TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5280, 21 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(Per Pkess Association Special Wire.)

Auckland, January 20th. Captain Dearborn, of the 'Frisco mail steamer, has paid a visit of inspection to the Bay of lelands coal mines.

Wanganui, January 20th,

Professor Scott has successfully crossed the Wauganui River on a wire rope. He was 45 minutes in making the passage. At one end lie jumped into the river and swam ashore. The special correspondent of the Wanganui Herald, writing from Waimate Plains, says : — "In conclusion, it may be remarked that nothing hag transpired on the plains to justify in the slightest degree the alarm which appears to bo felt by many, in places far removed from the scene of the survey operations; and that both during holidays, when the camps were inhabited by but one or two, and since the return of the parties with their full complement of men, the Natives have conbtautly visited the various camps, and have been at all times civil in their bearing."

Gisboene, January 20th,

The Government h&,s promised to mako a survey of the harbour immediately, to enable Sir John Coode to report.

Captain Porter interviewed the Native claimants to the disputed laud of the late Captain Read. He feels assured the difficulties may ba settled amicably by mutual con cessions.

New Plymouth, January 20th. The Harbour Board Committee on the charges made by Mr Irvine, the engineer, against Messr3 Kelly and Weston, members of the Board, report that the conduct of Messrs) Kelly and Weston was not improper, and that, having made such grave charges through a solicitor without foundation, and declined to withdraw them, it is inadvisable that Mr It vine should remaiu in the service of the Board after February 18th. The Taranaki Jockey Club hold an autumn meeting on the 31st March.

The Warwakaiho Bridge was set on fire today by a spark from the engine igniting the grass in the neighbourhood. Not much damage was done.

The boating clubs hero have formed a union,

Mr Kelly, M.H.Iv,, has received a letter from the Minister for Public Works, stating that instructions havo been given to have the survey of the Opuuake railway commenced as soon as practicable.

Captain Morshead, formerly of the GOth Regiment Bengal Native Infantry, and connected with one of the first ironsand companies, died to-day, aged 78.

Railway contractors offer 143 a day for platelayers, without response. All complain of the scarcity of labour impeding the public works.

Wellington, January 20th. A small house occupied by a person named Dodsworth, and situated in Courtney place, was partially gutted by a fire early this morning. The fire was confined to the bakehouse. The

damage done was slight.

The premises were

insured in the New Zealand Insurance for Ll5O. The fire is supposed to have been caused by a candle which had been left lighted falling against some woodwork.

A cottage occupied by a brickmaker named Cooper at Karori was burned last night by the bursting of a kerosene lamp. The house was not insured.

Edgar Bastings was remanded to Christchurch to-day on the charge of forgery.

A seaman on board the Manawatu, named John Davis, lias been arrested on a charge oi neglecting to support his family at Lylteltou. Ho oftVrod to pay LI a week, but the Magistrate alji'iirned the case for further information.

In two actions against the Tramway Company for daaiages to vehicles by collision, the Magistrate gave judgment for LlO and costs.

Tho Stewart Family opened most successfully at the Opera House on Saturday nisjht. All thrt papers speak in the highest terms of " Rainbow Ravels."

News of the dentil in Ohristolmrch of Mr H. M. Moore, late editor of the New Zealander, caused general regret to day.

The Post points out that by a happy coincidences Mm opening of the Invercargill and Duneilin Railway ia fixed for the 39th anniversary of the settlement of the Colony, by the arrival of the first immigrants in Wellington. The case of Miss Jones against Wilson, principal of the College, has been further adjourned, as the defendant wants witnesses who lire absent.

The ship Warwick, the last immigrant-ship of the season, sailed from Plymouth on 30th November, for Nelson and Wellington, with 200 souls, equal to 171 adults, for all parts of the Colony. Information received to-day says the brigantine Isabella, laden with railway iron, got on tho Wtiitara bar in entering, but was got off again without damage. At the annual Primitive Methodist District Meeting, a resolution was passed advocating the formation of an Australian Conference. The examiners, the Rev. D. Dutton, F.R.S. A., and tho Rev. J. Dumbell, reported the result of the recent examinations to have been as follows:—Third year: Rev. W. S. Potter, 82; Rev. P. W. Jones, 89. Fourth year: Rev. Mr Jeynes, 90; Rev. J. Guy, 96. The maximum number of marks obtainable was 100, and the average—B9^—is highly creditable to the candidates.

A proposal in on foot to entertain Lord Norman hy at a banquet prior to his departure. The Wellington Loan and Investment Com-

piny are about to declare a dividend at the rate of 12$ per cent. A meeting of the Committee of the New Zealand Rifle Association to-night fixed the date of firing at Nelson for Monday, 3rd March. Subscriptions received after 18th February will not be taken into consideration in fixing the prizes. Archdeason Thorpe preached a sensational sermon on Sunday, charging tho Banks with leading their officers to embezzle funds by paying**wholly insufficient salaries, and expectingthem to keep up a good position. He also hit hard at opponents of the drapers' earlyclosing movement, and exhorted tho public to take the matter up "and compel tradesmen to do justice to employed. He asserted the question was quite in the hands of the customers of the drapers. The banks heie are in the habit of making their clerks work many hours after closing, and the Archdeacon exhorted the public to do away with this crying injustice. He said young men when overworked took to stimulants to revive their drooping energies, and afterwards became habitual drunkards.

The Chronicle hug a leader this evening adTocating triennial Parliaments. The San Francisco correspondent of tW Chronicle, once a leading New Zealand journalist, predicts an early disruption nf the United States into four or five separate States, with the possibility of Grant as Dictator of tho New England State 3.

Chbistchukch, January 20th. Leonidas and Javelin were shipped Northion Saturday. The first goes to Tauranga, and the second goes back to Napier. Yesterday afternoon a determined suicide took place at Eangiora. A man in the employ of James Bassingthwaite, named George Butler, was found lying dead in a stable. Deceased hai been in Bassingthwaite's employ as groom and general hand for about 18 months,, and was about 50 years of age. According to Mrs Bassingthwaite's statement he was the owner of She large amount of LBOO, found on her person in connection with the recent discovery of money suppesed to belong to her hna-. band's insolvent estate. At the sale of effects belonging to the estate on Tuesday last, deceased purchased several things, for which ha paid cash. It is also found that one of the cottages built recently by Bassingthwaite was the property of deceased. He was working for Bassingthwaite at the rate of LI per week, and when examined by Detective Benj imin, he stated that Ll9 was due to him for his services. How he became possessed of so much cash and property is a mystery. It is presumed that the cause of suicide was dread of the examination, and fear of not being able to give a satisfactory account of his position. Yesterday morning he breakfasted with Mrs Bassingthwaite ana the male servant as usual, saying that he would shave himself and take a walk to the river. Ha went out during the afternoon. Mrs Bassingthwaite and a femals servant found thedoor of the stable locked inside, and sent foe the nearest neighbour, Mr G. Cone, to come across. Deceased was found in a crouching position, leaning against the door-post and stiff, as if deadfor somo hours. He had evidently hanged himself, and the rope had given way after death. An inquest will probably be held to-morrow.

The Hon. E. Richardson was to-day elected. Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board. The present members of the Board retire on. 10th February, according to the provisions of the Act. There have bec-n no less than 55 meetings of the Board in the year just past. The statement of accounts shows that their receipts for eight months ending December 31st were L19,48012s Bd, and expenditure, L 18.003 9t Id. To the latter has to be added the bank overdraft—L99sll7s 2d— which caußes a debit balance of L 8474133 7d. The sum of L 8370 5s 8d had, however, been paid out of ordinary revenue to the harbour works, when it should have come oat of the loan. Tha whole of the dredging expenditure also, which, is, at the present rate of work, particularly heavy, has been met out of ordinary revenue. The assets of the Board amount to L 317.449, and it has a borrowing power of L2OO,O(XX allowed by the Act. The present liabilities are 150,232. Rignold had only a moderate houss to night. The weather is cold, and prices are too high— not likely to draw at present. The Napier Harbour Board case was resumed in the Supreme Court to-day, when three of the defendant's witnesses %ere examined. The case is likely to last two or. three more days.

At the inquest on the Rangiora suicide, a verdict of " Suicide while in a state of temporary insanity " was returned.

A man, supposed to be a cook belonging to a surveyor's party on the north bank o£ tha Rukaia, attempted to ford the river on Saturday evening, and has not yet been heard of. His horse was found ail right, but the man, whoss name is not known, is probably drowned, and his body washed far down, as the search, party has been unable to find it.

TiMAKU, January 20th. At a meeting of the Harbour Board to day, Mr Archer was re-elected chairman. A telegram was read from the contractor for steam crane, which should have been delivered font months ago, that he hoped to have it finished in a week or so. The Board have unanimnusly resolved to join with the Chamber of Commerce in resisting the present proposals of the Government to extend the railway station accommodation at cost of harbour worto.

Chadwick, who lately attempted Buicide by stabbing himself, was committed for trial today.

Bishop Redwood preached here lash night, and at the conclusion announced that L 2256 had been subscribed to erect Catholic suh. ;ols at Tiinaru, and that Father Chataigner gives a section of land worth L 620.

Oamaru, January 20th. A sad case of drowning occurred in tha Kakanui River, near Tescliemaker's, to-day. A young man earned O'Counell, in company with, three others, was in the act of bathing in a deep pool, when he was suddenly seized with cramp and sank. One of his companions made an. unsuccessful effort to save him, and then gave information to the police. The river was dragged, and the body recovered. Deceased, was unmarried, and has no relatives in the Colony, but had only a short time ago nominated two of his brothers as immigrants. The weather has been showery, and tha harvesting operations will consequently be retarded. Lk'vekcargill, January 20th. Great preparations are going on for the railway demonstration on Wednesday, and every effort is being made by hotelkeepers to provide sleeping accommodation for the expected visitors by the opening train, and from the country districts in Southland. The Commission appointed to examine Welsh, the Waikawa murderer, and decide as to his mental condition, comprises Dr Skae, Inspector of Lunatic Asylums; Professor Macgregor, medical adviser at the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum; Dr Kemp, of Wellington; and Dr Cecil Jackson, of Invercargil). ; At the annual meeting of tUe Bluff Harbour Board this morning, Mr Mitckell was re-elected chairman until February, when the first meeting of the new Board takes place. The annual accounts indicated that L 3700 had been received from reproductive sources, while nearly L3OOO had been spent on permanent works. The realisable property was valued at L 73.650, and the_ total liabilities were about L3OOO. The chairman gave a lengthy resume of the proceedings of the Board during the past two years. At a meeting of the Hallway Demonstration Committee to day, telegrams were read indicating- that a large attendance might be expected at the banquet on Wednesday. It waa resolved that the dress circle of the theatre be reserved for ladies, and also for gentlemen holding banquet tickets. The Mayor has declared Wednesday next a holiday, in celebration of the opening of through communication by rail between Christchurch and Invercargill.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. (from our own correspondents.)

Auckland, January 20th. A wife-beater, named Thomas Luke* Webb, at the Whau, was sentenced to 14 Hays' imprisonment, and bound over to keep thq peace. He suspected infidelity. The prosecutrix' face was .1 dreadful spectacle. She bears an excellent character.

A boatman earned Pool fell over tho Russell wliaif in the dark, but was gallautly rescued by Constable M'Govcrn.

OAMARU, January 20tb. The driver of Messrs Spsnce and Bee's baker's cart, and a boy accompanying him, had a narrow escape to-day. They wtic driving over the railway crossing- at the town boundary, when the express train came along, and catching the back portion of the cart smashed it into pieces, and throw the driver and boy heavily to the ground, but fortunately out of reach of tha wheels of the engine.