TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 998, 1 July 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON. June 30. The long-standing claim of Mrs "Meurant against this Colony has at last been -.ottled. The Native Minister to-day forwarded to Auckland the L2OOO voted by Parliament. The money is to be invested in trust for Mrs. Meurant, and the trustees are Mr. Swanson, M.H.E., and the Native Minister for the time being. Mr. Ballance to-day sent in his resignation as a member of the Ministry. It is stated that his doing so is the result of a personal disagreement with the Premier. Rumors are current that other members of the Ministry are also likely to resign, but nothing definite is ascertainable on the subject. It is stated that the vote for payment of members of the Legislative Council will not be included in the next Estimate. The Hurt nomination took place to-day. Mr. H. Jackson and Mr. Thomas Mason were nominated. The show of hands was in favor of Mr. Jackson by twenty to nine. The poll takes place on Wednesday. July 1.

. Sir .George Grey wrote to Mr. Ballance hist evening, asking him to reconsider his resignation. Mr. Ballance replied that that was impossible.

INVERCARGILL. June 30. Yery little rain has fallen here the last day or two, and the weather is now very tine, with the barometer high. At a meeting of the Invercargill School Committee £o-night, it was resolved that the committee do not interfere at the present time with the operation of the Education Act of 1877, in reference to the reading of the Bible in the public schools. The Chairman, Mr. Lumsden, was in favor of the resolution, but did not vote.

Tiie express train to-day proceeded no further than Clinton, and thence returned this evening with passengers who left for the north with it this morning. Nothing came through from Dunedin.

AUCKLAND. Jnne 30. A steamer is being built at the Thames to the order of the Thames Producing Company, for the up-river trade. The amount of tobacco stolen from Kuunncr and Go's stores is estimated at iJiC'.vt. It is believed to have been removed by bonis, as it lias occurred twice within two months. The detectives are makincr every effort to solve the mystery. Dr. Thomley (late Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum) is a passenger to London by the Allister. In the case of John Drake, charged with obtaining money on pretences, the Magistrate said he was sorry to see so very old an Auckland resident in such a position. As he had never been up before, he would only give him six weeks' imprisonment. July 1. It is stated that the Government, intending creating a Lord of the Upper

House for the Thames Goldfields, some timo ago, Dr. Kilgour's name was mentioned. The smallness of the salaries of some of our local public servants was brought under the notice of the Minister of Justice during his recent stay, and his favorable recommendation promised when compiling the estimates. James Steward, C.E., will proceed to TVaikato to arrange for the erection of a suitable residence at Ki'iikihi for Rewi, by the order of Mr. Shcehan.

The Rev. Henry Lawry has joined the Native Department as interpreter in Waikato.

The Free Methodists' bazaar for the Church debt yielded L2BO.

gln accordance with Bishop Moran's circular, a meeting of Catholics and the Auckland Presbytery re Education and the co-operation of the clergy and laity, was held. The attendance was limited, as the object of the meeting was to appoint delegates to atteurl the meeting at Dunedin. Roman Catholic citizens, not having been made acquainted with the subject, did not attend in a body, and no definite action was taken.

The Taupo has been raised 2ft. It is expected that she will be floated to-day. The Sovereign of the Seas is stranded upon the Opotiki bar.

CHRISTCHURCH. June 29. The north line is under water about two miles above Kaiapoi, and the Eyreton line about half a mile above the junction. The whole country is under water, and numbers of cattle are in dangerous positions ; probably many are drowned, but reliable news caunot come to hand yet, as the line is interrupted at intervals between Kaiapoi and Amberley. Great damage has been done at Rangiora. All the northern rivers except the south branch of the Waimakariri have overflowed. A boat left Kaiapoi overland to relieve the settlers said to be in danger.

The flood is the heaviest known for 15 years.

A porter named Thomas Bolting was crushed between two trucks at the Kaiapoi station on Saturday night. The breaking of the brake of one of the trucks was the cause of the accident, resulting in a broken collar-bone.

GKEYMOUTB. June 30. The Customs returns for the quarter are L 8287 17s lOd, of which L 1594 16s 5d is for gold duty.

ASHBUETOK June 30. At a special meeting of the Borough Council to-night, a resolution in favor of floating a loan of L 15,000 for drainage and other works was confirmed.

Rain has continued to fall all day, retarding the progress of repairing the railway. The mails will be forwarded tomorrow.

A disgraceful scene occurred yesterday at Tinwald, between two pugilists. A large crowd witnessed the affair.

BLENHEIM. June 30. The- heaviest floods experienced for some years occurred on Saturday and Sunday. Almost the whole town was under water, varying in depth from six to seven feet. There were no services in the churches yesterday except the Catholic, which is situated on high ground. To-day the town presents a deplorable appearance.

TIMARU. June 30. The floods are {rapidly abating. The damage to the railway line, live stock, and property lias been immense. The railway traffic will be suspended-for several days. Messrs. Blackest, Blair, and Lowe, engineers, are here, and are making every effort to restore communication. The weather is again threatening to-night.