TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 412, 23 August 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(from the press ac.ency.) »■ WELLINGTON. August 22. In the R.M. Court, two labourers sued Mr. Oakes, railway contractor, for wages alleged to be due them for labour on the Pakuratati works for a subcontractor, who has since left the district.' The plea urged on behalf of Oakes was that he had paid the sub-contractor the full amount due him on his contract, and that lie could not therefore be held liable for the claim. His Worship the Mayor, in giving judgment for plaintiffs, said that, while it was a hard case for Oakes, the Bench were of opinion that the object of the Contractors Act, and more especially of the 136 th section of it, was to take care, at least to the extent of 60 days' wages, that the earnings of labourers employed on Colonial public works should be protected, and that it was the duty of a contractor to see that ho did not sub-let any portion of his contract to persons in whom he had not the fullest confidence, and indeed to be sure, before a final settlement with any sub-contractor, that the workmen had been paid their wages. Mr. Fitzgerald, on behalf of his client, asked leave to appeal, which was granted. o CHRISTCHURCH. August 22. A man named Arthur Poolton was killed accidentally at the Railway Station. His cart was standing too close to the rails, and a truck going past shoved a heavy piece of timber on the cart against him, jamming him against the crane, and crushing his chest terribly. He died shortly afterwards. He leaves a wife and two children. AUCKLAND. August 22. John Hume, engineer, drowned on the Lionel, steamer, leaves a wife and four children, wholly unprovided for. Captain Steward, formerly of the Craig Ellachie, a brig well known in Sydney, leaves a wife, but no children. The other two men were unmarried. The vessel belongs to Mr. M'Lelland, now in the South. She is insured in the Batavia office for L7OO. Fifty people witnessed one man clinging to the bottom while the vesstl drifted over the bar, but were unable to help him. He was ultimately washed off into the surf. The hull of the vessel is completely smashed and worthless. NELSON. August 22. The Queen Bee wreck inquiry concluded to-day, when judgment was given to the following effect :—(1.) That there had been a want of proper navigation between the time of sighting the Spit light and the ship striking ; (2.) that there was culpable neglect in not using the lead ; (3.) that a bad look out was kept. The captain's certificate was suspended for three years, and the second mate's for six months. The Court considered the first mate erred in judgment as much as the captain, but the responsibility rested with the latter and second mate, who was the officer of the watch at the time of the wreck. * DUNEDIN. August 22. An influential deputation waited upon the Mayor this morning for the purpose, of having steps taken to keep the Fey>-» Hospital open till the permanent one can be erected. The Mayor suggested that representations should be made to the Government to have the Hospital kept open for two or three months longer. He said he would forward the petition to the Central Board of Health, and do all he could in the matter.