TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 535, 18 January 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

m • (per press agency.) WELLINGTON. January 17. It is understood that Sir G. Grey will visit Westport and other places on the West Coast of the Middle Island some time next month, but the exact time is not yet fixed. A Government Gazette issued to-day notifies that the followihg will be the. rates pf pay and allowances of officers of the Armed Constabulary [—lnspector and first-class superintendent, LSQQ ; inspector and second-class superintendent, L4OO ; inspectors, L3OO ; sub-inspectors, L 250; surgeons, L 250. Colonel Whitmore i 3 gazetted Commissioner of Armed Constabulary while he remains a member of the Executive Council, without being entitled tp any salary pr emolument whatever. Another notification contains the appointment of all Armed Constabulary officers as inspectors, Ist and 2nd class inspectors, sub-in spuctors, and surgeons. The terms and conditions under which rewards will be paid for the discovery of new gojdfields in pursuance of the resolution of the Bouse on the 4th October last are published in the Gazette. The total Customs revenue for 1877 was L 1,213,479, as against, for the previous year, L 1,216.781. ♦ AUCKLAND. January 17Dr. Sommerville held a special prayer meeting for ladies to-day, from which gentlemen were excluded. Only two civil cases were set down for hearing at the (supreme Court, Sir George Grey i 3 elected patrqn of the Working Men's Club ; Mr. Brett, the Mayor, was present. In the case of Henry Solomon Meyers, charged with fraudulent bankruptcy, the jury were locked up all night, and failing to agree, they were discharged this morning. The case will be re-tried at the April'session. Another charge of concealment of assets is being proceeded with. Mr. Walters takes his horses south about Tuesday, February sth. It is not known whether Hippocampus will start for Wellington races. The Auckland and Riverhead railway is expected to be opened in two months. Thatcher, Levy's agent, left for Napier to-day, to make arrangements for his appearance there. The rainfall last night was about two inches. ♦ CHRISTCHURCH. January 17The hurricane of Tuesday night did considerable damage to ripe crops in the rural districts. A crowded meeting was held at the Odd Fellows' Hall to-night, to consider the alleged grievances of the railway employes. Mr. Wynn Williams presided, and among the speakers were the Revs. Frazer and Penny, Messrs. E. C. J. Stevens, M.H.R, for Christchnrch, John Anderson, and J. Francis, Chairman of the Railway Servants' Society. The latter explained several of the causes of disaffection among the railway employes, the principal one of which seemed to be the recent regulation requiring the men to work overtime without pay, and to work on Sundays when required. A resolution condemnatory of tiiis was unanimously carried, as also one requesting the Government to appoint a Commission to enquire into the whole of the grievances of the railway employes. Mr. Stevens spoke strongly in favour of this course being adopted. Grain and produce transactions are quiet. Wheat is nominally quoted at 5s to os 6d. The first early deliveries of new crop wheat are expected to command 4s 6d to 5s at the iiiiuda of millers ; oats meet with fair local demand at old. The new crop will probably start at 2s 91 to 3s for very first lots. No transactions. Flour and otiier produce unaltered. The harvest is expected to be a fair average one. MASTERTON. January 17. A fearful gale swept over Masterton and the neighbourhood yesterday morning. Nearly all the shop windows on the east side of Bridge-street were broken. Many chimneys were blown down, and the roof of an unfinished building was carried several chains. Parts of the neighbouring bush look as if cut down by hand. Two houses were burnt down and two blown over. Lowe's llailvvay Hotel narrowly escaped, and all the furniture had been removed when the heavy rain commenced to fall. Crops still standing are much damaged, especially oats. No gale equal in severity has been felt here before. Carterton fared as badly as Masterton.