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Otago Daily Times, Issue 184, 30 June 1862, Page 4

Serious defalcations have been discovered in [ tho Telegraph Department in New South Wales and the Superintendent and his assistant havo been.suspended. The Melbourne Herald mentions a rumor that the Governorship of tho colony .of Victoria had been offered to, and been declined by Mr. Childers. There seems to be quite a mania in Melbournd for bringing actions for libel. The Argus of June 12th, says : —lt is rumored- that Mr. Begg is about to commence an action, in the Supreme Court, for libel and breach of contract, agamst'the Presbyterian Church of Victoria—damages .£IO,OOO. Also, a separate action for libel against Dr. Cairns—damages, .£I,OOO. Victorian j uvics can '„ sometimes .display almost as much obtuseness as those of Otago. A case in illustration occurred at the Criminal Sittings in-Melboarne a few days ago. The judge having, in summing up, directed the jury" to return a verdict of not guilty, the jury instead of following the learned judge's directions, the grounds of which were very clearly explained, consulted together for some minutes, and announced that they could not agree upon their verdict. >His Honor again explained that the question was not one of fact, but of law, .and that it was usual in such cases for the jury to accept the "judge's ruling. ■ Thejury still seemed unable to comprehend tlie distinction, hnt eventually they returned a verdict of "Not Guilty," ancl the prisoners were discharged. As numbers of persons engage in-the. sport of fowling within the limits of Port Otago, it may bo well for the public to know, that there is a regulation iv the Harbor Rules imposing a fine upon parties discharging fire-arms in the Port, and that several parties have already been fined at the Port Chalmers Police Court.- The regulation is that " All vessels are to unshot their guns before tbey anchor, and no guns or fire-arms, except in self-defence or in cases of distress, aro -to be discharged from .any vessel unless permission in ! writing has been obtained from the Harbour Master, and any person who shall offend- against this regulation shall be liable to a penulty not exceeding five pounds." The Town Board of Port CliaimerslTavc, equally. with the Dunedin Board, need of tho advice of j a gentleman of some engineering skill, in the execution of the improvements contemplated in the township. This was illustrated at. their last meeting, when a proposed improvemsnt by tho Messrs. Main of a nuisance affecting their own and others property was the subject of a long aad fruitless discussion. As it might appear from our last report, that an encroachment on the public way was contemplated, we repeat in full Messrs. Main's offer to the Board, which was, "We hereby make offer to pay the Board the sum of £00, provided they make a proper culvert along George-street, outside of the line of pavement, so as sufficiently to carry away tho water that flows past our property, and fill up the street to its proper level. If the Board decline . doing anything in thi3 .matter, we respectfully request their permission to bo allowed to make what necessary improvements we require."

It has been intimated to ns that a meeting ofthe Stewards, in connection with the ensuing Ball, at the .new Theatre Eoyal, is to take place to-day , at 12 o'clock noon. As . many preliminary ar? rangoments have yet to be discussed, it is to be hoped thnt all the Stewards will be in attendance. A not unimportant part of the proceedings will be the programme of dances.— Communicated. In the Victorian Parliament, on the 13th June, Mr. Loader asked the hon. the Chief Secretary whether his attention had been directed to tho services performed in New Zealand, upon shore, by Lieutenant Woods, of H.M.C.S.S. Victoria ; and whether the Government could recognif 0 such services ? Mr. O'Shanassy said he would be glad if it was in his power to recognise Lieutenant Wood's services, but as that gentleman was already second in command, no means existed of promoting him in the colonial navy. The Strai/o Times (Singapore paper), says:— The London and China Express inform us that a project for connecting Singapove with Eangoon and the Indian telegraph lines, and eventually extending the cable to Australia and China, is now being promoted, and that a discussion would immediately take place in Parliament as to the desirability of granting a Government subsidy of .£30,000 per annum to the projected company. It is asserted that when the Dutch Government agreed to hiy a cable from Singapore to Batuvin, it was ou the understanding, or, rather, the promise, marie by the Derby Government that Singapore should be connected with the Indian lines, and no opposition, therefore, is expected to the subsidy from the Opposition. The contract for 'laying the cable has been entrusted to Messrs. Glass, "Elliott and Co., and the capital proposed o be raised is £50,000. The same paper informs that the fifty miles of electric cable nccossaryfor the repair of the Singapore anil Batavia Hue, manufactured by Messrs. li. S. Ncwal and Co., had been despatched by the Benvoirlich, which