TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 879, 4 January 1889, Page 26

TELEGRAPHIC.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Christchurch, December 27. Mr E. C. Brown, manager of the Direct Importing Company, was fined 20s to-day for employing a saleswoman after hours. The woman was engaged in marking goods, and not selling. The case was brought as a test case to settle whether the clauses of the Act have reference to saleswomen in shops as well as factory bands. MrWhitefoord, R.M., gave leave to appeal. This afternoon 400 poor people, including ten widows, ten deserted wives, and many families of the unemployed, were entertained at a dinner in the Young Men’s Christian Association rooms. Bishop Harper delivered an address, and said grace. A free concert followed, after which a public meeting was held, the Mayor in the chair. Mr Herrick, manager of the Destitute Home, stated that since (June 20 he had given away 7273 meals. Dunedin, December 27. In retiring from the position of harbonr engineer, Mr G. M. Barr submitted a report on the works. Referring to the upper harbour, he pointed out that the channel was now available for ships drawing 20ft, while before 1882 the deepest draught of vessels brought up was 13ft 9iu. The natural scour had maintained a channel without dredging during last year. As to the work at the Heads, they had cost first about one-half of Sir John Coode'a estimate. As to the bar he shows that the lnorease of the depth of water over 3000 ft is from 7 "2 to 7-4 feet, and says with these results it is not too much to prediot that further prosecution of the works would result in making the entrance to the port of Otago quite equal to that of any other harbour in the colonies. At the annual meeting of the Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Society it was decided to ask the members for Auckland, Napier, Wellington, and Christchurch to send in the names of those they would like appointed on the looal sub.committeea to have a voice in the direction of the affairs of the Society along with the General Committee. Mr R. Wilson was re-elected president. At a preliminary meeting of those who favour the Exhibition being held at North Dunedin, a committee was appointed to bring before the Directors the advantages of that site. Joseph Wilson and Ernest Dryden, boys -under 14 years of age, were committed for trial for breaking into a house on Christmas Day, and stealing jam-oake and a sixpence. The younger participators in the offence were birched. Greymotjth, December 27The Brunnerton Sheffield Handicap was won by Surman, of Christchurch; Brown, of Christchurch, was second. In the Taylorville Point Handicap, Brown, of Christchurch, was first; Sherman, of Hokitika, ! second. In the Mile Handicap, Crowell, of Christchurch, was first; Maomahon, of Kumara, second. There is every appearance of another change in the weather. Hokitika, December 27. The steamer Aorere caught fire at the wharf early this morning. The fire was subdued after some trouble. It is supposed to have originated through spontaneous combustion in the coal bunkers. The damage (£150) is covered by insurance. Feilding, December 27. The sports yesterday were a great sucoess, nearly 2000 being on the ground. The following are the results of the principal events : —2ooyds Handicap.—Clark, 1 ; Foster, 2 ; Champion, 3. Time, 21 4-ssec. One*mile Walking.—U4y, 1; McNiven, 2; Hitchman, 3. Time, 7min 12seo. 100yds Handicap.— Knox, 1 ; Cameron, 2 ; Foster, 3 ; Lough, 4. Time, 10 l-ssec. Quarter-mile Handicap. —Oliphant, j ; Cameron, 2 ; Whisker, 3. Time, 54sso. Champion Race.—Clarke, 1 ; Thacker, 2, Time, 22 4-ssec. Manchester Handicap.—McGiffprd, 1; Keegap, 2; Keane, 3 ; Poad, 4. Tinio, 4min 45£sec. Half-mile Handicap.—\yhisker, 1 ; MoGifford, 2 i Rush, Time, 2miff Bsep. Hurdles (County), 220yds. — Troy, 1 ; G. C. Cameron, 2; Trot, 3. Hurdles (Qp.en), 220yds.—G. 0. Cameron, 1 ; Troy, 2 j Simpson, 3. Walking (two miles). —Quinp, 1 ; McNiven, 2 ; Gordon, S; Udy, 4- Time, 15mia 7seo. Hurdles, 440yds.—A. Cameron, 1; G. C. Cameron, 2 ; Whisker 3, Time, lmin Ssec.

Dunedin, December 28. Thomas Gleeson was brought up at the Court to-day and committed for trial for stealing a number of articles (when he escaped from gaol last week) from Edward Aldred. For the criminal sittings of“ the Supreme Court there are 13 prisoners awaiting trial. The charges include infanticide, unnatural offence, burglary, prison-breaking, housebreaking, cattle and hprs,e-stealing, false declaration of marriage, larceny, ‘forgery, and false pretences. ‘ . ‘ ' Russell, December .28. Mr Richardson, apoopapanled by the mem. burs for the Bay pf Islands and Maisden, left this morning for Mpngonui, to examinb the village settlements, and will'return to Auckland via Hokiauga and Kaipara.

iNVBRCARGII/jj, December 28. Turner and Calbran, clothiers, were fined 40s and costs 9s for a breach of the Wednesday half holiday by keeping their employes at work. Defendants' admitted the offence, but pleaded that they were not aware that the half-holiday was oompulsory. They let their employes away on Saturday, having tried Wednesday and found it unsatisfactory. The Magistrate said the Municipal Council had power to alter the holiday, and the maximum penalty was £SO. The advocates of the movement, which has not long been inaugurated, are jubilant, as the dejnsioja will prevent several traders reverting to the Old practice. professor Rlack’s Resting of jibe prep on Stewart Island in which tjn has been' dipcovered is’most satisfactory, and a company is being formed to work ‘the same. Representatives of ' Tasmanian capitalists have cabled ‘for' an expert to come over. The Government is to be petitioned to connect the island with the’mainland by cable;- ' Greymouth, December 28. Jn the baud pntesfc jkt Bfunn6rfcQPrth<3

local band won by 30 points, againßfc 29 given to the Denniston Bend. Dobson did not compete* Masterton, December 29. Last night as Mr E. Coppin was driving home to Tenui with his wife in a brake and pair, the horses bolted at Korokoko Bridge. The conveyance was smashed and one horse killed. Mrs Coppin's jawbone was broken, and she was otherwise seriously injured, and Mr Coppin was badly bruised, and his leg injured. They were taken to a roadman s whare, where Dr Beard attended them, and they were brought to Maßterton this morning. Mr Coppin is manager for Johnston and Co. . Christchurch, December aO. In the champion chess tourney on Saturday Benbow beat Sexton. Mouat and Hookham drew a game. , ~ . A. boy named O’Malley, son of a resident at Sumner, was drowned to-day at Taylors Mistake, being washed off the rock. A man, whose name has not yet been ascertained, attempted to rescue him, but failed. The body has not yet been recovered. The police are still searching. , nn Auckland, December 29. A petition has been drawn up for presentation to the Imperial Parliament by the King of Rurutn. and Queen of Rimatara, two islands lying between Raratonga and Tahiti, praying that those territories be placed under the protection of the British a fir H. C. Baddely, who latterly acted as Sheriff and Assistant Resident Magistrate in this district, is about to proceed to England. Oamaru, December 30. The barque Fitzoe left this morning with a cargo of 16,000 sacks of wheat. The Tekapo took away over 5000 Backs on Friday, and the William Christian will leave in a day or two with about 7000 more. Fine harvest weather is being experienced, and the crops are looking well and promise good yields. Auckland, Decembei 31. His Excellency the Governor arrived this morning. He drove into town from Onehunga. Earl Onslow, the new Governor, is (according to a London correspondent) likely to sail for the Colony in the beginning of the new year, and will go by way of Australia in either the P. and O. or the Orient line. If he selects the former service, he will prohably embark in the Britannia on the 25th January, or the Victoria on 22nd February, but the later date is the more likely one. Not earing to face the voyage round the Cape, he prefers the route by way of the Canal and Indian Ocean, where it is likely to be smooth sailing. It i 3 his intention to spend a little time in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. From the latter place he proposes to take steamer for Auckland. He would prefer to ride from Auckland to Wellington, sending his servants and baggage by Bea« Christchurch, December 31. A boy named O’Malley, the son of a resi. dent at Sumner, was drowned at Taylor’s Mistake yesterday, being washed off a rock while fishing with a companion named Percy. The latter made an effort to save him, but only succeeded in grasping his fishing rod. The efforts of the police to recover the body have been fruitless up to the present time. The sea is rough, and the rocks are covered with seaweed. There is little chance of the body being found, Christchurch, December 31.

During the year JSBS the hirths in the Citv O.f Christchurch and district numbered 175 A, against 1788 in 18S7. The marriages were 425, as against 404 in 1887. The deaths were 615, as against 691 in 1887. The Union Insurance Company has declared an interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. In the chess tourney to-day, Mowat beat Brown, and Ollivier beat Sexton. The score is now —Mowat, 34- ; Benbow, 3 ; Ollivier, 3 ; Hookham, 2J ; Sexton, 1; Brown, 0* January 1.

The. plans for the restoration of Sunny, side Asylum will provide accommodation for 80 additional inmates. Two new day rooms for refractory and chronic casesi are to be built, and the partition walls to be carried up to the roof so as to prevent the draught which caused the late fire to spread so rapidly. The Addington barracks is to be converted into a general asylum for imbecile cgses for the whole Colony, and placed in charge of Mr E. W\ Seager, formerly manager at Suhuyside. "'The weather to-day was fine and the day observed as a general holiday in Christchurch. At the Bicycle Club’s races at Lancaster Park, H. A. Spanes, of the Christchurch Club, won the ten-mile championship, North of Christchurch second. Steadman, of Dunedin, won the fiye-milo race. A. Hall, pf the Pioneer (Christchurch) Club lowered the mile record for the Colony, doing it in S)inin 50 l-saeo from scratch. C. Wilson won the one, two, and three-mile Roadster and Safety bicycle race. The New Zealand Chess Championship Tourney concluded to-day, A. M. Ollivier (of Christchurch) beating Benbow and win. ning the tourney. The scores are Ollivier, 4 games j Mouat, 34 ; Benbow, 3; Hook, ham, 2J ; Brown, 1 ; Sexton, 1. Auckland, December 31. A fire broke out at the Strand Mechanics' Building to-night in shops by Thompson and Barber, which were partially gutted. The flames extended to the Swan Hotel, and this building was also damaged. The furniture and contents of the hotel were insured for £3OO in the Natioual Office.. The Maori Chief Paul Tuhaere visited H.M.S. Orlando this morning, proceeding to the vessel from the Orakei settlement, in his war oanoe. He was received by Admiral Fairfax and Bhown round the ship. _ Mr J. O’Meagher, a well-known solicitor, w as fined 20s and costs at-the Police Court to-day fdr having'been’drunk and disorderly in Castoms-street on the evening of the 28th instant. The defendant entered a tent in which a temperanoe meeting was being held, and repeatedly blew a trumpet which he had with him, and otherwise occasioned annoyance, until at length he was thrown out. Two men named Daniel Baxter and John Dignan, prisoners undergoing sentence in Mount Eden Gaol, were charged at the Police Court to-day with endeavouring to escape from: she prison. Gaoler Reston deposed that on examining the prisoners cells an Saturday morning he found the window frames, etc,, considerably tempered with.

The prisoners were sentenced to be kept in close confinement with irons for 21 days. An address is to be presented to the Governor by the Mayor on behalf of the citizens of Auckland ou Thursday evening next. _ , Timaru, January 1.

New Year’s Eve passed off very quietly, and with less public demonstration than usual. To-day's Caledonian sports (first day) attracted about 500 persons.. The magnificent weather made an enjoyable holiday. The sports were of a common-place character —no groat records ; and the only untoward excitement was a collision and a spill in a bicycle race. The chief pedestrian events are the heats of the Handicap extending over two days. The Mile Walk was done on the grass by J. Austin (less 15yds) m 7min 20sec. The Three-mile Bicycle Race was won by T. Fyfe (90yds) in llmin 40seo ; the Mile Run by Padler (scratch) in 4mm 36sec. Only four pipers were on the ground. Nelson, January 1. At the oycling tournament at Trafalgar Park to day the Ten-mile Champion Roadster Race was won by Curtis, of Nelson, who also took the Three-mile Championship of Nelson. Ching, of Richmond, won the Five-mile Open Race. Newton, of Wellington, won the One-mile Ordinary Race. W. Hounsell won the Maiden and Ladies Bracelet. The track, which has recently been laid down, is pronounced by the visiting cyclists to be the best asphalt track in the Colony. There was a large attendance and a very successful meeting. Dunedin, December 31.

Mr Ramsay, the second engineer of the steamer Fifeshire, by some means got bis fingers entangled in the machinery, and the whole of them were crushed off. William Wiokers, one of the crew of the Waipu, was fined £2 to-day for taking ashore 101 b of tobacco. The Fifeshire, with a cargo of frozen mutton, wool, &c., from Oamaru, Timarn, and Dunedin, and a few passengers, sailed for London to-day. Greymouth, December 31. On Suuday, the 23rd instant, two Midland Railway surveyors, Messrs Reinhold and Webster, were ferried across Lake Hochstetter, bound for Mason’s station. They ate a sandwich they had before starting for the station. They lost their way, and, becoming entangled amongst the bush (and precipices, were exposed to all the inclemency of the weather without a mouthful to eat until Saturday afternoon last, when they were found lying exhausted in a miner’s hut they oame across. The last couple of days they were very weak, especially Webster, who could travel barely a mile or so in a day. Their clothes were almost torn from their backs. To-day they were brought Into Nelson Creek. A child of Thomas Jamieson, of Nelson Creek, was drowned accidentally at Try-again-terraoe to-day.

In the island of Samoa, within ten years, 30,C00 natives have become Christians. The King of Sweden (says Vanity Fair) Is relating with much relish an amusing adventure which befel him recently in Spain. It appears that whilst His Majesty was travelling between Cordova and Madrid in the dead of night, occupying a sleeping oar in the express train, a man—a most respectable tradesman of the former place—awakened from his slumbers by the train stopping at a station, alighted in the belief that he had reached his destination. On discovering his error he attempted to regain the train, but was too late. Not to be done, however, he tore along the line after the train and succeeded in reaching it, and, jumping on the footboard, wrenched open the first door to hand, himeelf in the presence of King Oscar and bis suite, who were slumbering peacefully. The unhappy man, seeing the glittering .uniforms hanging about in the dimly-lighted ear, guessed at once where be was, and was on the point of beating a retreat in sheer despair, when suddenly His Majesty awoke, and seeing a stranger in the car, shouted lustily to his companions, " Brigands ! ’ and pounced upon the unlucky individual, followed by the Swedish Ambassador and equerry, and seizing him, began to feel for arms. His hand touching something hard, His Majesty shouted, ‘-'Here is a trabucca !” and drew from the intruder’s pooket a lopg-neoked flask filled with manz.anillal. Meanwhile the train had stopped, and the officials arriving upon the scene, the man was questioned; and, having at last recovered from his terror at struggling with a cro,wned head, explained, and after profuse apojogiee on both Bides, returned to his own oar, when once more the train proceeded.