TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 539, 23 January 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(per press agency.) WELLINGTON, i January 22. » The anniversary regatta and sports ; were damped by the wet weather. It lias been raining all day. A number of the events were postponed. Over L3OO was ' given in cups and prizes. ; The Hinemoa, with the Governor and ' suite and a good uumber of guests, foli lowed the races to-day. All the captains j of vessels in the harbour took part in promoting the regatta. No accident or casualty occurred. The Open Ships' Boat 1 Race was won by the Pet, formerly of J Auckland ; H.M. Nymphe's boat, 2nd ; * the Ada, of Nelson, wag swamped at s else she would have had a 1 sro'od chance. The Four-oared Outrigger Race, principal rowing race, was won by ' the Dolly Varden ; distance, 3 miles ; " first prize, cup and L 25 ; time, 25mins. 3 The race of the day was the First-clnss Yacht Race, 20 miles, silver cup and L 25, - which was won by the Florence: Red 1 Jacket, 2nd. The Minnehaha met with an accident, and had to return. The Coasters' ' Race, 30 miles, for silver cup and L 25, ' was really a capital race, and was won by - the Clematis, of Lyitelton, beating the - Herald (last year's winner), Cynthia, Rea liance, and Saucy L;iss. The other events f were of purely local interest. The ivst of the sports were carried on under very " depressing circumstances. 3 In consequence of the storm, the lines s near Featherston are entangled, and one - wire only is working. Press news is a almost suspended. January 23. Sir George Grey and Mr, Sheehan pr.>- ' ceed to Wairarapa to-morrow morning. e The Ministerial party will remain at , Greytown on Thursday, going to Masf terton the next day, and returning to Wellington on Saturday. At a Good Templars meeting held last ? night, presided over by the Yen. Arch- ' deacon Stock, that gentleman said there * was less drunkenness in Wellington now . than when he came here twenty-two years ago. He thought drunkards ought 1 to be sent to gaol without the option of a fine. The police here state that during last 1 year there were 87 prisoners for miscellaneous offences, (?) fewer than in 1876. ■' ♦ CHRISTCHTJRCH. . January 22. It is rumoured Mr, Fitzroy intends to [ resign his seat for Selwyn, January 23. A serious fire occurred this morning in a block of buildings bounded by Colombo " and Cashel streets, being in the centre of the business part of the city. The fire \ commenced at the back of the premises of Mr, J. Barrett, hair-dresser, and quickly extended on both sides, north and south. [ It had obtained a strong hold before the , alarm was sounded, and before the Fire Brigade, which turned out smartly, had got properly to work, the shop occupied by Mr. Parker, commission agent, arid Mr. Scrimshaw's furniture warehouse, on the south side, were in flames, as was alxo the shop of Mr. Roberta, watchmaker, on the north. The flames were making way througli the windows in the brick party walls of the Al Hotel, which was three stories high. Superintendent Harris being unfortunately out of town, the efforts of the Fire Brigate were not so well directed as usual, and after a time a scarcity of water was also experienced. The Brigade arrested the progress of the fire en the south side after it had partially damaged the shop of Mr. Phillips, clothier, next to Mr, Scrimshaw's, but while the Brigade were endeavouring to save the Al Hotel, the fire communicated round the rear of the hotel with the shops of Messrs, Lane (butcher), Beath (draper), and Pratt (draper), in Cashel-gtveet. The brigade after all/ajled to save the Al Hotel, which was com- . pletcly destroyed, and they had a hard : fi«ht to prevent the fire extending along i Cashel-streetto High-street, The fire raged ] three hours. The following damage »a? ] done :—A hotel (containing about fifty j i

rooms), Scrimshaw's, Parker's, Barrett's, i and Roberts' shops, totally destroyed ; I the back-premises of Beath's drapery < shop destroyed, and stock in the front ] shop damaged; the" stock of Pratt, draper, . was also damaged. No particulars as to s .the value of damage or the are .1 yet obtainable. The origin of the fire, is i unknown. ' 1 ■ ———* —. ' AUCKLAND. ' i \, 'January22. \i The Zealandia has arrived,' and in i coming alongside the wharf, carried away i a portion of it. She is four days and i three hours ahead of her contract time, i The New Zealand passengers are Mr. and ' Mrs. Chapman and two children, Messrs. 1 Anmie, Maher, Fraser, Holmes ;: and i nine steerage. * . BALCLUTHA. January 22. The Hon. Mr. Larnach this morning formally opened the" Balclntha Railway Bridge, and named it the Blair Bridge. He was accompanied by the Mayor and Councillors of Balclntha, and Messrs. Carrnthers and Conyers. He afterwards visited the Kaitangata Coal Company's pits. Messrs. Larnach, Carruthers, Blair, and Conyers will proceed to Invercargill, where they intend inspecting all the railways and public works in the Southland district.