TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 865, 23 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION),

WELLINGTON. January 23. The United Methodist Free Church Conference has elected the Rev. E. Bowden to represent it at the annual meeting in England. The next district meeting is to be held in Auckland. The following is the numerical statement for the year:—Ministers, 12; supernumerary, 1 ; local preachers, 30; members, 641; probationers, 75; removals, 89 ; withdrawals, 26; deaths, 3 ; chapels, 16 ; other preaching places, 15 ; chapels built during the year or enlarged, 2 ; Sunday schools, 20 ; scholars, 1967 ; teachers, 211. Inspector James took charge of the Wellington police to-day. The Stewart family are drawing enormous houses.

DUNEDIN. January 22. A sample of silver ore has been brought to town. It was taken from a well-de-fined vein about four miles from Queenstown. The ore bears a close resemblance to that of the Rangitoto Mine on the West Coast. Another action for libel against the Dunedin Age is threatened. This time it is for a paragraph referring to the departure of the Kelly and Leon minstrels, and describing several ladies as crying over them on the railway platform.

CHRISTCHURCH. January' 22. The valuation for Kaiapoi amounts to L 8254, which is slightly in excess of last year's, " Bassingthwaite, tho fraudulent Rangiora debtor, was committed for trial to-day, bail being allowed—himself in LIOOO, and two sureties of LSOO each.

TIMARU. January 22. A special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held to-day to consider the reports brought up re railway rates, and alterations to the Railway Station. The report showed that under the new tariff storage per ton of goods at Timaru would he Us odd, while at Lyttelton it would only be ss. The report also contained recommendations in regard to the new Railway Station, so that the plan should not clash with the harbor works. A copy of the report was ordered to be sent to" the Government.

AUCKLAND. January 22. At the Wesleyan Conference to-day, it was determined to remove the deficiency on tho Home Mission Fund of LG6O at once, and the Conference subscribed Ll2O. The following sums were allocated to the different districts : Auckland, Ll3O ; Taranaki, LCO ; Wellington, L 75 ; Nelson, L 35 ; Canterbury, Ll9O ; Otago, L7O. This will also remove the Church Extension debit. In the Supreme Court to-day, Judge Gillies ordered the discharge of Thomas licnncll for the murder of Captain Moeller at the Gilbert group, on the ground that the Court had no jurisdiction. About 7 o'clock this evening, a child named George Jones, 20 months old, residing with his parents in Nelson-street, while playing in the yard stepped on to the cover of a well, which, having a broken lid, gave way, and the child was drowned. The well was 30 feet deep. The body was rescued by a man named Stockley. January 23. Fifty navvies left by the Wellington for the New Plymouth railway works. Seven tenders were received for the reclamation for the railway station, near the Queen-street Wharf. The supposed amount is from L 40,000 to L 50,000. Double lines of rails have been laid down the railway wharf, connecting with the Waikato lines.

Judge Gillies has given an important decision re the Stamp Act duties. Daniel Lynch made a gift to his wife of property, subject to mortgages. The Commissioner of Stamps, Wellington, sustained the decision of his deputy that it must be stamped for the amount of tho mortgage. The Judge confirmed the decision. At the Wesleyan Conference the following ministerial candidates were accepted : Isftt, Parker, Stane, Abernethy, Hudson, Brooks, and Penfold. Mr. Deps offered, but was declined on the ground of illhealth. Fraternal addresses were delivered at the afternoon session by Archdeacon Maunsell, Dr. Kidd (Anglican), Rev. Inmans (Church Missionary Society), and the Revs. M'Nicol and Carrick (Presbyterian). GISBORNE. January 22. Capt. Moms addressed his constituents last night. The Mayor was in the chair, and there were 300 people present. He reviewed the session, and strongly condemned the Ministry, but eulogised Mr. Sheehan. He said four million acres on this coast were closed up through proclamation by the Government. He believed in free trade in native lands, to" induce capitalists to invest. The income and land tax would be sufficient to prevent too large estates being taken up. He spoke bitterly of Mr. Ballance. A vote of confidence was proposed, but was negatived by 23 to 16. A motion to the effect that the meeting express no opinion was carried by 28.