TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1315, 13 May 1897, Page 38

TELEGRAPHIC.

Geeimouth, May 5. The West Coast band contest finished late to-night. Following are the results : —Sopranos Hopkinson (Denniston), 1; Crumpton (Eeefton), 2; Steer (Grey), 3. Basses —Fitzsimmons (Grey), 1 Frazer (Grey),2; J. Greaney (Grey),3. Baritones — Garth, 1 ; O’Brien, F. Badger (Grey), Angel (Brunner), all tied for second place. Bflat cornets Traversi, with maximum points (Grey), 1; Bussell (Brunner), 2; Phillips (Grey), 3. Tenor horns —McNeil (Grey), 1; Eonson (Grey), 2; Elliott (Denniston), 3. Euphoniums Sundby (Grey) and Lawn (Eeefton), a tie ; Balph (Denniston), 3. March contest —Greymouth Town Band, 1; Greymouth Catholic Band, 2 ; Denniston Band, 3. Test piece, from “ Lurline ” —Greymouth Town Band, 1; Greymouth Catholic Band, 2; Denniston Band, 3. Traversi received a great ovation. Except in soprano concert Traversi’s Band took every prize. Dunedin, May 5. At the enquiry held to-day into the charge of alleged excessive punishment by one of the teachers in the Albany street school, the teacher explained that he could, not recall the circumstance of giving the girl six strokes, but ho was prepared to accept the statement and apologise, and promise not to offend again. The parent of the child and the committee accepted th is, and the teacher was censured by the chairman. Dunedin, May 7. A deputation of about 20 unemployed waited on the Acting-Premier to-day, and represented that there were fully 100 men out of work and unable to find it. Mr McKenzie promised to bring the matter before the Minister of Public Works. Auckland, May 5. ft John Douglas, land agent, arrested at Taranaki on a charge of the theft of <£225, the property of Mr J. P. Dumoulin, arrived this afternoon in charge of Constable Eyan, of Inglewood, and was lodged in the Mount Eden Gaol. The accused will be brought before the Police Court on Friday. At the recent school committee election several women were successful candidates. At Huia Mr 3 Maude Turner was successful in a contested election, and she received the additional honour of being unanimously elected to preside over the meetings of the new committee for the ensuing year. Auckland, May 6.

A meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce was held to-day to further consider the question of the proposed light railway between Gisborne and Rotorua, and they agreed to appoint committees to go fully into the whole question. News from Taupo states that A. B. Stubbin and Alfred Clayton are recovering from their recent severe experiences in the Upper Mohaka during the recent disastrous flood. It appears that a huge landslip came right across the Mohaka, blocking up the river, burying the camp and carrying the inmates before it, covering them with mud. As the debris receded it partially roleased them, enabling t hem to struggle out minus their clothes, yet very •thankful to save their lives, though their subsequent experiences “battling” through the bush and scrub without food and clothes for three days were anything hue pleasant. The Hon W. McCullough has retired from the contest for the Mayoralty Mr Dignan has therefore been elected unopposed. May 7. Douglas, arrested at Inglewood, was charged at the Court to-day with six charges of theft, the amount involved being over .£2OOO. lie was remanded on bail in his own recognisance of .£SOO and two sureties of <£2so each. Douglas was bailed out, himself in <£soo and two sureties, Messrs C. B. Stono and P. A. White, <£2so each. Mat Levy, brought up on two charges of forging cheques in the name of L. D. Nathan and Co. has been committed for trial. Auckland, May 9. Inquiries from Australia and elsewhere have recently been made in Auckland as to the terms upon which Manganese ore can bo obtained here. Owing to the recent rise m the price of this article there is a probability of some of the deposits at Waiheke and other places being again worked. Manganese ore in now lai’gely employed in Australia and Tasmania. Douglas was re-arrested to-day on afresh charge that on the fourth of September, IS9G, he did steal .£75, which he had received in terms requiring him to account for it, from George Woodcock, of Way by. Auckland, May 10. John Douglas was committed for trial on five charges of stealing various sums of . money, which he held on terms requiring him to pay the same to J. P. Demoulin and fraudently omitting to account for or pay the same to Demoulin.

Demoulin in his evidence stated that a promissory note for .£2OOO was given by the accused to him after he had found out about the defalcations. . In March last the witness had defalcations against Douglas to the extent of .£3Bll 9s lOd. The accused, who had nothing to say, reserved his defence. He was remanded on three other similar charges. His solicitor, Mr G. Parr, said he would apply for bail when these charges were heard. ■fc/ Christchurch, May 5. farmer at Ohoka, named Edward Wilson, 61 years of age, died suddenly this morning The cause of death was apoplexy. The Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club to-night voted .£lO 10s to the Hawke’s Bay Flood Fund and .£lO 10s to Herrick’s Home. At the annual conference of delegates from the various Farmers’ Co-operative Associations in the colony last week, the question of the “ Eeduction of freights Homeward ” was discussed, and it was decided to approach the shipping companies on the subject. Eeefton, May 7. Encroachment by the Grey and Mawheriti rivers is causing some uneasiness to settlers of the Grey Valley. The railway line is also threatened in several j)laces. Something will have to be done soon to save the traffic and railway bridges at the Little Grey Junction. Invercargill, May 7. The Southland Charitable Aid Board has requested the Colonial Secretary to make investigation in reference to the case of the man Howie, found dead at Waikaia, in which the Coroner’s jury practically found that the Board had refused the man assistance because he would not go into the Home, and that death was due to want of nourishing food. It appears that Howie’s application was made two years ago. Westport, May 8. The coal export for the week ended to-day was 6253 tons, cf which the Westport Coal Company exported 5003 tons and the Cardiff Company 1250 tons.