TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1120, 21 November 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(PER ri'.ESS ASSOCIATION). WELLINGTON. November 20. The memorial stone of the new Wesleyan Church was laid last evening by Mr. W. H. Levin, M.H.R. A iea and public meeting was held in the evening. Cablegrams from Sydney state that Captain Holt (late proprietor Press Toleuraui Agency) is still in a critical condition. November 21. A meeting of fruit importers was held last ni-ht, to consider the proposed duty of 15 per cent, on fruit. Opinions were expressed that, owing to a large quantity being lost in transit, it would be unfair to levy the proposed duty on shippers' values, with 10 per cent, added on arrival 1,, Ultimately a deputation was appointed to wait oil the Collector of Customs to ascertain on what principle the duty would be aaacssed. The deputation waited <>n the Collector of Customs this morning, asking that damaged fruit should bj exempt from diuy. The Collector replied that all damaged fruit would be assessed by :he Landing Waiters. The fruiterers met this afteriion:; t<> prepare a petition to be presented to the Tariff Committee, praying that grapes and all stone fruit be exempt from duty. At the Appeal Court to-day the case Regina v. lleid. in which prisoner, who had been manager of the Colonial Building Society in Duncdin, had been convicted on acts of embezzlement, and in which several questions of law had been reserved by Mr. Justice Williams, was heard on the counts on which lie had been convicted with the exception of two, which were held to be bad.

TIMAIIL". November 20. Two local butchers have made a match for L 5 a side 011 tin: killing and dressing of two beasts. The contest will take place to-morrow. A Ljti.-trfl of the Rocket Brigade was on watch all night in consequence of the rough weather. Towards morning the wind lulled, and the son bcg-in to drop. No damage has been done to the breakwater by the heavy seas. John" Doyle was yesterday afternoon committed for trial on a charge of forgery at Teniuka. The prisoner is now awaiting trial at the Sum-em.- Court. There are also four charges of »*»r-_'cry and uttering cheques, one of forging a deed of property against Edward .James, two of accessories to forgery, imu of obstructing the railway with malicious intent, and two of common larceny. November 21. The sea is rising and the vessels in the roadstead are laboring heavily. Should the bid weather increase, the John Watson will be in a very precarious position, as she now lies within half a mile of the Breakwater. The other vessels in the harbour are the Aberdeen (barque), Saxon (schooner), and the Beautiful Star (steamer). ciiiu.sTciirueH. November 20. At a meeting of publicans held at Lyctelton on Tuesday evening, it was agreed t» n;i.»c the? ewe prices of spirits when sold by tho bottle. An opera botiiie company will open at the Gaiety on Saturday by placing on the boards the Doctor of Alcantara. At an it!o:;i.'.v ii. M at the L\*ttelton Gaol yesterday o:i the body of the prisoner Timothy Houlihan, a verdict of died from natural causes was returned. During the three weeks ending November 15. 45 patients were admitted to the Christcliurch Hospital and 20 discharged. Five deaths occurred during the same period. On the above date there were 7-1 patients in the institution. The San Francisco mail is expected to arrive early on Saturday morning. The southern portion of the mails will be despatched by the 8.40 express train. At the Police Court this morning, Charles Steinmitz. for false pretences, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor. The same prisoner for stealing sundries valued at L 3, from a dwelling, was sentenced to six months' additional imprisonment. F. H. Yalpy has been committed for trial on a charge of embezzling moneys belonging to the Railway Employt-s Benefit Society. November 21. A new Masonic Lodge, to be called the Conycr3, is about to bo started at Sydenham. The Catholics will open a day-school in the church at Lceston on December 2. P. iL Muroney, of Oarnaru, has been appointed master. The extent of Crown land for future disposal in Canterbury has been reduced tu 5,253,012 acres. After a loug discussion at yesterday's sitting of Synod, on the motion of Archdeacon Harper, a resolution was remitted to the General Synod, asking for its approval of a special burial service for u»bapiinnl infants, suicides, and excoinniunicants. On November the 11th the railway telegraph line on the Malvern branch was struck'by lightning, by which ten of the posts were splintered and some badly shattered, and ihree railway sleepers split and some of t)ic wire parted and i fused. At the Darfield Junction Office the officers at work djring the storm saw a bright light leap from one instrument tp the floor, followed by a noise and report I like those of a fowling-piece No damage

was done to the instruments. The office is fitted with lightning guards, which are of a very effective pattern. AUCKLAND. November 20. Mr. Beardsley, late purser of. the City of .New"•YioEk",' .will;-Shortly mate-'a tour through the Colpny, having been engaged by Messrs.! Elder, and - : Co. and,,the Pacific Mail Go.", 1 to give'information; to' r the agents;'; and the public respecting - the American overland routes. " ' •' Great-interest'is' manifested-in the carbine match arranged to take place between Payne's Battery of Artillery and the men of H.M.S. Cormorant. A Jniuu.te description jremains of the txfhcer. of: H.M.SJ lately discovered at Manukau Heads, is to be forwarded, to the..surviving,.officer,,Paymaster Amplilete, to assist identification. ' ' November 21. The brigantine active, from the South Sea Islands* brii'iirs news'to £h<& 18th ult. The civil war is still proceeding. The notorious horsestealer Warapakari, who was lodged in Mount Eden gaol, escaped from custody, and was rescued by the Maoris, and for the arrest of whom a warrant has been out since 1875, has been sheltered by the Kingites, and lately came into Alexandra, where he was recognised and arrested. In to a request from Mr. Lundon, a tobacconists' and dealers' petition will be signed by the Auckland wholesale and retail dealers, for a reduction of the new duty to Gd per lb. PORT CHALMERS. November 21. Arrived Star of the South, from Bluff; Wellington, from Lyttelton. .Sailed—Hawea, from Lyttelton ; Palmerston, from Invercargill.