TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 778, 9 October 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. October S. A letter from .Judge Richmond to the Colonial Secretary was 1 -tabled last night. His Honor says :—'"ln the recant debate on the Judicial severaL members of the House of Representatives appear to have founded their opinion upon a report contained in the New Zealand Jurist for February last of the cases of Spence r. Pearson and others, and Gillon v. Mac Donald and others. This lias, for the first time, called my attention to the report in question, and I feel it to be my duty to point out to the Government certain misstatements therein, which materially affect the merits of Mr. G. E. Barton's ease. He then enters fully into an explanation of the rase, after which lie says it docs not appear to have occurred to anyone who relics upon the report in the Jurist to enquire into the origin of that report. I declare it to be quite untrustworthy. 1 have reason to believe that it was not furnished to the Jurist by either of the barristers who are announced as the reporters for this district. Without some apprehension of these questions it is not possible for anyone to understand how thoroughly without ground of complaint Mr. Barton has been. 1 respeetfull v submit that it is desirable to lay this letter on the table of the House ot (.tepn-f.entatives. ft will be under stood that I ha\e confined myself to noting

a few important mis-statements m a report which some members have relied upon. It is understood that the (lovernmont will assist those districts which have suffered by the late floods, by advancing them money either at a very low rate of interest, or without any interest, to enable the local boards and County Councils at once to repair damages. These advances are to be secured r.n the '2O per cent, of the land fund localised i--. ; iie Act of last year. The Grand Jury threw out the bill for wilful murder against Hennre Bete and I'eiicmam, I Mil found tine lulls ot manslaughter.

I The first meeting of the delegates api pointed by the Volunteers in various dis- . triers of the (.'olony was held this evening. . There were present—Captain Baillie, Marl--1 borough; Captain M'ln.tosh, Wellington: f -Major Lean, Canterbury ; Captain Feldwiek, ) Southland ; Captain Bonar, Westland : t M'Cara, Greytown ; Sub-Lieut. Morris. •: Oamaru : YValkington, "Wanganui : Major i Hamlin, Auckland. The Kirie Associations 1 were represented i.y Messi*. i'itt. Nelson : ; Stevens, Thanic..-, : and Shrimski, M.H.R., :■ Oamaru. t aptaiii Baillie v.-as elected ehair- - man. Mr. Stevens ga\ e a sketch of the proi jiosals for forming the Association, anil sub- .' niitted a brief code of rules, modelled as far 1 as they would apply froin those of the National Kille Association of Kngland. The 4 discussion on these was held over. it. being ,■ felt desirable that before this is done, oppor--5 (unity he all'orded to Dunediu and other dis- , tricts to send representatives, Mr. Leary. • | M,' \'i ol liiiiiedin. who was to have reprer I sented inc .ii.-.Li ii.t, h;v> ing had to return J home. IT was i\sohed thai the chair ina;. !,<• lvqimsted to communicate v, li-'li Colonel ', Staveiy on the subject, and request an early [ replv. there being several gentlemen in Wellington who would be willing to act. It was decided to communicate to the same effect ' with the ollicers commanding the Waikato, 1 Tiii'anaki. Opotiki, and Lake districts. . j At the ~\.i].icme ( 'ourt. Henry Aldridgc. . j for iiiiie.-ein - ..cqiiittcd : A. W. Thompson. "i.|- receiving stolen pi'upeiU , was , sentenced to six months' imprisonment : \\ . - T. Arnold, charged with shooting James t Ward, was shown to be a dangerous lunatie, ■- and was handed over to the gaoler as such : 0. Lorimer, f.ir stealing a diamond ring and other jewellery from Mr. Sehwabe. was | found guilty -sentence deferred : .7. iliggin- : j son pJeadci goiity to stealing L-17 at YVaira- ' rada - sentence ' (iciqiYcd : re],la Tokitahi, for perjury -trial not finished,' The lirst annual session of the Diocesan Synod was opened by Bishop Hadtield with the usual solemnities to-day. The Bishop delivered an address, October <». The Oamaru Waterworks .Bill, IS7S. Amendment Bill, and the Oamaru 'Harbor Hoard Ordinance Amendment Bill were eacli ! read a third time, and passed. Oiu'r,VMOUTH. Ocif;!>v 9. This morning the s.s. Kennedy while crossing the bar outwards touched the ground, apparently gently, (.'apt. Palmer thought nothing of the. occurrence, but when the steamer was about a mile out to sea the steward informed him that the saloon was being flooded. The Captain then returned over the bar. 'The water was gaining rajridly and by the time the vessel reached the wharf the water was nearly level with the saloon table. It is supposed the vessel in crossing the bar {tail struck on a stone from the protective works, and tnat this had knocked a hole in iter bottom, Great ciedic is due to C'apt. Palmer for bringing the steamer back safely, as she could not have floated many minutes longer. CHRISTCHURCH. October S. Th.-: polling for the election of five City Councillors resulted in the return of Messrs. Jenkins, TremuyiW, Glifii.u.;, Cass, and Binstead. The Returning Otiieer, m the declaration this morning, said it was not announced last night in consequence of the clisgraceful proceedings attending the declaration of the poll at the last election. The Grand Jury found a true bill against E.' Hoff for the murder of his wife. He •will be tried to-morrow. John Reynolds was sentenced to four years' penal servitude for arson. Jas. Smith, indicted for a similar offence, was acquitted. i October 9. i At the Supreme Court last evening, Walter Daniel Stanton was £cun<jl guilty of committing a burglary and stealing a cash-box containing LI 00 worth of stamps, and was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude. Timothy Houlihan, an elderly man, found guilty of an indecent assault on a child, was sentenced to six years. The murder case has been postponed till Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Bates have made a hit at the theatre in " Pink Dominoes." At the inquest on the body of the man Schmidt, the jury returned a verdict that he was suffocated while in a state of drunken- ' ness. ;

The Board of Governors have announced their intention of awarding three scholarships of the annual value of L2O eacli to girls studying in the High School between the ages of 14 and IS.

The man M'Clatchie, who was assaulted in an hotel a few days ago, is sinking rapidly. BALCLUTHA. October 8. The township is gradually getting cleared of water. Horsemen can now get safely out of the township in both directions. Business generally is being resumed, and the greater portion of the inhabitants have returned to their houses. None of the distinct mails have been despatched this afternoon, which causes great dissatisfaction and surprise. The Postmaster said he would not send them until vehicles can convey them out of the township, and this may be some time.