TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1199, 19 February 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

. WELLINGTON. February 18. The Government have completed the necessary arrangements for bringing into operation the Registration of Electors Act passed last session. It is understood that the Government intend taking prompt and decided action regarding the proceedings of the French Government in chartering a schooner to convey a batch of French convicts to Auckland from New Caledonia, whose terms of penal servitude had expired. Rumors aye current here that large reductions are. about to be made in the Railway Department. The Governments of New Zealand and New South Wales have succeeded in effecting a very satisfactory re-arrange-ment of the San Francisco mail service, by which the time of transit between ; England and New Zealand will be shortened by at least two clear days., DUNEDIN. February 18. The Lincolnshire farmers' delegates expect to reach Dunedin on Saturday evening, and to spend two or three days in the neighborhood of Dunedin. A boy named Fullarton, whilst bathing at Observation Point, was seized by an octopus, His pompanions rescued him with (difficulty. An Arrow telegram states that the cleaning up at the Homeward Bound Company's claim gave 112ozs. of gold from 208 tons of stone." The mine is looking well. The Martin's Bay expedition returned to QueGhstown last night all well. They were enabled to mal*e a oavaful oxamina* tion of the country, which they report to be admirably adapted for cattle farming. CHRISTCHURCH. ■; ; . < February 18. The Minister for Public Works received a number"of deputations yesterday. He promised to, attend .to the various local railway matters affecting Sydenham and the city, but he held that the strictest economy was necessary in the management of the railways. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce interviewed the Minister relative tq the removal of the Commissioner of Railways to Dunedin. The removal caused a surprise, and the deputation enquired the reason of the change, and wished to know itttHttiißilMitiil

isation of departments in Dunedin,'and also whether the pay of Canterbury -workmen was in future to come from Dunedin. Mr. Stead showed by figures the trade and traffic to be greater in CJb|S!phurch than in Dunedin, and said"' that the Chamber failed to see -the removal, of the office ; frpm ; Cjhrist-J church, "ill that was .'desired was; to suit ;the interests of gCjblonyj \ Tlil Minister, in reply, said dpnf in theinterestsjof tfie railway sjjstei|||>| the "whole ( island. .' .'Mr. "ConyerS was transferred to - organise'a good; system in Dunedin. It "'musthot be that there was any intention to centralise the management. It was rather the wish of the Government to sectionalise it. The amount . s of. t -business -done did,, not affect) the yeryj; liiiJief importance was attached to Ihe 'withdrawal of the resident -staff fronv Ghristchurch,--beyond the lessening of consumers. Be was quite 1 open to: reconsider the matter, with, a.yiew.tocons,ulting.thebest interests of the Colony. The Revi'ewlComjnittee tradict a Press telegram..from. Invercargill re deficiency of accommodation. They are prepared with excellent accommodation for any number of Volunteers. February 18.

The Temperance Hotel Company will make a further call on the Company's capital, and will take steps to commence building. During 1879 the attendanoe at the North Canterbury schools was 21,653, almost equally divided amongst boys and girls. The daily average was only 10,568. There are now 120 schools in the district, besides aided schools and the Normal School, the latter having 719 children.

At a Rechabite district meeting the levies for the current year were fixed as follows:—Contingent Fund, Is lOd ; Tent Relief Fund, The election of officers resulted as follows :—D.C.R., Bro. F. Sidey, Wellington; D.D.R., Bro. P. Rankin; D.T., Bro. J. O'Kell, Wellington; D.S., Bro. F. H. Fraser, Wellington ; Auditors, Bros. A. J. Bennett and H. B. Parsonage. It was decided that LlO be paid to a member on the death of his wife, whether she be a total abstainer or not, and to establish an annuity branch. A scale of contributions and benefits were prepared for submission to Government. So far the Mayor's list connected with the relief fund amounts to LBB4.

This morning a deputation waited upon the Minister for Public Works re railway to Akaroa. The Minister stated that the contract for the plate-laying on one section would be called for at once, and that no time would be lost in preparing for another section, also, that further extension depends upon Parliament. The New Zealand University Senate sat yesterday. The annual report showed that a Gilchrist scholarship was to be given shortly for competition in New Zealand, that three essays were sent in for last year's Bowen essays, and that L7BB 15s were spent in scholarships. There are now 148 under graduates of the University, but of these 33 have not studied during the year. The Chancellor regretted the improbability of receiving reports from examiners before the close of the present session. Tram cars are expected to run to the railway station next week. The Canterbury Rifle Association is said to be hopelessly insolvent. Arrived—lnglewood, from Auckland ; Grafton, from Wellington. AUCKLAND. February 18. Very great dissatisfaction is expressed amongst the Volunteers re the action of the Union Company in raising the passage money for Volunteers proceeding to the Nelson prize firing. The following men have entered, but unless the Company reduce the fares probably not more than half will go :—Henderson, Rose, Walley, A. Baker, Eadley (Engineers), Sub-Lieut. Skinner, Taylor, Haslett,- Leitch,- Fire, Cooper, Cochrane, O'Brien, Watson, J. W. Leigh , < Sergt. Hay (No. 3),- Moore, Smith, Natals, and Currie (Waiuku Cavalry). . ' : . February 19. Eight cases of assault on females are down for the next criminal sessions; . Counterfeit sixpences are in circulation. James John Pook-has been, arrested, charged with embezzling funds of the Oddfellows' Lodge, of which he was' Secretary. Pook, charged with embezzlement of the Oddfellows'; funds, has been remanded. , Bail was accepted in L2OO. NEW. PLYMOUTH. February 18. The monthly meeting at Parihaka" was held yesterday.. Little-interest was,manifested by the natives. There was only a small gathering, not above 300. - Several loads of apples were added ,to the customary feast. .There-were nine Europeans present. Te Whiti did not manifest any desire to display liis powers of oratory, contenting himself with a very 7 -short address of little or no -significance beyond ordinary exhortations to ' his people, He advised his followers riot to be alarmed by the course of events. In his speech he did not allude to the advance of the Armed Constabulary on the Plains, nor to the Native Commission. The report that Te Whiti asked the Native Commissioners to come to Parihakg. was quite unfounded, as. neither he nor any of his people are likely to take any notice of the proceedings of the Commission. HAWERA. February 19. The natives returned from Parihaka yesterday, but did not visit the Commissioners at Oeo. Te Whiti tcld them that those who visited the Commissioners were chafF, the wheat was all bagged at Parihaka, but lie left it to their own option to visit the Commissioners. The letter from the Commissioners to the tribes at Parihaka was read, but had no effect in inducing th§ natives to acquiesce. It was pointed out that it would not be considered proper for an adulterous man to inquire into his own sin, and that Sir W. Fox was a Government man inquiring into the faults of the Government natives. About 700 natives were present. Presents of food to the constabulary are continued. A great meeting will take place at Parihaka in March. WANGANUI. February 18. A fire destroyed a dwelling-house and workshop, the property of Donald Rees, cabinetmaker, situated in St. Geor.-e's-street. The workshop was insured for LSO, and the stock-in-trade Ll5O, in the Norwich Union. NAPIER February 19. The natives on Mr. Harding's station, Mount Vernon, have stopped men who were fencing, under threats of violence. Major Scully and an interpreter have left for Mount Vernon. A survey party from the disturbed J*atea (SQuptry>6turne4 tct town to-day, they having been threatened by the natives. It is also reported, though the report yet lacks confirmation, that men have been turned off Moorhouse's station at Patea. KELSON. February 18. The Reception Committee of the Rifle Association have determined to give a grand ball to the visitors at the close of the meeting. February 19. i Mr. Albert Pitt, 3VJ.H,R., addressed tjie electars for the city last night, speaking for an hour and a half. He received considerable applause, "and a pretty strong feeling was expressed by the meeting that

or nominated immigration ; also, that pay to immigration officers should at once stop, and other public expenditure be curtailed greatly on account of pressure of taxation. He received a unanimous yote of thanks.