SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 848, 3 January 1879, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

(PROM OrR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

WELLINGTON. January 2. One railway pass has been ordered to be issued to each newspaper. Though not yet formally decided, it is practically settled that Major Richmond will be appointed to the vacant Speakership of the Council.

The Caledonian Society sports yesterday •were a great success. Over 3000 were pre--sent. The Walking Handicap, of two miles, was won by Fraser; the Handicap, of 200 yards, by Davy ; 100 yards, Jennings ; 440 yards, Davy; Steeplechase, Webber. The Porirua races were held yesterday. There was some good sport. Clymenus, an aged white horse, owned by the natives, which was fat and appeared altogether out of condition, winning moat of the events, and taking the prizes from several thoroughbreds, which were in splendid condition. CastiUion, a splendid young entire, won the two short distance races. Clymenus appeared able to gallop all day, getting better the farther he went. Auckland Kate won the Hurdle Bace. An inquest was held to-day on John Christie, aged 76, who died from sunstroke while mowing on Tuesday last, Dr. Tripe stated that it was most dangerous to work in the sun immediately after dinner, and caused a number of deaths from sunstroke in India. The verdict was, Died from natural causes. January 3. Some specimens of stone from the Golden Point Mine have, on the rough test, yielded from Goz. to 360z. of gold per ton. The richest stone was thrown away by the miners, as it did not show a trace of gold. It was taken from what appeared to be a break in a reef. Dr Hector brought back with him specimens from Longdown Reef (West Coast), which have yielded from 2ioz from ordinary stone, to 320z. and 690z. to the ton, with a •mall quantity of silver. The Rangitoto silver mine tests give from 4oz. to soz. of gold, about the same quantity of silver, and 5 per cent, of zinc per ton. Notwithstanding the fact that during the last three years Wellington has nearly doubled in population, crime has decreased by 33 per cent. The committals in 1876 were 616 ; in 1877, 527 ; and last year, 430. The inmates of the Gaol are now only 3 per 1000 of the population. A number of voluble individuals, with " wheels of fortune " and other instruments of gaming, opened at the Caledonian Sports yesterday, but their little game was speedily stopped by the Police. During the month of December 113 births were registered in this city, being the largest number ever recorded in Wellington. The deaths were 28, and the marriages 33. The Government steamer Stella leaves for Cape Campbell at 12 o'clock to-night. She takes Captain Johnson and two surveyors to take soundings in the vicinity of the place where the ship Southminster is said to have struck, causing her wreck. A most extraordinary escape from drownr ing was reported yesterday. Some boys, sons of a Mrs. Redman, were playing on the beach near Greenfield and Stewart's sawmill, at about S o'clock in the morning, when they saw a child, about three years old, floating in the water. They managed to get it ashore in an insensible state, and took ft to their mother, who nndressed the little waif, bathed it in warm water, and poured wine down its throat. She was at last rewarded for her trouble by seeing tb# child

return to life. Mrs. Redman then dressed it in some of her own children's clothes, and every Attention was paid to.the little stranger until the evening, when' ita father appeared to claim it. The parents are named Quinliven, and live in Taranakiatreet. The. child must have wandered, a distance down the beach of folly a mile, when somehow it managed to get into the water. The father, who it is stated was intoxicated, never even thanked Mrs. Redman for the care and attention she had bestowed on his child, nor had the common decency to return the clothes which it was wearing when taken away. James Allen Mackie, manager of the Bank of-New Zealand at the Upper and Lower Hutt, was charged to-day with forging a cheque for the sum of LI3OO with intent to defraud the bank and the larceny of the sum of Ll3lO. The defendant, it was alleged, filled up a blank cheque, given to him by a customer for the purpose of transferring a small account from Carlyle, for LI3OO, in order to cover defalcations which he admitted to the accountant sent to examine bis accounts. This has been going on for two years. He was committed for trial. The takings at the Caledonian sports were L 165. There will be 82 nominations for assisted immigrants by the outgoing mail. DUNEDIN. January 3. The yield from the first crushing of Weatherstone's cement, though not up to expectations, leaves a small margin of profit. PORT CHALMERS. January 3. - Arrived—Shaw, Saville's ship Norvall, with 50 passengers, and 2300 tons of cargo, from London. The passage occupied SO days from land to land, and 90 days from port to port. She left London on October 4th, and met with a terrific S.W. gale in the Chops of the Channel. Cleared Scilly on October 12th, crossed the equator on the 7th Nov., and on the 13th lost the valuable Clydesdale entire Bonnie Scotland, of the value of LISOO, owned by Mr. James Walls, of Canterbury. The cause of death was inflammation. She rounded the Cape of Good Hope on December the Ist. Had strong gales from the W.N.W. to W.S.W. across the Southern Ocean, and passed the Snares on the 31st December.