TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4291, 26 February 1901, Page 5

TELEGRAPHIC.

PRESS ASSOCIATION ■ AUCKLAND, February 25. Four life-belts, three tied together, marked “Britannic/' have been picked up at Ocean Beach, Whangarei Heads, also a trooper’s blue silk cape, with gold band an inch wide. The Customs authorities think it was merely washed overboard, as tho vessel did not signal the loss of any one at Capo Maria or Cape Otway. It is just possible that a deserter took this means of leaving tho vessel.

PALMERSTON, February 25. A special general meeting of the local branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was hold yesterday to consider the replies from the General Manager to the requests - made by the conference of April last year. The opinion was expressed that the replies on the following questions were inadequate and unsatisfactory : —(1) Classification ; (2) failure of tho department to recognise a stated week’s work for certain divisions of traffic hands; (3) the demand made that the bridge hands'should bo paid for wet and dry days; (4) failure of the department to grant eight hours off between) shifts. Regarding the latter clause, the men consider that where .the exigencies of tho service are opposed to it a time equivalent to throe hours shall be allowed. The meeting was the largest held for years. Another meeting will ba held to decide what course of action shall be taken. NAPIER, February 25.

Harry Dunn, the well-known wrestler, was brought up at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, charged with assaulting an elderly man named George Beverage, oook at the Caledonian Hotel. Tho evidence disclosed that Dunn and his brother were skylarking in the hotel rather loudly, and tho plaintiff, thinking there was a row on, interfered, with the result that he was hurt. Dunn sworo that the plaintiff was the aggressor, and that if any injury had been inflicted, it had been done in self-defence. Tho cose was dismissed. On Thursday evening an elderly man named Edward Malloy, _ formerly bcloiminc to the 65th Regiment, was found in a “half-demented state , wandering amoimst tho sand-hills at Poraugahau. When found he bad been without ion;, for five or six days, and had been dnnkbm sea water. He was taken to the Pcrangahau Hotel, and well cared ror. Tho police wore communicated vnti. Ho was 1 nken to Waipawa and medieadv examined. Being found to be of wea c intellect, ho was committed to V elhugloii AsyIUII GISBORNE, February 25. Search parties have been scouring the Nnbaka district for the missingman Robert Clifford, gardener abMiOimond’s Malda station, biu without u-,-Sult ' GREY MOUTH, February 25. John Klenen was to-day charge-., with committing perjury m the Lawso salting, case, and was committed ioi tnnI CHRISTOHIJRCH, February 25. A meeting of the Councili of the League of Wheelmen was held to-night. 1 • Hunt, a New Zealand cyclist, now in Australia, wrote thanking the league for its invitation tQ him to compete a. tho championship meeting, but regre - ting that his engagements for the remainder of tho season prevented an acceptance. A letter was received from Chapman and Ivor Lawson. American cvclists now in Australia, with reference to riding in New Zealand. , The league secretary had written asking for particulars. The Amateur Athletic Association wrote notifying the appointment of a committee to confer with the , league on a matter of mutual interest, i! The City Council resolved _ to-night . that a special committee consider what I arrangements can be made for disposing

of blood and offal at the abattoirs, and that if the arrangements are satisfactory the committee be empowered to complete the purchase of the approved site at Sockburn, DUNEDIN, February' 25.

The Union Steam Ship Company has abandoned the idea of running a special excursion to tho South Sea Islands during the winter, in view of the visit of the Duke of Cornwall. It is expected that tho steamer Waikare will be required for the intercolonial trade.

Mr John Rogers, city engineer, of Brisbane, was tb-night selected for the position of engineer for Dunedin. Tenders wore opened to-night for a tramway loan of £50,000, bearing 4 per vent., invited by the City ..Council. The money is required ‘to complete tho purchase of tho tramways. Tho loan was oversubscribed by £39,300. The A.M.P. Society tendered for the whole loan at. par, but only received £11,700, the rest going to tenderers above par. Tho average will be about £IOO 15s.

At a meeting to-night, it was decided to form a Young Men’s Christian Association., A constitution was adopted. An association of a similar kind died many years ago.

INVERCARGILL, February 25

Tho harvest is coming on, and the weather is now exceptionally fine ' and bright. Reports of tho oat crop vary, some being that it will bo an average crop, and others that it will be light. °