TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 899, 4 March 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(per press A.x-mci.vno.v.) I WELLINGTON*. March 3. To-night's Chronicle says:—When there wsj a talk of a political split in the Cabinet, then certain members of the Opposition living in Wellington set about telegraphing t'-* their political friends in Canterbury, having in view the possible contingency of a re-construction of the Ministry taking place. What their idea precisely was would be difficult t-> say, but it appears to have been thought that Sir : George Grey might feel inclined to conciliate some leading members of the j Opposition, and form a coalition Ministry with their aid. However, the thing was ; not tt be, and the hopes of the Opposition were blighted. Major Atkinson has now | been shelved as leader of the Opposition, and his place is to be filled by the Hon. J. Hall, supported by his fii.lm Achntrs, Mr. Stevens. A cheque for L 21,000, legacy duty in the late Captain Rhodes' estate, has been paid in by the trustees. Sir George Grey, it is understood, will at ono? proceed to the Maori Parliament at ifrafcei. Mr. George Barton, M.H.R., lias left for San Francisco, but has not taken hi j family. lie expects to return in time for the session of Parliament. The Government do not intend to appoint either Major Richmond or Sir ! William Fitzherbcrt to the Speakership chair in the Upper Chamber, but intend it« bring in n Bill next session to empower the i*pper House to elect their own Speaker. I Oakley's Hotel was openly robbed of |t>o sovereigns in a box this afternoon. Three men were in the bar at the time, I ami it must have been done by one of i them. March 4. A parse of sovereigns and an address were presented to Captain Wheeler by the j Wakalipu's passengers last night. The Chamber of Commerce, at Mr. Macandrew's suggestion it '3 said, are going to consider means for reclaiming the ' land between the city and Kaiwarra, and form a graving dock there suitable for ! large ocean steamers. The decision in the Taupo inquiry was as follows :—" This is an inquiry in accordance with * The Shipping and Steamer Act, 1877,' before a Resident Magistrate and two master mariners 33 Nautical Assessors, into the wreck or stranding of the s.s. Taupo on the rocks near Stony Point, at the Heads of Tauranga Harbor. The Court has heard all evidence which has been brought before it by the Collector of Customs, and has given every opportunity to the master of the Taupo to exculpate himself by adjourning from time to time to enable him to obtain the attendance of such witnesses as he desired to call. After hearing the evidence, I am | of opinion that the accident was caused by ! careless navigation, and I state my opinion that the accident was owing to negligent navigation on the part of the master of The ship in the following particulars :—l. That he did not properly \ and closely watch the course of his ship I from the red buoy to the beacon. 2. That ! he did not heave the lead. 3. That he ! erred in judging the distance of his ship from the shore, and consequently did not keep her in her proper course. 4. That the alow speed at which the vessel was driven probably conduced to the accident. I am further of opinion that I should not be doing my duty to the public if I again allowed an accident to happen which ap-

pears to have been caused by carelessness or incapacity, to pass without exercising the power which is given to a Magistrate in a Court of Enquiry in such cases. I therefore order that the master's certificate be suspended for- three months from the date of the stranding, and. that the master also pay the costs of this, enquiry, amounting to Ll7- The cerfificatea of the other officer* are returned. GREYTOWS. March 4. A fire, broke out this morning at 2 o'clock in Masterton in. the offices in course of erection for Dalrymple. The places burned were—The Bank of -Australasia, the premises of Williams, Cameron, and Co. (saddlers), Williams (tobacconist), Tozzi (hairdresser), boardinghouse, Walton's seed shop, and several other buildings—about a dozen in all. The books and papers were saved from the bank. DUNEDIN. March 3. At a meeting of the shareholders of the New Zealand Timber and Woodware Factories Company to-day, a report and balance-sheet, which ha 3 been already published, were adopted, and Mr. G. S. Brodrrck re-elected director. March 4. The Duncdin reservoir was getting rapidly dried up, and orders were issued for the discontinuance of water engines ; but a welcome fall of rain set in this morning, and, although the showers are light, a break in the weather is anticipated. The street tramway is progressing rapidlv ; over a mile is already laid down. The" third quarterly meeting of the Licensing Bench was held to-day. The amount of business was light. Several applications for new licenses were refused, the Bench stating that such applications would only be entertained at the annual meeting. PORT CHALMERS. March 3. At the Police Court this morning, J. Lamb, second engineer of the Zamboanza, and his Chinese servant, were fined L 25 each for smuggling cigars. GISBORNE. March 4. A fire broke out at five this morning, and destroyed the premises of Dugbeany (baker), Smythe (bootmaker), Schultz (milliner), Stevenson (store). It was stopped by the space at St. Andrews. The Norwich Union Office loses L 4444 ; New Zealand, L 100; Standard, L 40 0; Hawke3 Bay Office, LIOO ; the Union and National, LoOO each on Stevenson's stock, Bubject to some hundreds by reduction. INVERCARGILL. March 3. A meeting of the railway employe's this evening resolved to form a benefit society on the basis adopted by the societies of Duncdin and Clnistchurch. The new Theatre was crammed to hear Mr. Yarley last night. The subject of his discourse was " The Rich Man and Lazarus." The railway employe's last night formed a Benefit Society similar to those existent in connection with other branches. For the volunteer demonstration four companies have accepted, naming 128 men. There are twenty-eight companies, and if the others attend in the same proportion, 900 will be present. The Kaitangata Relief Fund is going on well. At the Volunteer Band concert on Monday, theatre, gas, and advertising were given free. No charge was made for admission, but there was a collection.