SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 829, 10 December 1878, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

♦ [feom our own correspondent.J WELLINGTON. December 9. Some strong remarks were made by: Mr. Mansford, R.M., to-day respecting the\illfeeling existing between the pdliee "and the detective branches of "the force" in,Wei-, lington. It has long been, apparent -that there has not been that entente cordiale which ought to exist between the two departments of a body whose united, efforts are required for the repression of crime in our midst. Mr. Mansford stated that the matter could not rest where it was, and he should bring it under the notice of the Government, so that an enquiry might be instituted into the circumstances.

A diabolical attempt was made to upset the 9.45 train to the Hutt yesterday morning, by placing a log of wood across the line between Ngahauranga and Petone. Fortunately the guard-iron of the engine caught the obstruction, and removed it from the line, thus preventing what might very possibly have been a frightful catastrophe, as there was a large number of passengers in the train. That the piece of wood was placed across the line with the deliberate intention of upsetting the train there can be no doubt. The line is inspected along its whole length by relays of platelayers,. each of whom has his own "beat" to attend to. The spot in question had been examined only ten minutes before, and there was then no obstruction on the line. December 10. The result of the Southminster enquiry is that the certificates of the Captain and officers are all returned, as the Court considers that the wreck was due to the set of a current not marked on the chart. The opinion is, however, expressed that more might have been done to save the vessel and cargo after she struck. The attention of the Government is to be called to the defective Admiralty map in use. Ministers have officially denied that Messrs. Woods and Dignan have been called to the Upper House, but in well informed circles the appointments are* not considered improbable.

DUNEDIN. December 10. The ship Canterbury, from Glasgow with immigrants, is at the Heads. Messrs. Cargill, Gibbs, and Co.'s wool telegram says : —The attendance of foreign buyers has increased, and prices for inferior, faulty, and scoured average a rise of Id per lb. compared with the lowest rates of the present series. Fleece and grease are unchanged. The tone is firmer. The following prizes have been selected at the Otago Art Society's exhibition : —First prize, Mr. W. Christie, "Winter's Day," Lake Pukaki, the gem of Mr. Gifford's contributions, selected for Mr. Christie by the Council ; second, Miss Brown, a nice water color, "Dusky Sound," by Miss Holmes; sixth, Mr. C. S. Allen, a fine water color representation, " Teremakau Valley," by Mr. Hoyte; also a beautiful little water color by Mr. Neville, of Christchurch ; seventh, Mr. J. Hardy, " Wairoa Lake," Nelson, by Mr. Hoyte ; also a miniature water color by Mr. Beauchamp, Tasmania ; twenty-first, Mr. Hood, a beautiful scene on the Tamar, Tasmania, by Mr. Beauchamp. Mrs. Anstead's basket of fruit and the painting of the Misses Holmes attract much attention.

AUCKLAND. December 9. A storm at Cambridge has done considerable damage to the streets, and has injured the standing crops. ■The Rev. Father Henneberry on Saturday evening corrected a mistake made by the newspapers respecting his remarks on Max candles. It was stated that he had, in speaking of wax candles, attributed great efficacy to them. That was a mistake of the reporters'. He had spoken of the blessing which the Church attached to those wax candles which it blessed for religious purposes, and which were lighted upon the occasion of the services of the Church. (The rev. gentleman here repeated the form of prayer used in blessing the candles.) The prayer beseeches the Almighty to cause the candles to dispel darkness from amongst men, so that in whatever place they may be, evil may be driven away, and no molestation shall come to those who worship God. It was not the wax which had any virtue, but the benediction of the Church. He had not since he came to Auckland said a simple word to offend any Protestant, except when speaking of poor Chiniquy ; he had nothing to retract. He had simply forewarned Catholics and Protestants about that man. The Catholics would act upon his (Father Henneberry's) advice, but their non-Catholic friends would believe Chiniquy to a certain oxtent, and would give him their money. He had performed his simple duty. He had not slandered any man. If it were stated ten thousand times over that he had committed slander he would deny it. Chiniquy was known all over America and Australia and more could be told about him than had been published. At the evening service lie said that the statement in the newspapers that the Catholics in Auckland favored secular education was a falsehood. He said ho would remain in the diocese until the end of February. He said that it was contrary to the Roman Catholic religion to suppork a secular system of education, and all who voted for it must consider themselves outside the Church, and they would not receive any benefits from the Holy. Sacraments.