TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4217, 25 September 1874, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[Press Telegraph Agency.] ~ ... . . . Auckland, Thursday. The damage done to the wharf alone by yesterday’s gale is estimated at £4OO. ■ . Vessels from the Coast all report very severe weather. The Taranaki, which has arrived at Onehunga, reports having encountered yester-' .day a terrific gale, which ■ swept the decks of' everything ■ moveable, carrying away one of the, boats and-a portion of the rail.,; She saw two waterspouts. ; • . , Grahaiistown, Thursday. : The Advertiser publishes another letter from the, Piako, Natives, in which they allege that the reason- they .close the Piako is that the proprietor of the steam: launch had refused to carry them as, -passeugeju. Prom the Advertiser's explanation 1 it would appear that, on one particular.’trip, when the Maoris wer? refused a passage, the steamer_was chartered. Christchurch, Thursday. . The Lyttelton Times this morning says that Mr. 0. C. Bowen; R.M. of Christchurch, has been offered a portfolio in the Cabinet and a seat: in the Upper .House.'. The department , offered, to Mr. Bowen is that of Minister of Justice. ,’ ’ ' ' The. latest educational returns- show that there are in the Province 73 school districts,. and 84 schools, with TX7 male and 127 female teachers, .4957 male and 4398 female scholars. The total number of .scholars is equal to onesixth of the whole population of the Province. . Hokitika, Thursday. The Tararua proceeded on to Nelson. She was unable to be tendered on the Coast. . Dunedin, Wednesday.

Judge Chapman gave judgment to-day in the Guardian contempt of Court case. He said that if' the article complained of had ended with its primary object of advocating the expediency of preserving the inviolability of telegraph, there would have been no occasion for the' rule ; but it Went beyond that. The general tone .was studiously subdued, but that; , tone was condemnatory of plaintiff ’s , proceedings. Therefore, in his opinion, it had* the tendency imputed to it, though not so strongly as to. evince a depraved intention. If he , had thought this case came within the more gross and 1 reprehensible class,’ lie - would •" probably have considered'a "fine as the proper mode of dealing with it. But as he did. not consider- it so, though. it .was not excusable, he had decided that the usual consequence l as to costs would be a sufficient vindication of * the law, and above all, a sufficient warning that the ' Court’; will hot sanction any writing .put forward pending : an' ‘action 1 ; which 7' reflected ■ however cautiously upon the proceedings of the parties to' an action, or of thensolicitor or counsel. The rule was made absolute, with costs. . . Thursday. The programme of the March race meeting is published. ’ First day : Maiden Plate of 80 soys., Dunedin Cup, Newmarket Stakes of £6O, •Publican’s Handicap of £IOO, and Selling Raoeof £SO. Second day -. Handicap Hurdle of £BO ; Club Handicap £2OO, with five guineas sweep ; Ecus Stakes £75, Hovel Race £IOO. Third day : Steeplechase £IOO, with five sovs. sweep ; Town Plate £IOO, with same sweep ; . Master Rowe Produce, Stakes for sweep and cup'; Forbury Handicap £l5O, with five.sovs. sweep ; Flying Handicap £6O, Consolation £BO. - Cup nominations'Up'to 21st October, weight on ' 26th November, and .acceptances on 21st January, v The visit of the "Victorian cricket-team this summer is certain. A resident here offers to bring them over himself and-supply the funds. Mr. Beal, as representing three gentlemen, hais already■ taken ; the matter: up and is now:in Melbourne negotiating.' Mr. Bass, chief assistant of the American expedition for observing the transit of "Venus, with Mr. Thompson and • Mr. McKerrow, leave for Clyde on Saturday to Select a Station. The war sloop Swatara with the rest of the expedition are expected at the Bluff early next month, i The Council of the Otago Institute recommend Clyde, but Mr. Bass is likely to select a site, further south. It is understood that Dunedin is undertaking to bring a Victorian" cricketing team . over, and to pay their expenses,, if the -present negotiations fall through. ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA. ARRIVAL OF THE VICTORIA. - ■■■ ’ 1 Auckland, Thursday. The s.s. Victoria has arrived from Sydney, which she left on the 17thinstant. She brings the following intelligence : EUROPEAN NEWS. London, September 15. ‘ A Republican has . been elected to the National Assembly as representative of Maine et Loire. i ■ . President MacMahon has- been visiting the Northerp .Departments. When replying to an address presented to him, he expressed his determination to pursue his mission with firmness, and to have regard to moderate men of all parties. . '. : The Journal des J)cbats has been warned forhaving said that whoever was not a Republican was an adherent of the Empire. • . :The German and Austrian ambassadors have presented credentials -to Marshal Serrano, as chief of, the Spanish .Executive Government, and have given expression to cordial good ■wishes and assurances. : ■ i, M, Guizot, the eminent French statesman and historian, is dead.