TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1219, 13 March 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

——* v (per peess association.) WELLINGTON, March 12. It is understood that the Civil Service Commission leave for Dunedin in a few days. His Excellency leaves by the Hinemoa for Napier this evening. He will be sent at the Hawke's Bay races.. An official enquiry was held this afternoon as to the circumstances connected with'the barque Sophia E,.: Luhrs striking a sunken rock off the Heads a fortnight ago. The decision of. the bench was that Captain Paton had acted imprudently in sailing so near the shore, but that, inasmuch" as the rock in question was not marked on the chart, no blame could be attached to the captain. Jarnes Wilson, charged with stealing a crucifix from the Catholic Church, was sentenced to three months' imDrisonment. . • • • March: 13,. .•

Young Sgptt started on his walk of 112 miies in 24 hours at ten o'clock last night. At 2.45 this, morning ■ he/had covered 25 miles, and at,eight o'clock 50 miles had been finished. At 11.30' he had done 66 miles. . Scott is walking well, and is in good form. Two to one is taken about his |doing 112 miles, and level money about his completing 110. . , . ' The Railway Comniissipner. visited Eketahuna. near Masterton yesterday and after two hp.urs' delay proceeded to Wc ; od> ville. ' The survey of Mongolia, the first of the deferred payment blocks has been completed and the land will be thrown open at once for selection. Great- dissatisfaction is expressed here that no tenders have been called for railway works, and a public meeting will be called next week to consider the matter. , ■ , DUNEDIN. . . ._. .' March 13. . A fire occurred in High-street this morning. It totally destroyed the regidence of Mr. John Stamper, solicitor, whose house and furniture were insured in the South British for,L6oo. t A meeting of ratepayers will be held to call on the City Council to retrench in other departments. •chpjstchur'cb: •'■■' March 12. The sitting of the Kaiapbi Native Land" Court yesterday was. adjourned sine die. as the reserves over which the disputed right exists are not surveyed, and' the evidence of Chief Justice Fenton was considered by the natives to be indespensible. •" ' •' The match against time for L 5 was run yesterday at Hagley Park, F. J. Samkin backed himself to run a qaurter of a mile in sixty seconds. Sainkin won, doing the distance in fifty-eight • and one-fifth seconds. Mr. Andrews, M.H.R., acted as time keeper. The ISew Zealand Shipping Company has received, cable 'advices of the/arrival of the Mataura at Londqn, from "Port Chalmers, afta.r a passage-of 79. days, all well,

The/remainder of .the immigrants/will be released to-day from quarantine, and sent to Christchurch.

The quarterly general meeting of the Railway Employes' Society was held last evening. The financial statement showed a balance to hand of L 88&, and arrears of :payment LdlO. The number of members is 650.

The criminal libel action—G. G. Stead v. Otago "Witness Company—will be heard :at the Resident Magistrate's Qour-t here on Friday next. March 13.

A conference of Chairmen of School Committees is to be held on the Bth April, to discuss the advisableness of making some alteration in some sections of the Education Act; also the position assumed, by the Board of Education tp.wards Committees,

Judge Johnston will go to Dunedin today to try special jury cases, in order to allow Judge Williams to proceed to the Hokitika criminal sessions. The Christchurch criminal sittings will begin on the sth April, and the civil sittings on the. following Monday, whep the libel case of Bracken v. Price and Darrell will be heard before a special jury. At two o'clock this morning a threeroomed cottage in Oxford Terrace belonging to Stenning, a carpenter, was burnt down to the ground. The family were aroused by the crackling of the flames, and had barely time to do more than escape. Very little clothing and furniture" were saved. The fire started in the kitchen, and was first seen in the " boxing" of the chimney. It is thought that \t originated through coals falling from the grate on to the floor. The cottage was insured for Ll6O and the furniture for L4O, both in the London and Lancashire office.

AUCKLAND. March 12. No fresh cases of fever have, occurred at the quarantine station, and the existing cases %ve progressing favorably. The ship will be fumigated to-day. The Waitaki, with thfe San Francisco mails, is anchored under \Manakau Heads since yesterday morning, in consequence of severe gales. March 23. Mr. Thomas Birch, formerly Mayor of Dunedin, and a member of the Dunedin City Qouncil, died on board, the Penguin,

during her passage from Giaborne. He left Dunedin in order to recover his health. The passage was exceedingly tough, and the deceased became worse and finally succumbed. The Hon. Mr. Rolleston is a passenger by the Penguin. A skeleton has been found on Great Barrier Island, and is supposed to have been lying there two years. ...... Anatiye.,at..Pipera affirms that he has seen a sea serpent. He gives a circumstantial description of the monster. Pleuro pneumonia.isi spreading. Yesterday the Inspector killed a cow on Mr. Ireland's farm, Panmure. Her right lung was inflected. The Cattle Board meets to-day to consider what steps are. necessary.: GRAHAMSTOWN. .March 12. Col. Leckie, inspected the Naval and Scottish corps of Volunteers last night, and;said: of the .former that, their proficiency took him; by surprise. He would forward.a satisfactory, report to the Government. He complimented the Scottish upon their steadiness, knowledge of duty, and large .attendance. The two.local doctors have combined to freeze but a new arrival, Dr. Callan, by refusing to consult with him or attend patients advised by him. A woman named Thomas died yesterday, and an inquest will be held to-day. It is said that the inquiry i& instigated by Dr. Callan, who attended the deceased. The Hon; Mr. Rolleston is expected here to-morrow from Katikati. Hew Whau shares are firm at 70s, being an advance of 65s in six months, the greatest advance in the 1 price of stock ever known on the Thames in the same time........ Mr.- Perry, promoter of the Blue Spur Tailings Company, demonstrated, here the practicability of the scheme suggested for the; Blue Spur by washing large gravel stones by water pressure* TIMARTJ. March 12. • Harvest operations are nearly over, but threshing is very backward, and deliveries still continue light. No transactions in the grain market worth mentioning have yet taken place. The harbor works, are being extended at an average rate of eighteen feet per week, PALMERSTON NORTH. March 12. A deputation from the. Palmerstoh Borough Council waited upon the Railway Commission this morning and laid a number of statistics before it regarding the West Coast and Woodville lines. /The members have gone, by special coach to Bull's to. take evidence in regard to the branch line to Greatford. HAWERA. . March 13. " Titokowaru drove by the camp at Otakep this morning on his way to Parihaka, accompanied by about 30 of his immediate followers. About 200 more have also passed this morning.

ashburton; , :.....,. March 13. The case of criminal libel against Mr. Xvess is' still proceeding. He has announced that seven more witnesses were ready to be examined. But the R.M. has refused to.' hear any further simply corroborative evidence, and announced that a, pxiwia facie case for committal exists^.unless new evidence, throws fresh light on the case, which will not be finished till late in the afternoon. .