TELEGRAMS

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 853, 9 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS

(PER I'KKSS ASSOCIATION), I ! WELLINGTON. January 8. James Allan Mackie, the late manager of the Bank of New Zealand at the Hutt, was convicted to-day of forgery, by filling up a cheque, signed M. Clark, with LI3OO instead of LBO. It was done to pass the inspector. The jury recommended him to mercy on account of his youth, the apparent negligence of the bank authorities in conducting inspections, and the insufficiency of his salary to maintain his position. The land revenue for the month of December, so far as the returns have been received from the several districts of the Colony, shows a decided falling oft" All the drapers but one in this city have agreed to try the Wednesday holiday. The Hon. J. Martin intends cutting up a large portion of Mr. Waterhouse's run into small agricultural farnjs. Regulations are in course of preparation, and will shortly be gazetted, setting forth the conditions under which exhibits can be forwarded from New Zealand to the approaching New South Wales exhibition. The Government are determined to use every effort to secure that New Zealand shall be properly represented.

At a meeting of the creditors of Mr. Guildford, leather merchant of Wellington, held to-day, his liabilities were stated to be L 14,000, and assets L 22,000. The creditors all signed a deed of arranger ment. January 9. Mackie was brought up for sentence today. Several witnesses as to. the guarantee were called. The Chief Justice said

I it was a bad case when embezzlement was accompanied by deliberate falsification of | accounts. The jury, in their recommendation to mercy, were misled by the youthful appearance of the prisoner, who was 31 years of age. The evidence did not show negligence in inspection by the bank authorities, and although he feared the tendency of the banks and others was to employ men hot. trained to resist temptation in the way of handling money, while paying them less than tradesmen, he did not think the question of salary should affect him in passing sentence, which, was four years' penal servitude, with a similar sentence concurrent on the charge of embezzlement. Two children while playing beneath a house occupied by Mr Bacon, father of the lad William Bacon, aged fifteen, employed in the Anchor Line Company's office, found a pair of new blankets made into a swag, new Martini rifle, 200 rounds of ammunition, a haversack, and L 206 in notes planted. William Bacon, on being I arrested, admitted committing a recent robbery. He said he had planted an additional L 45 in a pocket-book under Wadestown, and had bought the things j found, intending to take to the bush, evidently « la Kelly. DUNEDIN. January 8. At Mr. Stout's meeting at the Queen's Theatre, on Friday night, the whole of the dress circle will be reserved for ladies, and gentlemen with ladies. The Waste Lands Board to-day declined to grant the petition, for the opening of the block of ten thousand, acres at Macraes, for settlement under agricultural lease and deferred payments, as they did not think the circumstances justified the opening of more land at present in that district.

The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were concluded to-day. Jane Reid, charged with perjury, pleaded guilty, and sentence was reserved for the decision of the law points raised by the defence. R. G. Fowler, of the Telegraph Depai-t----ment, was transferred to Greymouth yesterday, and was presented with an albert chain witii pendants, etc., by the officers of the department. The Bishop of Melbourne has ordained A. R. Fitchett, late a Wesleyan minister, to deacon's orders, and no appointment having been made at Home, he will take charge of All Saints' Church. January 0. At the meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery yesterday, Dr. Copland moved a formidable overture to the Synod containing as many clauses as the ten commandments, each beginning with " whereas," suggesting that measures be taken for securing the daily reading of the Bible in schools. In speaking to the motion he urged that the secular principle would not rest satisfied with its influence over schools, but would establish itself in the Legislature, to abolish prayers in the House of Representatives, drive out the Bible from the Courts of Justice, and affect the enactments of the Legislature in questions relating to marriage, the Sabbath, and matters of morality. It was resolved to transmit tho overture to the Synod. A water famine is again anticipated. There is said to be only three weeks' supply in the reservoir, and it is proposed to stop the supply to machinery. This will occasion great inconvenience and loss to trade, The instructions issued by the Government that all free passes on the railwaj' are to be stopped has interfered with the prosecution of certain important road works between Dunedin and Port Chalmers by prison labor. The Minister of Works is to be interviewed on the subject. William Power, 15 years of age, cmployed at the Daily Times office, was charged to-day by the publisher (Adams) with having forged his name to a cheque for LlO. The accused bought a shirt and hat from Hallenstein Bros, for Ss, and received the balance of the cheque. It was filled up with a clumsy school-boy scrawl. The bov was committed for trial,

CHRLSTCHURCH. January 8.

Three young men were brought up today on a charge of horse stealing, but as no folouious intent was proved, the prisoners having taken the animal in a drunken frolic, they were discharged with a strong caution. Cowan was acquitted of the arson charge at the Supreme Court to-day. The jury in this case complained to the judge of the food which was provided for them, and his Honor said the only help he could give them was to allow them to arrange for their own refreshments. At present it appears juries are left to the mercy of a publican. Mr. Varley addressed an open air meeting this evening for an hour and a half. He only arrived from Wellington to-dav.

It "is stated that Mr. R. Pufflett, the Union Steam Shipping Company' agent at Napier, will succeed Mr. D. Mills, who is at present stationed at Lyttelton, and who is to be removed to Wellington.

The Ashburton County Council have decided to extend the Rangitata Road Bridge 17 chains, and construct 1(30 feet of it at once. There were 2S applications for post of Engineer to Council. They have also decided to build a hospital at Ashburton themselves.

A meeting of footballers was held tonight, to consider the English visit. It was resolved to wire to Mr Henderson in reply that L 250 could be raised if necessary, but that at present only the gate money would be guaranteed. It was also decided not to join Otago in sending a team to Australia this year, as it was thought the cricket trip was quite enough for the present.

AUCKLAND. January 8. There is a likelihood of Father Henneberry's advice to Catholics to start a paper of their own being soon carried out. The paper is to be something like the Dunedin Tablet.

The racehorses Agent and Eversley went south In the Wellington to-day. January 9.

The movement has been initiated to bring under the notice of the Government the desirableness of removing at stated intervals the officers of the Customs Department, similar to that adopted in regard to the Police. Owing to the increased San Francisco mail service it lias been found necessary to provide the mail agent with an assistant.

An agitation was started by the crews of the coasting steamers for an advance of pay to L 7 per month, which the owners refused to grant, and the seamen's places have been supplied. An application lias been received from the Thames for a sufficient number of men to man the whole of the coasting steamers sailing out of Auckland. In the case of the man English', tried yesterday for wounding a native at Ohiwa, the counsel handed in two testimonials—■one in Maori, praying that the leniency of the Court might be extended to the prisoner, and another from Europeans, expressing sympathy with, and approval of, tlie prisoner's conduct, and spoke of a purse of sovereigns. The Judge indignantly condemned the latter petition, and it was not read.

Bishop Cowie authoritatively denies the statement current that he was initiating a movement to oppose the present education system. RAPIER, January 8. ' The session of the 1.0. G.T. Grand Lodge closed this afternoon with the installation of officers. Tins evening a

public meeting was held in connection with the Grand Lodge, Mr. M. R. Miller in the chair; the Hon. W. For, and others, addressed the meeting.

TIMARU. January 8. The next South Canterbury Jockey Club races will be held on the 7th and Bth of March. The erection of a very large and costly grand stand is proceeding rapidly, and it will be ready for the races. 'Chadwiek, who attempted to commit suicide yesterday, is expected to recover. The Board of Education to-day resolved to spend LIO,OOO during the current year on repairs to the old school buildings, and in the erection of new ones.

Mr. Wakefikl, M.H.R., addressed his

constituents at Geraldine last evening. There was a crowded meeting, many persons being unable to obtain admittance. Mr. Wakefield's speech was very similar to that delivered at Temuka, but he went more fully into the probable course of politics next session, and severely criticised the Premier's speech at the Thames. He met with an enthusiastic reception, and at the close of his speech a cordial vote of confidence was carried unanimously. GREYMOUTH. January 8. The Claud Hamilton shipped here 10,5740z ldwt llgr gold, valued at L42,29C. The shippers were—The Bank of KZ., G3450z; Union Bank, 19230z: National Bank, 21990z ; Chinese, 540z. •The amount of gold exported for the year ending December SI is 67.0(>00z, valued at L2fi8,270.

NEW j'LYMOUTH. January 8.

Mr. Courtney's township of Vogeltown, 50 acres, about ten minutes' walk from town, sold to-day, in quarter acre allotments, some as high as L 45. The whole property was purchased for L 750 about two months ago. To-day's sale of 33|acres realised LI7CO.

A meeting has been called to establish a Temperance Alliance. INVEE.CARGILL. January 8. The interest in the Mataura election is increasing. The general opinion is that Mr. Shanks, the moderate candidate, will be returned. Committees in the interests of both parties are being formed in various parts of the district. The Southland Times this morning in a leader emphatically supports Mr. Shanks' candidature. A poll to decide whether money shall be borrowed to supply the town of Invercargiil with water, will bo taken on Friday.