TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4286, 15 December 1874, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[Pbess Telegraph Agency.] Auckland, Monday. Mr. Williams, o£ Pakaraka, Bay of Islands, made a complete observation of the ingress and egress of Venus. There was a clear sky. He had no chronometer to mark the time, but noted it with a watch. The girl Owen, who fell over a clilf and fractured her skull in more thaii one place, is recovering. It is found the brain is uninjured. The bone was successfully lifted by the Provincial Surgeon. Madame Goddard has arrived. H.M.S. Itosario, which arrived to-day from Sydney, proceeds hence to Adelaide, where she will be handed over to the South Australian Government, to be used aa a.training ship, the officers proceeding to England by the mail steamer. GkahaM3Town, Monday. Henry Watson, cook of the steamer Lalla Kookh, fell overboard in the Thames River today and was drowned. Sir Donald McLean visited Parawai school to-day, and on leaving expressed his gratification at the progress made by the native boys in English education. The business between the natives and Sir Donald McLean is conducted privately. Te Moananui invited Sir Donald to a meetin" of the natives at the American Theatre, but he declined. He said the arrangements about the land must be settled with Mackay. Te Hira declines to talk about anything except Ohinemuri. He is reported to be very stiff, and stronger in his opposition than ever At the firing [to-day the following scores were made by men who have qualified : Clarke, 97 ■ Gordon, 94 ; Campbell, 93 ; Hoskins, 89 ; McLean, 88 ; Sykes, 88 ; Armstrong, 87 ; Grant, 87 ; McLeod, 87 ; Murray, 87 ; Brown, 86 ; McKoy, 86 ; Dey, 84. Dcnedin, Monday. Three companies have yet to fire for choice of representatives. The following have qualified bo far : —McKenzio, 94 ; Marshall, 92 ; Wilson, 91 ; McLaren, 90; Goldie, 88; Richardson, 86 ; Nightingale, 85. , Dodd, late second mate of the Oneco, was discharged from gaol to-day, under an order from Judge Chapman. The Palmsraton Jockey Club have upheld the decision of the Dunedin Club, by diequalifying Mabel.

. Alexandra, Monday. - The following horses are nominated for tho Te Awamutu Cup :—McCarthy's Lanky, Eichdale's Dolly Varden, Higginson's Louy, Bond's Bob, Eeynolds* Sultan, T. Bond's Don, Riche's Dick, Biche's Neil,.Rutherford's Dunbar, Hair's Billy Barlow. For the Maori Eace, Tawhaio, with large numbers of natives from Kuiti, will come in to compete. Chmstchubch, Monday. A long letter appears in the Lytldton Times this morning from Mr. Henry Sewell on the subject of the abolition of the provinces. He contends that it would be safer for the Middle Island to support a proposal for the abolition of all the Provincial Governments than to accept the anomalous and very dangerous condition of endeavoring to live under a divided constitution.