TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 5879, 4 February 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

United press association.) Auckland, Tuesday. An extraordinary case e£ loss of speech occurred to a woman named Dorrington, through a fit of' excessive joy. The family were alarmed by a fire, but found their house safe, and the woman was so overjoyed that she went into a fit, and on recovering had lost her speech, and has remained in the same state ever since. The inquiry re the grounding of the Rotomahana is proceeding before the Resident Magistrate. Captain Underwood said the steamer, on the occasion of striking, had 350 passengers aboard. He did not know what damage was done to the ship, but the cargo was uninjured. John Sangster Macfarlane, late member for Waitemata, died last night. Archbishop Stein has earnestly recommended the clergy of the Auckland Roman Catholic Churches to induce their congregations and people to contribute towards the alleviation of the Irish distress.

William Fergnsson, of Ellerslie, died suddenly while driving a dray, opposite the English Church. Deceased was fifty years old, and arrived in Auckland some twenty years ago. While coming along the road he felt ill and said, “ Am I sick, or what’s the matter with me 1"

At a meeting of the Acclimatisation Society, Mr. J. 0. Firth reported the successful distribution of the white fish ova in the lakes of the province. It was in excellent condition, and he had no doubt that by this time the hatching process would be completed. The mortality had been great in the Domain, but otherwise the first stage of the experiment had been satisfactorily performed. He questioned the ultimate su-cess of the experiment, the waters of our lakes being too warm. Grahaustown, Tuesday.

A concert took place last night for the relief of Ensor, the man who was injured by an explosion while blasting in the Alburnia mine, resulting in £SO being obtained to send him to Sydney. Napier, Tuesday.

The experiments with the whitefish ova have been anything but successful, at least so far as this district is concerned. Those turned out in the Acclimatisation Society’s ponds were chiefly put into the trays in which the trout were hatched in running water, and these have all died. Some were put into a deep pool in grass cloth boxes, where artesian wells flow on them, and are doing very well; but unfortunately only a comparatively small number of these were so treated. It is thought that the water is too warm for the whitefish, but if so, wo cannot expect any very encouraging report from the Taupo Lake, where so many are turned out. New Pltmouth, Tuesday. On Sunday a school of about 120 black fish were driven ashore near Shell Block, and were loft there when the tide receded. Some of them measured 20ft. in length. The beach is strewn with them, and it is supposed that some enemy, probably a swordfish, must have chased them in, for several had wounds which were bleeding. They are attracting great attention, and large numbers have gone out to see them. The Maoris claim the fish, but are willing to give .ten of them to the pakehas. Yesterday the Maoris cooked a small one for dinner, and partook of it with great gusto. Nelson, Tuesday. The Friendly Societies Fete, hold on Monday, was largely attended. The sports were good. The mile race was won by Webber in 4min. 45sec. The championship, which was decided by points at 400, 300, 200, and 100 yoi 'i- H’hs won by A. Askew (Nelson); Webber (WiHilton), 2nd ; Maxted (Blenheim), 3rd. The other events were well contested, and entries were numerous. Mr. W. Collins, au old settler, who was a member of the first Provincial Council, is dead.

Mr. Curtis, late M.H.R. for Nelson City, has h--'n appointed secretary to the Nelson College Governors, having first resigned his position as Governor. The College has commenced this term with a greater number of students than ever before. Westport, Tuesday. Charles Sibree, alias Yankee Charlie, well known in connection with the Costello murder case, died in the hospital last night, after a long illness. A man named Neil McLean was brought down from Inaugahua Junction last night with a serious wound on the head, inflicted by one Stewart. Jealousy in connection with McLean’s wife is supposed to be the cause of the assault. The woman was living with Stewart for twenty years before she married McLean, some two years ago. A constable has now gone after Stewart. Dunedin, Tuesday. The case of McKenzie v. Smith closed, after a three days’ trial, on Saturday evening with ! a verdict for plaintiff. Damages, £SOO. A large number of applications have been made to the committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club for leave to work the totalisator at the annual meeting. One of the hard labor gang of prisoners named Nicholson met with a serious accident at Port Chalmers on Saturday. The man was bathing, and while diving he struck his head on the bottom, and when brought up to the surface he was perfectly unconscious. The 24 hours’ walking contest between Brooks and Delaney was won by the former, who did 102 miles, and the other a little over 83. The following five represent the North Dunedin Rifles at Nelson as company representatives :—Volunteers Dalziel, Marshall, and Wilson, Sergeant Richardson, and Corporal Hutchison. Volunteer Miller proceeds at his own expense. Sergeant Coxhead will be the only representative from the South District Rifles. Port Chalmers, Tuesday. James Hunter, chief steward of the ship Canterbury, was found dead this morning. He had been ailing for three or four days, and apparently had a slight epileptic fit on Sunday. However, he got better during the day, and retired to rest at the usual hour, and when found this morning was partially dressed. Medical aid was called, but life was extinct. Dr. Drysdale states that death was caused by epilepsy, Mr. James Wallace, shipping clerk to the Albion Company, had hia leg fractured by a bale of wool falling on him this morning. Timaru, Tuesday, Thomas Dowber was brought before the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday charged with shooting Edward Awyer with intent. DoVber had been watching a fruit garden on Friday night, and Awyer, who is a shepherd, was trespassing, when Dowber fired, inflicting a large number of shot wounds. The accused was remanded to Temuka, where the affair happened. The foundation stone of the Convent of the Sacred Heart was laid on Sunday by Bishop Redwood. Bishop Moran was also present. Both of their Lordships condemned in strong terms what they termed the present Godless system of education. The revenue collected iu Timaru last month was nearly £SOO below that collected iu the corresponding month last year. Many of the principal farmers iu this district are making arrangements to ship their wheat Home direct on their own account this year. Oasiaeu, Tuesday. An inquiry was held yesterday concerning the identity of the human remains found in the ruins of the Queen’s Hotel after the fire, and although it was not absolutely proved that the remains were those of Wm. King, yet there can be no doubt that it was he who met his death in the fire.Jeremiah Kenny was to-day convicted of sly-grog selling, and fined £4O. Christchurch, Tuesday. A hand belonging to the ketch Margaret is supposed to have been drowned in Little Akaroa Bay. The dingy in which he put off to reach the vessel was found next day, with a pair of boots in it, and as the wind was fresh, it is thought he attempted to swim back to land, being unable to get to the vessel. The following alterations have been made in tbefvarious Police Districts of the Middle Island :—Otago to be under Superintendent Weldon ; Canterbury, Westland, and Grey, Superintendent Broham ; Nelson and Bleu* heim to be attached to Superintendent Shearman’s northern district. All communication from Superintendent Broham'a district will for the future be forwarded direct to headquarters at Wellington, and not through the Otago district as formerly. Including the collection of £2OO at the Catholic Church and £2O yesterday’s collection at St. John’s, about £6OO has been received up to the present in aid of the Irish Famine Fund. The benefit for the fund given by ’ the Opera Company at the Theatre Royal last night, was not so crowded as was expected it would be. The Lyttelton Harbor Board yesterday determined to repudiate the National Bank’s arrangement with Messrs. Scrimgeour when the recent loan was raised, by which the latter were granted a loan of £40,000 a*’ less interest than the Board had to pay for the money. This determination was arrived at in consequence of the auditor’s letter on the subject. The Odd Fellows’ Hall was densely crowded last night to hear Pastor Chiniquy lecture. The Rev. J. Elmslie, of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, presided. Several ministers of various churches were on the platform. At a meeting of the Review Committee last night, two tenders from caterers were accepted —one from Mr. Bligh, of the Victorian Restaurant, for 100 men at Is. per bed, and meals for 300 at Is. per meal ; the other from Mr. Freeman, Southern Hotel, to billet and cater for fifty during the review at 15s. per head. Other tenders are Invited to be sent in before 10th February. In the meantime, the use of the Immigration Barracks will be asked for.

On Saturday afternoon Mr. Montgomery, the member for Akaroa district, was interviewed at Duvauchell’s Bay by several residents in the county, and after explaining the progress of the railway to Akaroa, he suggested that a public meeting should be called at an early date to appoint a deputation to wait on the Minister for Public Works on his return from Dunedin. A large number of Maoris assembled at Akaroa yesterday to meet the Commissioners for the native lands claims. Messrs. Smith and Nairn, the Commissioners, formally opened the Commission in the Odd Fellows’ Hall. Mr. Clarke, of the Native Department, who acted as interpreter, informed the natives present that the sitting would be adjourned, owing to Mr. Izard’s illness, until the Dunedin Court was held on the 16th instant. A sitting would be held at Christchurch to examine documents in connection with these claims.