TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 735, 17 August 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. August 16. A petition praying for further enquiry into the case of O'Connor, recently convicted of an attempt to poison William Light, was presented this evening. It was signed by over 1100 persons,

HOKITIKA; -.".::;.-.:.-. - August -16. A motion favoring the southern line of railway was discussed in 'the County Council, and lost on the casting vote' of the Chairman. An amendment was carried, urging the Government to :a line of railway between the East and West Coasts. Five families, German and Italian, and four Italians, who have been settled at Johnston's Bay some time, have come up to this place, having left the settlement. All are dissatisfied, and give a poor account of the place. The resident agent at .the settlement proceeds to "Wellington in a few days.

AUCKLAND. August 16. The Endowment Commissioners appointed to divide the educational vote met to-day. . Mr. Tole made a statement relative to the position of the Board regarding reserves of district land set apart for educational purposes—34,s62 acres—of which 384 acres are classed as town lands, 996 as suburban, and 33,180 as rural. In apportioning these, the arbitrators have allotted 283 acres town land for primary education, and 100 acres for secondary. Of suburban, 742 for primary and 247 for secondary ; of rural, 25,638 for primary and 8544 for secondary; total, 25,667 for primary and 8893 for secondary. The present annual revenue is LI2OO.

The report of the Cocoanut Oil Manufactory shows a profit of 8 per cent.

DUNEDIN. August 16. A Committee meeting of the Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution to the effect that the remission duty on grain and flour would be injurious to a large number of settlers. They also resolved to warmly support the proposal for railway lines from Greym>>nth and Hokitika to Cromwell as opening up the largest area of land for settlement, and offering the fewest engineering difficulties.

BALOLUTHA. . August 16. Gorman, the agent for Nobel's dynamite, has finished the work of blasting the rocks on the Clutha River, ordered by the Board of Conservators. The work was very satisfactorily carried out, and it is believed ii" rooks now obstruct the navi•ition of the river up to a point some

::: k's below Beaumont. Gorman yesterday afternoon experimented with dynamite upon some tree stumps, at InchClutha, iu the presence of a large number of settlers. The experiments were considered highly satisfactory. One large stump and its roots were completely smashed and blown out of the ground, and the pieces scattered hundreds of feet over the paddock. Gorman fully explained the mode of using the dynamite to those present. He also experimented at the Corporation quarry here, showing that dynamite had great strength over the ordinary blasting powder.