TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4883, 15 November 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Tuesday. The staff of provincial officials throughout the province will be reduced at the end of the present month to the merest skeleton. Grey returns from the Kawau to-morrow, and addresses his constituents at the Thames on Saturday night. G. Vesey Stewart, the pioneer of the Katikati settlement, has petitioned for a divorce. The petition sets out that he was married to Margaret Torrens Miller at St. John’s, Moneymore, County Derry, Ireland. At Liebeg House, Tyrone, and Katikati they had issue—nine children. On the 10th July, 1876, and divers times between that and the 15th his wife committed adultery with Cecil Gladstone, a settler at Katikati, and her nephew, aged nineteen. The defendant denies the charge. The case comes on in January. A farm-house, the property of John Hodgson, of Ruatangata, and a greater part of his furniture, were burned. The house was insured for £2OO in the National, the furniture for £IOO. A handicap pigeon match for an interprovincial trophy is to be shot on the 27th; value, £63. Marks, Brown, and Kirkwood are the handicappers. A flood at Te Aroi drowned thirty sheep. A stone bridge at Mangapai was struck by lightning, partly carried away, and much shaken, Grahamstown, Tuesday, A meeting of friends of Sir George Grev, convened by Dr. Kilgour, was held last night, when about forty were present, to arrange for the reception of Sir George. A banquet was proposed, but negatived after discussion. It was agreed to meet Sir George at the wharf, present an address, and ask him to address a public meeting. New Plymouth, Tuesday. The libel charge instituted by the Cominissioner of Waste Bands against the Budget was withdrawn yesterday morning. The Budget last evening said in writing the articles referred to it had not the slightest intention of imputing to Mr. Whitcombe that the minutes were incorrectly entered by him, or through his agency. Each party pay their own costs. Gisborne, Tuesday. A Royal Commission has been sitting here for a fortnight, to inquire, into charges preferred by J. A. Wilson against Judge Rogan. The proceedings are held within closed doors. Nothing improper yet has been proved against Judge Rogan. It is thought that nothing is likely to he. Wanganui, Tuesday. The Shamrock Hotel and stables at Turakina were burned to the ground early this morning. The hotel was unoccupied. The fire is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. Hokitika, Tuesday. The following entries for the Christmas races were received last night : —Trial Stakes Blower’s Doncaster, Breakell’s Dainty, Card’s Kathleen, Rivers’ MomingStar, Fraser’s Tasso, Bunn’s Phantom,- Hungerford's Snowdon. Kumara Handicap—Cameron’s Septimus; Blower’s Hero, Denoaster, Dainty; Cassidy’s Kensington, Tasso; Lunn’s Grecian Bend, Phantom, Snowdon, Jaspar. Hurdle Kace —Nero, Mason’s Eclipse, Dunn’s Rainbow. Hokitika Handicap—Septimus, Nero, Doncaster; Rivers’ Strongbow, Dainty, Tasso, Grecian Bond, Snowdon, Jaspar. Second Day.—Hurdle Race—Cameron’s Brown Bess, Nero, Dainty, Eclipse, Phantom, Rainbow. Westland Handicap.—Snowdon, Jaspar, Don-

caster. Dainty, Nero, Strongbow, Septimus, Kathleen, Tasso, Grecian Bend, Phantom, Grand Stand Handicap—Jasper, Dainty, Dsncaster, Morning Star, Septimus, Kathleen, Tasso, Grecian Bend, Phantom, Kensington. Dukedin, Tuesday. A purse of one hundred sovereigns was presented by the merchants of Dunedin to Captain Gibb, of the ship Thomasina McLellan, with a complimentary address, for the manner in which he met the danger in which his vessel was placed by spontaneous combustion of coal, and by his exertions reduced the loss to a minimum. The annual meeting of the Bible Society was held last night. The attendance was small,, but the reports were very encouraging. The meeting agreed to send £2OO Home as a sub--•scription to the British, and Foreign Bible Society of Scotland. At the conclusion, Drs, Ooseby and Stewart spoke warmly on the Turkish outrages in Bulgaria, and a resolution was dratted and signed, requesting the Mayor to convene a public meeting to give expression to the feelings of the community in regard to the Turkish atrocities, and to express sympathy with the sufferers. Probably subscriptions will be raised as an expression of sympathy. The Bev. Dr. Stewart said—“ I will gladly join in asking the Mayor to give us an opportunity of relieving our spirits, by bearing testimony against the inhumanities which I thought could not possibly happen in the nineteenth century.” Judge Bathgate, Professor Salmond, Bev. Mr. Smekie, Mr. Barr, and others, signed the petition. At a special meeting of the City Council this afternoon, the question of building in the Octagon was again discussed, and the members got to very high words. The Mayor said, with reference to remarks, that his casting vote on a large question was not without precedent, that he was not likely to be influenced by what Councillor Fish said. Councillors Fish,. Walters, and Isaac said the conduct of the Mayor was insulting and disgraceful, and left the room; but returned after a short absence. Councillor Walters criticised the conduct of the Mayor, and was peremptorily ordered to sit down. He imputed that the Mayor had not used his influence to save the wharves and quays reserves, and the Mayor left the chair and adjourned the meeting for a quarter of an hour. Several Councillors declared the adjournment illegal, and placed Councillor Isaac in the chair, but did not succeed in transacting any business. On resuming, a large number of amendments were made to the original motion, but it was finally agreed to build offices in the Octagon, tocost £70,000. The scene in the Council was a most disorderly one, but at its conclusion Walters and the Mayor expressed regret for what had occurred, and hoped it would not be repeated. J. M. Jamieson was appointedCity Treasurer at £4OO per annum. Mr. Macandrew has not been offered the charge of public affairs sinee the convention was held. It is understood that a public subscription towards sending political delegatesHome will shortly be opened.