TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4892, 25 November 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PEE PRESS AGENCY.) ; : ' Napier, Friday.

The dinner last evening to Ormond was quite a brilliant affair, and was held at the Criterion Hotel, but there .was , not sufficient room for all who wished to.attend. J. Rhodes was in the chair, with Ormond oh his .right and Whitmore on his left. Ormond made rather a long speech, reviewing his career in Hawke’s Bay, and then referred to his action in Parliament, speaking about .the Ministerial changes consequent upon the retirement of Vogel. : He said 1 the Premiership was first offered to Stafford, who: declined* chiefly, because his private affairs would not permit his devoting the necessary time to the duties of the’.office..;of. Premier. Ormond maintained that there was nothing illegal in, the number of the Ministry in excess of seven, considering that the other two were not receiving pay ; but the Mihisty yielded the point because of the difficulty of proceeding with the business of the, country while the Opposition assumed such an i attitude of obstruction. He said he had promised to joiu the Ministry, and expected very shortly to proceed to Wellington to take part in the Government of the colony. Speaking about the Counties Act' he ; said he believed the permissive clause would be found very useful and economical; It would be better for the counties to be only distributing bodies, leaving the local government to the Road Boards. ‘ Ormond was received with great enthusiasm, and the applause was great at the conclusion of his speech.

Auckland, Friday.

At a soiree to Broomhall, he said Mr. Fox first suggested :the scheme of a Temperance Settlement, because he believed it would be profitable; but there was no intention of the company to limit the scheme to total abstiners, the principal.object being to make profit. A resolution in favor of Broomhall’s project was passed. ’ Ah Foo has been fined £ll 7s. for evading the duty on cigars. • A fire occurred last night in the back premises of Roberts, a furniture dealer, Shortlandstreet. Ho one was resident on the place, and the fire was speedily extinguished. The same .place has been three times previously ignited, and there have been in all seven alarms of fire in the same block. The damage is estimated at £IOO. •

Walter Graham, grocer, has paid 10s. in the pound. ' V , Christchubcu, Friday. ’ A-cheese factory has been established at Kaiapoi. - • 1 ' ; ■■ ” i: ' Subscriptions for the Eolleston testimonial are coming in freely. Five pound has been fixed as the maximum amount for any one person to give. : : ■ , ; - ■; : Dunedin, Friday. 1 Morissey has permitted his 1 children’s removal; to - the fever hospital. The fever is spreading. rapidly. It is the intention of. the Health Committee to enforce the provisions of the Health Act strenuously. The’medical opinion being that the athenamm library has been the moans of disseminating the fever, orders have been given to fumigate all the books before rc-issuing them. .A twenty-two for practice has been selected for, the All England Eleven matches. ■ The report of the Industrial School Enquiry Commissioners exculpates the master from blame, except so far as he was injudicious in continuing the use of handcuffs on the girl’s legs, but they are satisfied that the master’s conduct generally is most satisfactory.

. The appointment of a Chief Commissioner to the .Waste Lands Board is daily expected. The. acceptances for the principal races on St. Andrew’s Day are:—St. Andrew, Handi!cap—Fishhook, Bst. 101 b.; Kingfisher, V Set.; King Phillip, Bst.; Bob Hoy, 7st. 121 b.; Eight Bower, 7st. ,101 b.; Glengarry, 7st. 101 b.; Sir William, 7at. 71b.; Fox, 6st 61b. ' Spring .Handicap—Tadmor, 9st. 51b.; Fishhook,'Bst. 121 b.; Eob Eoy, Bst. 51b.; Isaac Walton, 7st. 121 b.; Sir William, 7st. 121 b. ; Haphazard, 7st. 91b.; Dead Heat, 7st. 41b.; Sultan, fist. 121 b.; Daniel, 6st. 101 b.; Resina, 6st. 91b.; Flying Beauty, fist. 91b.; Steamer, fist. 71b. ■ St. Kilda has decided in favor of a tramway through that municipality. John Burt, who some weeks ago brought a charge of assault against the Superintendent of ■the Lunatic Asylum, to-day sued the Commissioner of the Police .for £SO for detaining six shillings, a pocketknife, and a .manuscript. The: case was dismissed, his Worship remarking that 'the plaintiff was laboring under an illusion. ', r

Henry Baxter charged 1 the Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum with assault in 1874 and 1875, ■ In his evidence he stated that during the month of December he was assaulted by the - warders, who dragged and kicked him, then threw him on the, verandah, leaving, him there till . bedtime ; next morning he had physic forced down his throat by. the Superintendent, and was thrown into the Chinamen’s ward and handcuffed. The case is proceeding.