TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1253, 23 April 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON. April 22. At a meeting of the Naval Brigade, Captain Johnston announced that he had through the Colonial Government sent a request to the Imperial authorities to allow the brigade the use of a man-of-war from England. * A letter from Mr.' W. H. Eldred, Con-sulate-General of Chili, states that-from the official newspapers of Santiago de Chile,to hand by last mail, the ports on the coast of Peru, up to the 19th degree of southern latitude, are in possession of the forces of the Republic of Chili, and has reason to believe that the Peruvian coast to the north of that parallel is actually under blockade by the Chilian fleet; April 23.

At a meeting of the City Council last night, the Fire Brigade Committee reported that in future there shall be only one Municipal Fire Brigade, and that the Council advertise for a duly qualified superintendent, at a salary of LIOO per annum, to organise and take command of such Fire Brigade, which is to be formed somewhat on the following basis :—One superintendent, L 10 0; two foremen, L 25 each ; five branchinen, LJO ; twenty-five firemen, L 5 each; one night watchman, LIOO ; two station-keepers (30s per week each), Ll6O. Monthly practices (twentyfive men at 2s each, five men at 3s each), L4O ; expenditure at a fire, say Ll5O ; contingencies, LIOO. Total, L 875 per annum.

The steamer Manawatu, while on a passage from Wanganui to Wellington, broke down between Kapiti and Mana Islands. It is believed the boiler burst, and it is stated that the circumstances attending the aqcident demand the strictest enquiry. The passengers of the Manawatu were brought on by the Jane Douglas, and the. injured steamer returned to Kapiti. The Rangatira leaves this afternoon to tow the Manawatu to Wellington.

AUCKLAND, i April 22. The thirty-seventh half-yearly njeeting of the Bank of New Zealand held torday at noon. The directors report as fol- ! lows : —Net profit 31st March, after duly ! providing for all bad or doubtful depen- : dencies and for the usual reductions in i Bank premises and furniture accounts to the amount of L74,10117s 4d to which has to be added a premium obtained on the sale to the balance of the new shares L 17,193, and the balance from the halfyear ended 30th September, 1879, L 5890 Gs §d 5 making a total available for division of L9f ,185 3s 9d, which it is now recommended to be appropriated as fpllows :—Payment of dividends at the rate of ten per c.ent, per annum L 60,000 bonus of 53 per share, equal to five per cent, per annum, L 25,000; balance carried to profit and loss new account L 22,155 3s 9d ; total L 97,185 3s 9d. The dividend and bonus, will be payable at the head office, Auckland ,gn Saturday, 24th April, and at the branches ofi the receipt of advice. The aggregate balance sheet shewed liabilities amounting to L 11,116,808, of which L 7,629,811 are deposits and the other liabilities bills payable and in circulation L 1,327,451. The assets were—coin and cash balances at bankers L 2,114,667, money on short call, London, L 875.436 ; calls receivable and securities,. London, L 1,081,433; calls discounted and other debts due to the Bank, L 7,443,97- The report and balance sheet were adopted. The Chairman intimated tha;t the directors would apply to Parliament next session for legislation to solve the doubts on alterations made in the deed settlement at a fornjer general meeting by the words " elsewhere in the British dominions." Mr. Bryce arrived at the Manukau this morning. Sir George Grey will address a meeting on or about Wednesday next, if in good health, if not next week. In a second charge against J. C. Young, late Government land purchase agent, who is charged with embezzlement of Government moneys, the. jury, at • 11 o'clock, returned a verdict of not guilty, attaching the following presentment " That the system of. native land purchase expenditure, as disclosed by evidence, is extremely loose and reprehensible, and i

affords no sufficient jclieck, against fraud by persons employed as "agents.*-*- Other charges were heard ■ torday,; but,'; at the opening of the Court, the. Grown Prosecutor announced their withdrawal. The Judge discharged Young, and said that he had: been guilty of gross direliction of duty in payment of moneys,■ and brought a prosecution on himself, but that he was satisfied that the prisoner had not attempted the appropriation of moneys to his own use. CHRISTCHURCH. April 22. A tragical affair happened at Little .River, Bank's Peninsula, yesterday morning, at Buchanan's. A married .woman, with a child five year's old, and another servant named Annetta Maccioni were in one of the bedrooms together, when the latter took up a loaded revolver lying on the table and presented it at the child, saying, "I will shoot you." Thereupon the weapon exploded, the ball passing through the child's head, and after lingering till 7 p.m. it died, An inquest will be held to-morrow, A case was heard in the District Court to-day, in which a man who bought some Kalifat wheat sued to recover damages for loss of crop. The wheat, which is a Russian varietyj it was proved had been sold to him as spring wheat, Whereas it was a winter cereal. He sowed in September, and lost his crops. He was awarded the value thereof. He also sued for the value of grass sown at the same time, but it was held that as soon as he saw the wheat was going to be £(, failure he ought to have taken measures to secure the grass, NAPIER. April 28. ■ i The Commercial Hotel, 'at the Spit, was destroyed by fire at 2 a.uu to-day. Galloys, the proprietor, was absent, being at a private piarty in town. His wife and one servant were alone in the house, sleeping together, and were' roused by unusual noise.s, and discovered, the. house to be oil fire. The flames then had such a hold that they could only save, a box or two of clothing. Both the Spit and Napier Brigades had been holding their annual dinner in town, but, in "spite of having " dined," turned . out promptly, and: succeeded in confining the fire to the hotel. The adjoining buijdings were severely scorched,' the weather-boards of Baiiner and Liddle's bonded ; store being burnt through in some places. The insurances on the building ,are— L6OO in South British, L4OO in Victoria ; on the stock and furniture, L6OO in Transatlantic. . • ... At the fire ■ brigade concert last night (Mr. Cotton, M.H.R, president), Mr. W. Millar, chief gaoier and late superintendent of the brigade, was presented with a testimonial and handsome silver tea and coffee set. TIMARTJ. • April 22. At the Resident Magistrate's Court at: Waimate to-day, Wm. Hoy toji was charged with perjury at the hearing of the Waimate fire cases at Dunedin lately. The Bench, decided that this case, and also a similar one against T. H. G, Smith, should go no further till a mandamus was obtained from the Supreme Court, Wellington. This course was open.to the Plaintiff. Heavy deliveries of grain are taking place both by rail and road, and the quality is much superior to that received earlier. Not one half of it is in yet. April 23.

News hag arrived that his Excellency has granted a free pardon to F. A. Siiyis, formerly a merchant here, who was prosecured by the National Bank for larceny, and sentenced by Judge Ward to three months' imprisonment, although the jury found that there had been no felonious intent.

Yesterday an able-bodied man dressed like a new. arrival was sent to gaol for a fortnight for stealing a fried fish from a fishmonger's window. There has been quite a rush for passages for Cape Town. About 60 applications have been received since Monday. The intending emigrant's are mostly ablebodied men belonging to the laboring classes. BALCLTJTHA. April 22. Robert Robertson Whitler, one of the earliest and most respected settlers of the Clutha, died to-day, aged 73 years, INYERCARGILL. April 22. Major-General Davidson, who has been suffering severely from fever aud ague for some time past, is now rapidly improving.