TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 456, 15 October 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(fliom tub puhss agency.) WELLINGTON. October 14. A fire occurred in the northern part of the city this afternoon. There was a high wind, but the brigade, working well, got the fire under after two cottages had been destroj'ed, and an adjoining building injured. The origin of the lire is unknown. The total amount so far collected in aid of the Famine Relief Fund is L 725. The street collections yesterday amounted to a little over LIOO. The subscription in aiet of S. W. Alcorn's family lately burned out have now closed, and amount to over LI2OO. Wellington contributed nearly LIOOO, Hokitika, LSI ; Auckland, LSO ; Greymouth, LSO ; Dunedin, L2O ; Ashburton, L2O. Octe>ber 15. Communication by the Tasinanian cable is interrupted, but messages can be posted from Melbourne. * . PATEA. October 15. The ketch Jane Elkin, Leslie, master and owner, from Poh-rus Sound, on entering the Patea river, at two o'clock on Sunday, with a fair wind, struck on a siag on the bar, r,nd filled with water in three minutes. The vessel is too much damaged to float, ami has been abandoned. She is partly insured, the sum being L3OO. The cargo (sawn timber) has been saved. 0 CHRISTCHURCH. October 14. During yesterday the Famine Relief Fund Committee established another collecting stand on the public footpath in the centre of the city. A band played at intervals during the evening in Cathedral Square, and members of the Committee presided at a table with a subscription list. The public subscribed freely, about L2OO being collected during the day and evening. The "boating season opened yesterday with a procession of boats. There were 100 members with 26 boats, and a large attendance e>f the public. ♦ NELSON. October 14. The body of a miner named Hopwood has been found at Oollingwood, dreadfully crushed by a fall of earth. His arms and legs were broken, and a splinter had been driven through his back. He had been working by himself, and was not missed for some days. . «. HOKITIKA. October 15. The Board of Health reports that scarlet fever has entirely died out. There is ohby one case of a simple type, being that of an adult female, who has nearly recovered. No other form of infectious or contagious diseases prevailing. NAPIER, October 13. At the Agricultural Society's dinner at the Criterion, Messrs. Stafford, Ernest Gray, Wighy, Cox, Williamson, and Tescheniaker were among the guests, Mr. Whitconibe in the chair. In response to the toast of the General Assembly, the Hon. Mr. Stafford rose, and was received with tremendous applause. He said he had frequently responded for the House of Representatives as the oldest continuing member. He was a member of 23 years' standing, and, as the father of the House, was an instance of a father being often troubled by the doings of his offspring. Among all the benefits of Agricultural Societies, the greatest was the bringing settlers from one part of the Colony as judges to co-operate with settlers in other parts. This tended to nationalise the people of New Zealand. This had been the chief aim of his (Mr. Stafford's) legislative life. (Immense applause.)— Mr. W. Walker, of Canterbury, responded to the toast of " Kindred Societies."—The Hon. Ernest Gray, in responding to that of " The judges," said there was a wonderful improvement in the show of merinos since last year. There was progress also in the Lincolns, though not so great.—Mr. M. R. Miller remarked that in the last four years the Hawkes' Bay clip had increased from 14,000 to 23,000 bales. Such an increase was hardly paralleled.—Mr. Cox, M.H.R., proposed " The successful competitors."—Mr. J. T. Ford of Christciiurch, in responding to the toast of " The visitors," said the Lincoln ewe hoggets were the strongest olass he had ever seen in a yard.—Mr. Tescheniaker responded for "The ladies" amid great applause.