TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8008, 12 February 1887, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

(united press association.) Christchurch, February 11. The Colonial Secretary arrived here today. He visited Smmyside, aud will leave for Dunedin to-morrow morning with Sir Robert Stout. Dunedin, February 11. The hearing of the charge of perjury against O’Donoghue, arising onto! the recent case against a hotel proprietor, is adjourned. Marshall and Copeland’s breweries were sold ito-day. The Albion Brewery brought £16,000, and the Water of Leith Brewery £5850. Williamson and Murray were the purchasers in each case. Of the white fish ova for the Otago Acclimatisation Society which arrived by the Alameda, about 30 per cent, is found to be jbad on examination at the ponds at Clinton. A fair proportion have hatched out, however, and are quite lively. Auckland, February 11. John Urquhart has applied to the Crown Lands Board for permission to work the sea beach at Whangarei for gold and silver. The Board decided to recommend the application to the Government.

At the Police Court to-day, the Rev Gideon Smales was fined £5 and coats for a horse belonging to him being worked while suffering from sores. The prosecution was at the instance of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The rev defendant made an appeal for mercy, and had, when the information was first laid, written a piteous letter to the Superintendent of Police.

During a thunderstorm on Wednesday night a house in Snffolk-street, Nowtou-road, was struck by lightning. A hole was made in the roof. The mantelpiece was smashed, and the grate was thrown out on to the floor. Fortunately no (one was in the, room at the time. Janies R. Lett has been committed for trial on a charge of passing counterfeit coin. At a meeting of the Rugby TTuion, the £2O bonus returned from Wellington was considered, and it was resolved to hand the money over to the Auckland Benevolent Society. Wanganui, February 11. The trouble up the Wanganui River between the Natives and the River Improvement party is said to be simply that the stones from the bluff on the river near the Island of Montoa will cause the banks to fall in. MajorjKemp will probably be asked to write a letter to the Natives, and this is expected to put an end to the obstruction, as previous letters have done in similar oases. The temperance people made no move in the licensing elections, being evidently satisfied that the old bench should be re-elected. Blenheim, February 11. A painful feeling has been excited here in consequence of the refusal of the ohurehes (except the Catholics, who readily consented) to make collections on Hospital Sunday. They allege that as many members of the congregations are already rated for charitable purposes they ought not to be asked to further contribute. It is thought that the refusal will lead to a diminution of the revenue the churches acquire from outside sources through bazaars and subscription lists.

Harvesting is practically over. There are splendid crops of wheat and barley throughout the district. In frequent instances 50 to 55 bushels per acre are reported. The late sown barley is not so good, owing.to the absence of rain. There ia a good crop cf oats, of which a large quantity is being converted into chaff for export to Wellington and West Coast. The chaff industry is assuming large dimensions in the Wairau. The weather ia settled and fine again, after a gentle rain. Blenheim fowls and ducks have suffered considerably lately from the depredations of ferrets, supposed to have come down from the sheep stations on tbs adjoining hills, where they were turned out to exterminate the rabbits. A ferret was captured to-day in the back of a shop in the centre of the town.