TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 973, 2 June 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. May 31. The experiment of lighting the trains (in the Wellingi.oll and Feutherstone rail\v:iy, with g:ts manufactured en route, Ims at length been rewarded with entire success. A trial was made oil a train a night or two ago, and proved conclusively that as soon as the trains are fitted with complete apparatus, it will be perfectly easy to light them with safety and economy. Preparations are n r.v in progress to carry out this syslei:> «.f lighting, which probably will be applied to all New Zealand railways, from its "feat superiority in every way to thu uirty and insuliicient oil light hitherto in use. During the month of May 85 births and 31 deaths were registered ill Wellington, and 24 marriage certificates issued. A supplementary gazette authorises the shooting of hares within the counties of Maniototo, Vincent, Waikouaiti, Lake, Peninsula, Taiori, Bruce, Clutlia, and Tuapoka, between Ist June and 31st July.

The perjury case against Mr. Kinross, of Napier, occupied the Resident Magistrate's Court all day. The examination of the Native witnesses was very slow, all they said having to be taken down in botli Maori and English. Yery little progress was therefore made, and nothing very important was elicited. The chief witness was Pariawena, who deposed that Kinross now claimed certain lands of his own, known as Kaukawa, in payment for spirits supplied to witness. The land had been mortgaged to Kinross, but only for four years. Witness had got goods and money from Kinross on various occasions. He had transacted business with Kinross through George Morgan, who acted as interpreter. The goods of various kinds had been debited by Kinross to him, and laid against his interest in the Kaukawa estate. He always got whatever he asked for, in connection with the Kaukawa estate, from Mr. Kinross' store, whether goods, money, or spirits. He could not say how much spirits he got, but he used to get two cases at a time. The spirits were all charged against the mortgage on the Kaukawa Estate. He always signed a document when he got goods, spirits, or money. He did not-"understand the contents of these documents. Mr. Kinross used to tell him the amounts of the cheques. He could not read himself. The case was further adjourned to June 10th. June 1. Imogene Flinders, a married woman, attemptecl suicide by throwing herself from the wharf into the harbor. When rescued she was nearly dead, and was taken tu the Hospital. AUCKLAND. June 2. Arrived—The German war-ship AlbaI tross, from Samoa. She will require to be repaired and outfitted, and will probably be docked. A petition has been presented to the Mayor to bring the Public Libraries Act into force in Auckland. A poll will be held on the 19th. J. S. Mackelvie, of London, formerly of Auckland, has presented a series of 150 African curiosities, and a set of publications of the Royal Geographical Society from the foundation, comprising seventy volumes, to the Auckland Sluseum. Mr. C. A. Robertson, of the Grammar School, fell from an omnibus, dislocating and fracturing one of his fore-arms.

Rewi visited Mount Eden Gaol yesterday, to see the Maori prisoners, also the place where the Maoris were executed for Volkner's murder. He attended St. Patrick's in the morning, and St. Paul's in the evening, of which latter faith (Church of England) he is a member. The Albatross brings news from Samoa that on the 3rd May the flag was run up and twenty guns were fired. It is believed that a civil war will result between the Tamuariga division and the Taiwe and Taipuri party. CHRISTCHURCH. May 31. A box of surgical instruments, quite new, was found the night before last in a stall of the old Provincial Stables. Durhamstreet. The police so far have been unable to find an owner.

A meeting of the Christchurch Chess Club was held last night. Twelve entries were received for the cliess tournament, to take place on Tuesday and following days. Mr. Ellis was appointed Vice-President, and Mr. Halliwood, of Wellington, Secretary. June 1. Thebirths in Christchurch and surrounding districts during May were 158 in number, against 102 for the same period last year ; marriages, 3G, against 33 ; and deaths, CI, against 49.

NEW PLYMOUTH. May 31. The Hinemoa, with the Governor, Sir George Grey, and Colonel Whitmore on board, arrived here this morning. At about noon the party landed, and were conveyed to Mr. Caverhill's house, which has been given over to the vice-regal party. It is expected the party will remain here till Tuesday next, and then leave for Auckland.

June 2. The tribe to which Kereopa belongs have held a meeting concerning the late threatening conduct to Europeans. The excuse Ivereopa made was that he was incited by Parihaka influence. The Natives condemn his conduct.

The Oreti got on the bank at the j Waitara as she entered, yesterday. It is expected to get lier off by to-day's tide. A monster meeting, convened by the Mayor, is now being held to discuss the question of defence and native matters generally. TIMARU. June 1. The vital statistics for Timaru for last month are—Births, 49 ; deaths, 20 ; marriages, 10. A large proportion of the deaths were caused by accidents. NAPIER. May 31. Prisoner M'Lennan was to-day committed for trial on a charge of poisoning his wife. The case occupied the Resident Magistrate's Court all the week, and has excited great public interest. The most important additional evidence given was that of a woman named M'Donald, who knew the prisoner at Geraldine. He told her before his wife's death that he was over head and ears in debt, and had passed forged cheques, but that he had managed to keep his wife in ignorance of his troubles. After her death he again appeared at witness' house, at Patangata, and remarked that it was a good job that his wife was out of the way, as he was free to go to Africa. She afterwards found that there was a suspicion of his wife having been murdered, and told him so. He said, with some curiosity, " Could they detect poison so long ! after death? No ; I loved her too much to poison her." He also said that if an attempt were made to arrest him he -would shoot the policeman, and showed her a revolver.

The Maori chief Hiroka Tuiha, who obstructed the railway line, was charged at the Police Court with the offence. Inspector Scully said he had received instructions from the Government to withdraw the information, as there were extenuating circumstances. The Resident Magistraie said the summons was withdrawn because it appeared that in the morning the prisoner had been ejected from the railway carriage with undue force for smoking, and had then allowed his temper to get the better of him. He had, however, informed the station-master at Kopua of his intention to obstruct the line, and lie no doubt thought he had a right to prevent trains passing over his land. He had, however, rendered himself liable to penal servitude for life, and it was to bo hoped that this would be a warning to him.