TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4885, 17 November 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PEE PRESS AGENCY.) Masterton, Thursday.

The Opaki races commenced yesterday. Owing to the wet morning, the spectators were not very numerous. Eight horses ran for the Maiden Plate ; distance, one mile and a half. H. Bannister’s, jun., Ada, first; Benall’s Steel Trap, second. Opaki Stakes.—Only . two. ran. It was a gift to Little Wonder ; Lady. Grey, second. Produce Stakes.—Four horses ran. It was a good race. Campbell's' Shamrock was first; Greathead’s Matipo, second. Four horses started for the Ladies’ Purse. Greathead’s Little Wonder was hard pushed by Casey’s Tiohborne, Gisborne, Thursday. Respecting, the Royal Commission sitting at Gisborne, inquiring into the charges against Judge Kogan, it is currently reported that evidence .was adduced yesterday to the effect that secrets have been divulged from Commissioner Wilson’s office. Cooper has heretofore been accused of obtaining information of charges preferred against Rogan from Wellington. Auckland, Thursday. . A man has discovered gold at Hicks’Bay in small quantity. Sir George Grey returned from Kawau today. He goes to the Thames on Saturday morning. The imported cattle by the City of Auckland for Buokland are all from the Bainesse herd, chiefly Booth blood. Blenheim, Thursday.

: The inquiry as to the late fire lasted all Tuesday and Wednesday and until 8.30 this morning, when the following verdict was returned ;—“ That the fire which burnt the Government buildings and a large portion of the town of Blenheim on 2nd November originated in the Resident Magistrate’s department, in an office occupied by Griffiths, which was closed to public business the whole of the day previous to the fire. The jury : are of opinion' that the preponderance of evidence shows that the fire did not originate by accident, though they are unable to say how or by whom it originated. A rider was agreed to by eleven jurors expressing their opinion that it is highly inconvenient and unsuitable for private business to be carried bn in the Resident Magistrate’s offices; that ordinary care had hot been taken for the safe custody of the said offices ; and that there was marked want of concern for the safe custody of the public records in the public offices, as shown by there being no fire-proof safe or protection. Fifteen witnesses were examined.

i Batchelor’s exhibition was very successful for two nights,’and is still performing. Geeymodth, Thursday. '

The Coal Company struck the main seam in their bore hole at a depth of 635 ft. this morning. They have gone through 16ft. of coal {sic) and have not yet reached the bottom. The coal is hard, and of splendid quality. The exact thickness of the main seam struck in the Greymouth Company’s shaft is 15ft. 6in. (sic). The coal is the best yet seen in the district, and there is no water. Dunedin, Thursday. : The Port Chalmers Regatta will be held on Boxing Day. , A meeting of the Council of Convention was held last night. Four members were present. The proceedings were private., A meeting will be held in the City Council Hall on Monday, to make arrangements for the proposed visit of the English cricket team. Charles Johnston, a racing man, was sent to gaol for one month and bound over to keep the peace by the police, bench this morning for an aggravated assault. The first meeting of the Education Board under the new Act was held this morning. Mr. James Macandrew was elected chairman, and the officials were reappointed. It was decided to prepare a list of requirements, and ask for a proportion of the £50,000, of the loan put aside for educational purposes. The contracts for school buildings now existing amount to £IO,OOO, and to the present time £6BOO more is required for sohool accommodation deemed necessary. J.' L. Gillies considered Otago entitled to one-third of the £50,000.

At a meeting of the Harbor Board this afternoon a discussion arose on. the engineer’s report on the Harbor Board improvement. The engineer adhered to his former scheme -as against recent suggestions to the Board to cut a narrow channel : to Dunedin, and roUgh dredged materials behind fascines. Ritchie said that the Board engineer had not experience to warrant them following his advice, and that ho had shown a disposition simply to prove that he was right, and not to do what was beat for the Board. He believed Simpson was not the man to be engineer to the Board, and it was time for the Board to get 'a_ man it could depend upon. McNeill thought it wrong tofollow the engineer with an expenditure of £40,000 oh the harbor. The engineer reported that the channel must be dredged . 300 feet in width to be safe for vessels. The Mayor thought :100ft. would be sufficient, and advised that tenders should be called for dredging a . channel to that width within eighteen months or two years from the date of tender, McNeill suggested that tenders be called, and work commenced , at once, so as to commit the new Board to the scheme, or another twelve months might be lost jjiscussing the question. Nothing was done, and the meeting adjourned till Monday. , . ■ The hearing of the charge of incendiarism against Grainger was ■ continued to-day, and further adjourned for a week, the same bail being allowed.