TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5336, 27 March 1879, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

(Pm Press Association Special Wire.)

Auckland, March 26th.

The schooner Somerset haß been chartered by Messrs Guthria, Larnach, and Co. to proceed from the Thames to Kaipara and load timber for Dunedin.

Merlin and Parthenopceus have ai rived from Napier for the Autumn Meeting on the 30th. They are from Macdonald's stables, at the Bay of Inlands. At the Commission of Inquiry, at Hokiai ga, Johu Lundon staled that Williams objected to

tihe-Maori-ckim -through-fear of- the- political influence} of <,the rtroyed; aliio, "that all the Catholicsi were obg Jected to, notwithstanding good qualifications. Imndon admitted that in evsry claim sent in last year, the household qualification was in-; serted, whether the claimant possessed it or not, so as to get a double chance of getting on the roll. Eawera Whareharu stated he attested 203 claims to vote, but only saw 10 claimants sign the forms. These were handed to him bys Patrick Lundon, ready filled ;upand sigoecl. He merely attached his signature as attesting witness, and took Lundon's word that it was cojrect. Wiremu Katene deposed that, several of the names objected to were staunch friends of the Williams family. L ' Messrs Singleton and Eochfort, lawyers, have sent a letter to the Herald proprietors stating that the conviction of Mra Major Croker for obtaining goods under false pretences was the result of a conspiracy, and asserting that her conviction and sentence to six months' imprisonment took away the breath of the public. Major Croker threatens an action forLsooo for the comments in the Herald. The proprietor de clined to apologise, and instructed their lawyers to defend any case against them. , ~ 1 Last night Captain Tackell, of the May Queen, was serenaded by the Artillery Band, for the kind manner in which he had assisted various charitable institutions while his vessel was lying in harbour. , ■ ■ A large number of persoris are getting their names on the electoral rolls, and committees are sitting for the purpose of aiding the work, and also for purging the roll.

Napier, March 26th,

The conspiracy cases against Kinross, Sutton, and George Morgan are postponed till Wednesday next.

Wellington, March 26th. It is almost certain that Ihaia Taonu, of Greymouth, will be returned unopposed for the Middle leland to the Native seat in the Government. The land negotiations on the East Coast are making rapid and satisfactory progi es*. Several important blocks will be transferred direct to the Crown in the Lands Court. Tbe halfcaste chief Wi Pere and Ma people have rendered signal service to the Government in thess transactions,' and they will be substantially reognised. The title to Muritnotu will be reheard in the Native Land* Court, but tbe Government have agreed to fulfil the agreement with tbe original occupiers, subject to approval oF Parliament. Some of the Opposition in the Waikato have been trying to induce the Natives to invite the Gov-eroor instead of the Ministers to the meeting ; but Eewi, who is well up in constitutional practice, pooh-poohed the idea, saying "the Governor could do nothing without the advice of his Min'steis."

Two persons holding commission? iv the Militia and of peace are be'ieved to be fomenting discontent amongst the Natives. The Government will probabl/ i emonstrate. The land purchases in Wanganui and on the West Coast are beirg pushedjon successfully, with a view of giving the North Island a land fund, which will be devoted to th« completion of the through trunk ra'lway from Wellington to Auckland. Tenders for the first section of the West Coast line from Kaiwarra to Porirua will probably be called for in three weeks.

The Hon. Mr Sheehan leave 3 for the West Coant to-Dight. At Palmers'.oa North last night the Palmerston saw-mill, owned by Richter, Nannested, and Co., was discovered on fire. The flames spread si quickly that in two minutes the whole of tbe buildings and stacks of timber were a sheet of flame. As there were no hopes of saving anything in the saw-mill, efforts were directed towards 1 emoving boards and scantling lying aloDg the ground leading to the flour-mill of the same proprietors, which happily were successful, as the fire was confined to the premises. The owners were juat fixiug in % new engine and sotting a new boiler, which cost L6OO, to be started going in a few days. They have no idea how the fire originated. They left a short while previous, when all was safe. The plant is insured for L2ooo— LBOO in the South British, about LIOOO ia the North British, and the balance in the New Zaaland. That amount only half covers the loss, as the mill is one of the finest in the district, and had an unusually large stock of valuable timber. Up to a week ago it was insured for L 2200, but the extra L2OO was allowed to lapse to make even money. As might be expected, the flames lit up the country for miles around, and continued with unabated vigour through the whole night. There are some huadred toos of sawdust now on fire, which it will take a week to extinguish. The affair has c;iused deep regret, for independently of the loss to the proprietors, who are highly respected, it throws a large number of men. out of employment fcr months. It is rather singular that a reporter of the Manawatu Time-3 visited the mill during the day, and wrote a long description of the works with their new and improved machinery, but it was crowded out last night, when the alarm of fire was given. Banks, the cook of the Loch Fergus, who was struck with a handspike by an apprentice in a quarrel on Sunday, died in the Hospital last night, never having recovered consciousness

Mr J. C. Crawford, late Resident Magistrate, was entertained at dinner at the Club last night, prior to his departure'for Europe. The Mount Cook School Committie have recommended the Board to remove Mr Everisa, head teacher, on account of violent temper displavel towards the assistant teachers. The Government, on the recommendation of Dr Skae, have appoiuted Dr J. G. Thorley, who came out a? surgeousupariuteudent in charge of immigrants by the ship Hudson, medical superintendent of tho Lunatic Asyl'im at Auckland.

Three crews from the Star Boating Club have bffc here to compete at the Wanganui Regatta. Mr C. T. BeDzoni, chief clork, has been pro moted to the pO3t of Assistant Under-Secre-tary of the Public Works Department

A football club, to play under the Victorian rules, is being formed. A little girl wai knocked down in the street yesterday by a runaway horse, and had her jaw frastured. Jobn Nugent, cook at the Telegraph Hotel, and formerly en the Hinemoa and Stella, was found dead at the foot of tho stairs this mornin?.

In the casa of Bourke v. M'Ardle, Mr Mansford, -Resident Magistrate, gave judgment this morning as follows :—" It was an undisputed fact that the email bone of plaintiff's leg was broken on Sunday, 26th January,1 and that the fracture was occasione 1 through a disturbance in the. defendant's licensed house. He had in a recent caw expressed hi 3 opinion that a landlord ot a public-house wa-» justified in turning out any person making a disturbance, or conducting himself in a disorderly manner, but that no more force must be ued than was necessary to accomplish the end desired to be attained. That the plaintiff was conducting himself in a disorderly inanmr could not be doubted. The question t'ieu arose, did the defend aut use more force thun was necessary, and was the ace'd^nt the result of that unnecessary force ?" His Worship expressed an opinion that the defendant acted improperly ia allowing the plniutiff to be drinkiDg in his house on Sunday, ani that tha defendant used more force in ejecting plaintiff from his premises than was necessary. He gave judgment for the plaintiff for LSO and costs.

Tnera ia no sign of the Governor yet, and the uncertainty of the time of his arrival ia causing much public inconvenience. Te Waliarutt.ui, the great Ngatimaniapoto chief, will attend the King's meeting. It is the first time he ha? done so.

Hokitika, March 26th,

Mr Blair arrived from Ctiristchurch by coach this evening. The Westland public bodies meet him at the County Council Chambers tonight re the West Coast; railway route.

Forty applications have already been made for free passage hence to Welling ;on per the Stella.

Bishop Redwood arrivod from Kelson, per Murray this morning.

GitEYHOTjTH, March 26th.

The schooner Mary Campbell, coal-laden for Port Chalmers, wa? towed ovtr the bar to-day. Ou crossing the bar she buuepod heavily, and on ciating off the tow-rope, tho captain saw the vessel was leaking. He then cart anchor in the roadstead, and on the tug coming out with the barque Examiner, it was found that tbe Mary Campbell had made over ten inches of water. She was then towel back to the whatf and surveyed, when she was found to be much strained forward, and ordered to be discharged, which is now being done, when she will be resurveyed.

Ross, March 26th.

Mr Giahorno addressed a crowded meeting of his constituents last night. He said be woull support any Government which wou'd biing forward measures having for their object the readjustment of taxation, the extenaun of the franchise and the improvement of local selfgovernment. An unanimous vote of confidence was passed.

Christchcroh, March 26th,

A very favourable report from the Engineer was react at yesterday's meeting of the Water Supply Committee, on the pressure to bo obtained from the Waimakariri River for supplying Chrißtchurch and the suburbs. The Committee has acceptod a tender for the construction of a large cylinder to complete the experimei.ts. It is reported that Mr Frank Guinness, tbe Resident Magistrate for Collingwood and Nelson, ia to be appointed Resident Magis trate for Ashburton.

An important point in the Debtors and Creditors' Act was settled before Judges Johnston and Williams, yesterday, in Chambers. Hitherto the practice h*s been to make separata application* for the discharge of debtors and for payment of costs put at the

estate.—The point having been raised by Mr WynuiWUlianw as to whether one application including the.two orders 'could not be made, their Honors decided it could be so,' and.in future the professson will be able to make one application in such cases, instead of two as formerly.. . There was a very bare attendance in tho upper portion of the Theatre ltoyal last night to witness Urea wick's second representation of "Virginius " i Hicks'. Georgia Minstrels' performances at the Gaiety Theatre, are crowded to excess. • At a preliminary meeting of the Town Hnll Committee last evening it was decided thatthe new municipal buildings should be of brick, with stone facings. The building is to comsut of between 30 and 40 rooms. The Councilroom is to be 60 feet by 40 feet, and the Town Hall 120 feet by 80 feefc : The contractor for the first section of the West Coast railway commences work during the present week. ■• . ■■. Splendid showers of rain fell throughout North Canterbury yesterday, doing immediate good to the district. .... . ; At the meeting of the Sydney Exhibition Commissioners to-day, it was stated that a large number of exhibits had been promised. It was mentioned, however, that many persons held back as they were a fraid, from the damage suffered by articles sent to Philadelphia, that their interests would be neglected if no one were sent to Sydney to look after the exhibit?. The Committee resolved to write and suggest that someone should be sent from New Zealand for this purpose. The quantity of grain curried on the Christcburch, Dunedin, and InvercargiH sections from January 11th to March 9th, 1879, the first eight weeks of the present season, has been 271,168 tons 3 cwt 2 qr. For the first eight weeks of the 1878 season, January 13th to March 10th, there were carried 20,998 tons. The large percentage of increase shown for thi-i year may be due to the fact that this has been a much earlier S9ason so far as the rush of grain is concerned, it having bean sent in in large quantities from the commencement of the season.

TIMAKU, March 26th. The annual Bhow of the Temuka and Geraldine AgriculturalandPastoral Association will be held to-morrow. The number of entries i 8 satisfactory. The man who was severely scalded at tne Meat Preserving Works ye-t-rday still lives, but is in a precarious condition. The five members of the Geraldine County Council who remaiced aft?r the other two had resigned, resolved yesterday, by three to two, to bring the Counties Act into force The whole proceedings were a discredit to the County, and a lirge majority of the electors are disgusted and enraged at the result. ' The AltorneyGeneral's rpinion hasbtea asltecl as to whether tbe fact of two members reigning canstituces three a majority of the whole Council as required by the Act. The first three concrete blocks for the harbour works were laid to-cliy by the crane, which is working excellently.

Oajuku, March 26th. Active steps are about to be taksn te establish the proposed F:ra Brigade. Their services are much required. The first annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Oamaru Stone Company waa held laat night. A very satisfactory report and balance-sheet were rf ad and adopted, and the retiring directors were re-elected. The report shows that the operations of the Company have been very profitable.

Invercargill, March 26 th.

Mr Fox lectured on his trip to America last night. The attendance was thin. The Liquor Liw in Maine was a prominent feature. The acceptances received up to date for the Voluuteer Demonstration are 757. The Managing Committee had a long meeting last night. The affair is progressing satisfactorily. < A re-o-lutiondeclining all responsibility as to inviting Cadets was again carried. The Primate is invited to act as chaplain. At the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day Patrick Kenny was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court on a charge of assault, with intent to commit a criminal offence, at the Oreti. A boy named Reynolds', aged 14 years, was also committed on a charge of stealicg a letter from a mail-bag. A valedictory tea-meeting was given to the Rev. D. M'Nicoll, Wesleyan minister, who is leaving here, his term having expired. The proceeding* were most successful. Sir Francis D. Bell arrived .by express this afternoon.

It has been decided to make a house-to-house canvass for subscriptions in aid of the Volunteer Demonstration at Eistsr.

A successful Government land sale took place yesterday. The sections submitted generally realised good prices.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. (FKOJr OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Auckland, March 26th.

The schooner Marion was engaged to day taking 2000 empty casks for conveyance to the 8.8. Taupo to be used in the attempt to float her. The Sissy will take down chains and spais, and the schooner Falcon will aho be despatched to render assistance. There ars 100 tanks and 20 casks at the spot, and these, with those on board the Marion, a re expscted to lift 500 tons. Besides this, tho schooners will raise more than 100 i ons each. Should arrangements progress satisfactorily the yes el may be expected to be got off Bhcrtly. Byers, the actrr, who has been mis nog for thres day.3, was found last night on tha Tararu track, bavin? lost hi* way.

The llsv. Mr Duttcm delivered a lecture on Ritualism, in aid of the fund 3 for the erection of the new Protestant Hall.

A Maori named Kopiha, from Waikato, was committed for trial on four charges of larceny.

The death of Mrs Churloa is announced, aged 78, widow of the late Eev. Fred. Ohurton, fiist colonial chaplain, and minister of St, Paul's. She leaves several sons aud daughter.-*, one of the latter beirg the wife of Major Hcaph. The annual inspection of the Victoria Rifles, the Scottish, and Hobs^n Wlunteers was conducted by Colonel Pauke, who has commended them in a very qualified way, with the exoepti n of the state of the arms aud accoutrements. Some confusion arose tiiroughthe crowding in of the general public, aud order wai not restored till the Colonel threatened to clear the drill-shed.

Arroav, March 2Gth. Dr Hector, Governmeot geologist, returned to-day from a visit to the Maetown reef-«. Dr Hector speaks very well oE the prospects and permanence of the feveral lines of reef 3 insptcted, and is of opinion tbat tl.iey extend over a very large!porti jn of North Otago in tbe direction of Mount Aspiring.