LATE TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 936, 7 February 1890, Page 17

LATE TELEGRAMS.

(per press association.) Christchurch, February S. At a meeting of drapers and clothiers last night, it was resolved not to close on Saturday afternoon. Mr Wilding has been elected captain of the Canterbury c.icket team against New South Wales. The formal business of the Wesleyan Conference was brought to a close last night. It was resolved to hold the next session at Auckland. A resolution was passed expressing thankfulness for progress, aud a hope for more success in the future. Foxton, February 5. Thomas Spring, aged 18 years, while bathing in the Manawatu River last night, was drowned. The deceased lad was employed by McMillan, Rhodes and Co. Oamabu, February 5. The steamer Elderslie sailed for London, via Tirmru and Port Chalmers, at 4.30 this morning. She took from here 304 bales wool and 19,433 carcases of mutton. Dunedin, February 5. Satisfactory entries have been raaeived for, the Exhibition Regatta. Seven are entered for the Champion Fours, including the Waitemata, Invercargill, Port Chalmers (three), Otago, and Dunedin Rowing Clubs. For Souliers’ Race Matterson, Stephenson, and Palamonntain have entered. For the Champion Yacht Race the Pastime and Mohanga (Akaroa), Leader, Ripple, and AnoDyma (Dunedin),, and White Wings (Port Chalmers), have entered. At a sitting of the Board of Property Tax Reviewers, the appeal or the Shotover Big Beach Company (Sew Hoy) to have their assessment reduced to £SO per share was sustained, A cable message from Mauritius confirms the advance on sugar of £2 7s per ton. Two cases in connection with the oruise to the Macquarrie Islands of the Janet Ramsay came before Mr Carew, R.M., to-day. Fowler and Godfrey each claimed £4O, half as wages and half as damages for being left at the Macqnarrie3 from the Ist of October until taken back by the Awarua. The plaintiffs contended that they had been le.ft on the leland without a proper being made to take them off, and thaVtkey suffered three months of hardship, The defence was that the plaintiffs preferred to stop ashore to returning, and that it was simply impossijjjLa lor the craft to have returned foj. tliem. The case was not concluded’, , * ” Blenheim, February 5, A case of unusual interest wa3 heard today. Two men were summonod By the.police for ill-treating a pig in connection, with an. event at the recent! Jubilee 3'pqpts, “catching the greasy pig.” The proceedings wera. taken consequent upon a. paragraph ip tiny 1 Fxpr.rSij. The police 1 had subpoenaed Mr ; lyirby, the editor, \vhp refused to be sworn as a witness for the police, alleging that his usefiflneas ps a pressman would be at an end if he were liable to bo placed in the witnp s box to support police prosecutions. He persistently refused to be sworn. The Bench, after a retirement, said they had no alternative but a committal. As the committal was being pronounced the police

offered to withdraw the case, which the Bench agreed to. Mr Kirby then intimated that he was perfectly willing to make a sworn statement at the request of the Bench if it were distinctly understood he was not examined as a police witness. The Bench consented. The pressman then gave evidence to the effect that his strictures, on which the police had taken action, were not levelled at individuals, for he saw no single act of cruelty, but against a barbarous sport. The case was dismissed. Auckland, February 5. To day Lord Carrington returned to Sydney by the steamer Alameda, which sailed this afternoon. The great baiitone singer, Mr Charles Santley, arrived in Auckland by the Te Anau from Sydney to-day. Serious bush fires have broken out in the Waikato. A great fire is raging at Mangawhare, and the valuable flax fields belonging to Mr J. Dilworth are in danger. At Ohaupo Kusab’s valuable bush was destroyed. It ia judged that the bush near Ohaupo is burning in many different places. The houses of some of the residents are in danger. At a meeting of railway employes to-night a resolution was passed objecting to the Railway Insurance Bill. Christchurch, February 5. Mr Joseph Deans, 73 years old, was thrown from his horse this morning on the ferry-road and killed. " The first traction engine ever taken over Porter’3 Pass went over to-day, when @n engine drawing tvo trucks with 12 tons of wool from Enos Castle Hill Station crossed safely. During ISS9 the Lyttelton Sailors’ Homo was used by 196 sailors, IS fewer than in 18S8. The accounts show a debit balance, which was met by a grant from the Harbour Board. With reference to the removal of the coal hulks from the wharves, which has been feared would cause the Shipping Companies to stop coaling their steamers at Lyttelton, the Chairman of the Harbour Board to-dav stated that the hulks would nob be removed, except when their berths were needed for other vessels. He understood the Shipping Companies were satisfied with this arrangement. Wanganui, February 5. At the Regatta Association last night the. sum of £IOO was voted for prizes and other business transacted. There appears to bs* every promise of the regatta, which is beldl on the 27th February, being a great success, four crews from each of the two local clubs being in training. A concert committee was also appointed. Napier, February 5. At the annual senlling matches at Poverty Bay and Hawkes Bay the Napier Club be&£ the visitors by three lengths in two mile», The Gisbornites, however, won the contests with the Union Club. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Masterton, February 5. A Maori named Kemara was arrested here on a telegram from Gisborne, charging him with horse-stealing. He will be brought up to-morrow morning.