TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 921, 29 March 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. March 20_ Mr. Shechan will leave immediately for the Waimate Plains. The Governor's levee is fixed for the :>rd April. The Association's Hawera special correspondent states that the natives who can be depended upon say that if the surveyors arc sent on the Plains again they will be turned oil', and if an armed f.>rce is sent with them they will be met with an armed force. Maori matters are not to be played with. It is better to be prepared harm is done. The settlers are unprotected and there is not a spare rifle in the district and only a small number of Volunteers. The Cavalry Corps here and the Constabulary would have their hands full holding their fort if the worst came. A Volunteer corps of stouthearted men could easily be raised, only time must be given. DUNEDIX. March 28. The floods caused by the heavy rain last night and early this morning did great damage, and the Corporation is blamed for not providing sufficient means for carrying off the storm-water. The following is a rough estimate of the uaiiwe :—Ralrrav-strcet—K. K. Murray, L7OO ; A. Mercer, L3OO ; B. Isaac, LIOO. Hiuli-street —Sargood, Sou, and Ewen, LIO.OOO. George-street—Esther and Low, LI000; J. Irvine, L 400; A. Palmer, LIOO. Great damage was also done to a larue number of other business places, iuCM<!ing the Empire TTotel, Cify Butchery, O-■•in'%' ta. ,:t-;y, Shamrock TTotel, Havnian and (_'■«.," Pritchard (blacksmith). Court's Hotel, and A. Solomon. A ihree-iv.omed cottage at Kensington owned by Mr. E. Osborne, was burnt down yesterday afternoon. The cottage and its contents were insured in the Victoria office for Ll4O. Mr. Osborne was away from home at the time. It is stated

that Mrs. Osborne had gone over to a neighbor's house, and during her absence one of the children set a fire in the cupboard to kill the flies. The police are investigating the affair. A cottage in the occupation of Mr. Griffith Jones, at Hansford's Bay, was burned down at an early hour this morning. It was insured in the Norwich Union office forLl2s—on the house, L 75 ; and on the furniture, LSO. March 29. Great dissatisfaction prevails at the Corporation officers not being sufficiently on the alert, and no proper precautions being taken against Thursday night's flood. Heavy damages will be claimed by numbers of citizens whose goods have been destroyed. A fish-hawker and politician named Lloyd has been prosecuted for threatening to cut the throat of a publican, but was discharged, the evidence being insufficient to convict. The half-yearly meeting of the Dunedin Working Men's Club was held last evening. The report showed receipts, including L 1240 for refreshments and LlO4 for subscriptions, amounting to LISDO ; expenditure, L 1540. LIOO had been paid towards the sinking fund on building.

CHRISTCHURCK. March 28. The four big guns were landed at Lyttelton to-day. The Amberley and Cook's Strait extension of the railway was commenced to-day. The first sod was turned by Mrs. H. M'Lcan, who, in a neat speech, referred to the importance of this connecting line in the New Zealand railways, and hoped it would add to the prosperity of the Colony. AUCKLAND. March 28.

Sir George Grey, since his arrival in Auckland, has been in constant telegraphic communication with the members of the Government upon the Waimate squabble. It is understood that he is incu.-.posed to take any steps which may lead to the breaking of peace. He is expected to leave for Wellington to-morrow. The Hero brings a, line lot of draught horses, also two thoroughbred entires for Messrs. Gumming and Richardson, Napier. GREYMOUTH. March 28.

The jury, at the inquest to-day onW. L. Miller, accountant of the Bank of New South Wales, returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity."

BLENHEIM. March 20. Mr. Seymour, M.H.R., is to address the electors uii Friday next. In consequence of the frequency of fires in Blenheim, the insurance companies intend increasing the rates of premium. A now paper called the Marlborough Times appeared last night. A water supply scheme for the town is contemplated," and levels are being made. An estimate is to be laid before the Borough Council in May.