the Shamrock Hotel, concluded yesterday evening, after two long days' sitting. Some facts connected with the occurrence seem very suspicious, but there is no direct evidence of incendiarism. The fire happened on the 12th inst., and was discovered and extinguished before there was further damage than the scorching of the dining-room wall. A quantity

of kerosene appeared to have been spilt on the floor and on the wall paper, and matches were scattered about. The landlord and his wife were away at the Bluff at the time. The building was insured for £SOO in the South British and New Zealand Insurance Companies, and the furniture and stock in the former office for £2OO. A bill of sale for £IBO was made to McArthur and Duffy on the turniture, a considerable portion of which was removed previous to the fire. The insurance policy was not transferred to them. The jury returned an open verdict.

_,, , Balclutha, "Wednesday. ±ne election of councillors resulted as follows :—North Ward : Hogg, 47 ; Bain, 33. .hast Ward : Scanning, 19 ; Patterson, 15. South Ward : Macdonald, 52 ; Stewart, 34.

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY. (per ringarooma.) Melbourne, July 22. Parliament has been mostly engaged during the week discussing the Railway Construction Bill, it being decided to rush it through as speedily as possible, as other colonies are also proceeding ~with contracts, taking away contractors and men. Only one petition has as yet been decided by the Elections Committee, and that was in favor of the sitting member, Colonel Joseph Anderson, a Peninsular hero, and aged 88. Jervois has been very ill, but is now slowly recovering, though still unable to perform any duty.

The cable remains interrupted between Penang and Singapore. In the libel case against the proprietor of the Police News the jury were unable to agree. The weather has been cold, with heavy fogs. Markets dull, breadstuffs firm. BY THE ZEALANDIA FROM SYDNEY. Auckland, Wednesday. The following items of Australian news are to hand:—

Melbourne.

It was stated in the General Assembly that the loss incurred by working the national railways was over a million sterling in five years. A fire occurred at Tidecoot's, the furniture dealer. He was insured for £4OO in the New Zealand office.

The extensive carrying firm of William McCulloch and Co. has been dissolved. It is rumored that the retiring partners are to receive £IOO,OOO each. Breadstuffs are firmer. 250 tons of flour have been sold for shipment at fifteen guineas. Wheat, 7s. 4d.

A San Francisco telegram of July 17, says wheat has advanced Is. 6d. per bushel since the mail left. The next steamer for the colonies has only 100 tons of flour on board.

A Hongkong telegram, dated July 21, states that the steamer Bowen sails on the 10th August. Common teas are cheaper. An American telegram points to a further advance in Kerosene, owing to the manufacturers' combination.

Brisbane. The Royal assent has been given to the Public Worship Regulations Bill. The Newcastle Associated Miners are considering the question of the reduction of wages, which is alleged to be imperative through the lower price of coal adopted by six collieries.

The seamen of the Lord Ashley, steamer, refused to go to sea in her, alleging that the vessel was_ overloaded. The Marine Board, after examination, supported the crew's objection, and the steamer had to discharge thirty tons of coal.