TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 996, 28 June 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(per press association.)

WELLINGTON,

June 28. A large meeting of engineers and others met last evening. A deputation was appointed to wait on the employers relative to a reduction in the wages of the men. It was agreed to -work on full pay, or to accept a slight reduction until the depression passed over.

DTJNEDIN, June 27. At an adjourned meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, held to-day, twenty-eight members were present. Mr. R. Olliver, M.H.R., presided. There was a long discussion regarding the best steps, to be taken for revivifying the Chamber, The Chairman moved by order Of the Committee that the entrance fee be reduced from three guineas to one guinea, and this was carried, Mr. R. Wilson stated as his opinion that if a proper canvass were made 100 members would be added. Eventually

the meeting was farther adjourned for a fortnight, remitting the whole question back to the Committee for their consideration and suggestions.

June 2S. About a hundred of the representative men of the city were present at the banquet given to Judge Bathgate last evening, on the eve of his departure 011 a visit Home. Messrs. R. Stout, R. Gillies, R. Oliver, the Hon. W. H. Reynolds, and Dr. Macdonald delivered admirable speeches, and the proceedings altogether were of a highly interesting and successful character.

AUCKLAND. June 28. Lucy Donnegool, a girl, charged with forging a telegraph receipt with intent to defraud, was remanded. Another detachment of the Armed Constabulary at Cambridge are under orders for Taranaki.

HAWERA. June 28. Tamati, one of the proposed hostages of Monday, a leader amongst ploughers, has been bouncing about town to-day. He was in a store kept by Mr. D. King, who watched him narrowly, he being a well known thief. Mr. King caught him in the act of stealing a pair of trowsers and a vest. He was allowed to walk out of the shop, but Mr. King then stopped him, and gave him into the custody of Sergeant Kahilis. The would-be thief now lies in the Hawera lock-up. When King had sent for the police, Tamati and his friends said we were afraid to take him in charge, and when being taken, Tamati gloried in the act, and clapped Mr. King on the back. He considers himself a kind of hero amongst Te Whiti's followers. He was taking the first step towards carrying out Te Whiti's prophecy that all the Hawera settlers and contents of the town would be the Maoris' without paying for them.

There is no truth in the report that the Maoris are ploughing at Makaia. Later.

The native Tamati, who stole clothing from the shop of Mr. King has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and is at present on his way to the Wanganui gaol.

NEW PLYMOUTH. June 28. The natives at Patea have commenced ploughing again to-day. The Armed Constabulary removed them from the field, and took them to a native villiagc. The natives have brought the ploughs back again. Until the ploughs are confiscated and the bullocks impounded nothing satisfactory will be accomplished. The White Cliffs redoubt will be reinforced by 50 men to-day.

INVERCARGILL. June 27. Cummock, who was arrested at the Bluff late last night, was to-day brought before the Police Court, charged with arson at the Dunedin Athenaeum, and remanded to Dunedin.

The annual grain and produce show at Winton, to-day, was numerously attended, though the exhibits were not so plentiful as might have been expected. Some very fine grain was shown, while the grassseed, roots, and dairy produce were above the average. Some superior agricultural machinery (Winton manufacture) was also shown. Mr. Siiand took the prize for wheat, Messrs. Thomson and Sons for barley, Mr. Keith for long oats, and Mr. Haglett for short do. In grass-seeds, Keath, Norman, and May were the principal prize winners. A large number of prizes were given for dairy produce. Mr. Wilson, of Winton, was awarded a special prize for the best collection of agricultural machinery. The usual supper was held this evening.

June 2S. A public meeting was held last niglit,_ to take steps to have the Bible reintroduced into the public schools. It was very largely attended, and resolutions were carried as follow: " That the exclusion of the Bible was disastrous to the best interests of the Colony " That the question should be made a test one to candidates at the general election and a petition was adopted for presentation to both Houses of Parl'paient, asking for the re-introduction of the BiVe.

The Waihapai School Committee has resolved in favor of the Bible being read as a class book in schools.

HOKITIKA. June 27. To-day was observed as a close holiday by the whole community, to celebrate the turning of the first sod of the HokitikaGreymouth Railway. The procession, consisting of the Volunteers, Friendly Societies, hundreds of school children, Government officials, and citizens, formed opposite the Town Hall, at 11 o'clock, thence marched to the site '' spotted" for tuning the sod. On arrival at the ground' the Mayor, in a few appropriate words, expressed his gratification at the large crowd of people assembled. TIMARU. June 27. Mr. E. W. Mills, of Wellington, meets the Borough Council to-night relative to their taking delivery of the water-pipes just arrived by the Renfrewshire from Glasgow. As the Council at present have no funds to pay for the pipes, it is a matter for conjecture how they will get out of the difficulty.

It is understood that Mr. Turnbull, M.H.R., has expressed his intention not to address his constituents before the session. The majority of his constituents are very much annoyed at this.

A man named Richard Bartlett was buried by a fall of earth at Shears' brick yard this evening, and when released it was found that he was crushed to a jelly. His heart, lungs, and bowels were protruding, his legs were fractured in several places, and all his ribs and spine ware broken. He leaves a wife and a numev-oua family.