TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 10018, 8 December 1908, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

WELLINGTON. December 8. Mr Alfred Hill, the well-known musician, has been seriously ill with pneumonia during the past few days, and an operation was necessary. ' Mr Mill is now progressing favorably, but is in a v,ery low state. Two cases of assault and robbery occurred in the city last night. The victim of the first outrage was George Reid, a, fisherman, who when proceeding along Thorndon Quay was tackled by a man and gripped by the throat. Instantly other men appeared and tho gang went through. Reid's pockets. Forty minutes later P. Bennett, while walking in Ghuznee street, was seized and had his pockets emptied. William Hill, a carpenter, who was found unconscious at the bottom of a steep bank 'on Sunday, having apparently kin there for some days, died at the hospital this morning. CHRISTCHURCH. December 8. A sharp shock of earthquake, lasting for several seconds, occurred, at 11.55 a.m. No damage was caused. Cheviot reports two severe shocks at 6.45 a.m. and 11.55 a.m., accompanied by a. loud rumbling, greatly alarming the residents of the township. Chimneys fell at Ha-wkswood ami at M'cndip, and articles in the. Jiomcstead were broken. Homer also reports two shocks. At the second of the Current season's wool sales which will bfe held on Thursday. 19,248 bales will be offered. While executing a gallop with Grand Slam to-day St. Joe fell and broke his shoulder, and had to be destroyed. AUCKLAND. December 8. Arrived-—Aotea, from Newcastle; Waitcmata, from Fiji. Sailed—Atua, for Sydney, via the Islands. George M'Causland, not Caslin, was the name of the man who died at the hospital yesterday afternoon as the result of falling from a cart. PALMERSTOiN NORTH. December 8. Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M.,- has been selected as one of three magistrates to hear the petition to invalidate the Masterton local option poll. NAPIER, December 8. The Magistrate has. reserved his judgment in the Meance election petition. The position has been najrowed down to tlie question of the validity or otherwise of two votes, of which ,the successful candidate secured one.

FEILDING.' December 8; Tho Feilding Chamber' of Commerce bsl night' set up a. committee of business men tt> advertise the advantages of,the district as a stock 'centre. The President,' Mi' To'lley, in proposing the conunittee, pointed out that with the opening of the Main Trunk line Fciklintr must make an effort to retain its position as the chief stock centre of the North Island; the rates obtained for stock being looked, on as the ruling rates for the North Island. NELSON. December 8. A sharp shock of earthquake was fell hero at 11.55, and, accompanied by a light rain and hail squall. The ship The Don, referred to in the London cables as posted overdue, left London docks on the sth -August, and is thus 125 i days out. She is commanded by Captain Hicks, and is consigned to Levin and Co., Ltd., of Wellington and Nelson, with a very large general cargo. The consignees are not anxious, as trips by sailers of 150 days are not unknown at this port. It is pointed out. that tho barque Gladys, recently arriving at Wellington from Liverpool, left the same time as The Don, and. made a, passage of 112 days. She encountered light winds, but must have had a clear run. on tho West Coast of England, while The Don may have encountered baffling winds in the Emglish Channel. The Don was heavily laden and very deep, and if she made a passage of even 140 days it would not be altogether unusual under frequently prevailing conditions. CARTERTON. . December 8. Very heavy rain fell in this district this morning. The farmers are especially glad l , as the dry and hot weather was shrivelling the crops and causing grain to ripen too 60on. Speaking generally ■the grain crops throughout, the districtpromise to largely exceed last year's results.