TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4012, 25 December 1874, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

■Wellinoton, December 24th,

A Gazette proclamation notifies that Mr Charles Alfred St. George Hiekson has been appointed chief clerk and accountant in the office of the Commissidner of Stamps, vice

Edward de Bathe Brandon; and Mr Charles

Leiris Wiggins to'be cleric to Deputy Commissioner of Stamps, vice Mr Hiekson transferred. Mr J. Sperrey has been appointed Superintendent of Collectors of Agricultural Statistics for 1875 for Otago. Mr James Paterson, of Port Molyneux, has been appointed Justice of the Peace. DuriDg November the Provincial Government' sold 32,543 acres of Provincial land. The amount received was £24,618 cash, and £425 in scrip. The Marquis of Normanby has intimated to the Mayor that he and Lady Normanby will attend the Citizens' Ball on, any day which is fixed. The customers of the Bank of Australasia intend to give a dinner to Mr Buchanan, the retiring manager. Last night, Mr Lee, Travelling Colonial Inspector for the London and Liverpool Fire .^lnsurance Company, had the Central Brigade turned out to test the water power of *he city. The Brigade sent nine jets playing at once, each throwing the water about 80ft. ihigh. Mr Lee said it was the best display of water power he'had seen in New Zealand, and gave £10 to the Brigade. Messrs Greenfield and Stewart, the local saw-millers, have obtained the contract for the supply of timber for the construction of the new Government Buildings on the reclaimed land.

Auckland, December 14th. ■' The Resident Magistrate dismissed a charge brought under the barmaid clause of the Licensing Act, on the ground that the barmaid said she stayed in the bar after 11 voluntarily, and was not kept by the landlord or under his control. He said, after examining the definition of the word employ, he was satisfied, from the absurdity of the clause, that the drafter of it' never intended to secure a conviction. ; < In a number of cases there has been a re-

sistanee of the education rate, to de£™d which a public subscription was raised. The case was settled by payment out of. Court, counsel for defendants advising their clients that the only possible way to disprove the validity of the Act under which the rate was" levied was to take it to the Appeal Court. The body found near Rangitoto has been identified as the cook of the steamer Lallah Rook, who fell overboard lately.

New Plymouth, December 24th. In an action between the Provincial Government and the Brogdens regarding the removal of the wreck of the Paterson from the mouth of the Waitara Paver, the Court decided' against Messrs Brogden, and fined them £30. Notice of appeal has been given. The question to be decided now is : "Who is the liable person, and who owned the steamer at the time of stranding, or the person who owned the steamer at the time notice was given to remove the wreck ? The ship Langstara, from London, for Wellington, was signalled off Kaipiti this morning.