TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6502, 14 December 1882, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(Per United Press Association.)

Auckland, December 13th. Mr O'Hara has received from the Colonial Treasurer £G 11s, the amount of fine and costs imposed on his son, who was charged some six months ago with assaulting a Chinaman, the subsequent evidence having proved an 'alibi. A bicyclist, meeting a 'bus on Mount Albert road, startled the horses, which swerved, and capsized the 'bus over the embankment. The driver and six passengers received contusions.

Thames, December 13th,

At the inquest to-day on the body of the newly-born child which was found in front of the harbour yesterday, the medical evidence showed that the child had lived for a short time after birth, and that its death was caused by the non-tying of the umbilical cord. The police believe they have discovered the person who gave birth to the child and left it to perish, and the adjournment of the inquest for a week took place, in order to allow of her being produced.

Napier, December 13th,

For over a week past the daily receipts of wool, at Napier have averaged a thousand bales. ...

News comes from Takapau that, a party of Natives have torn up and destroyed about-180 yards of Mr Walking's tramway. They removed the rails and cut out the grooves from, the sleepers. They have also rendered uleless' abridge 90ft long by removing the rails and sleepers and throwingthera down thegully which the bridge crosses. They are becoming very bounceabla, and it is said that a party of them 15 strong were parading the bush, armed with guns, tomahawks, axes, &c. Harvest operations have been commenced, and there are excellent hay and seed crops. Work, however, is much delayed by the great scarcity of labour. One result of Mrs Hampson's mission here will probably be the permanent establishment of a Young Men's Christian Association. Patea, December 13th. A man named Lambert, a fireman, attempted suicide by cutting his throat with a carvingknife. He had been drinking. The wound is not likely to prove fatal. Wanoanuij"December 13th. .Mr E. C. Beale, of the Auckland cricket team, who played here last week, is-seriously ill from sunstroke. - • ■Wellington, December 13th. Two children named George and William Ridyard, sons of Mr Ridyard, a fireman on the railway, were drowned at the Upper Hutt River yesterday evening while bathing. The younger got beyond his depth, and his brother tried to save him, but being unable to swim, both were drowned. The bodies have been recovered. Hokitika, December 13th. The Minister of Public Works is expected here to-morrow from Christchurch. Most of the mining claims are at a standstill again for want of water. The pumps are going steadily in the R033 Gold-mining Company's ground. The shaft is perfectly clear of water, and men are now working below. The allotment of shares In the Donnelly's Creek Gold-mining Company, near to the Ross Compaay's ground, was concluded to-day. The capital was subscribed four times over. Christchurch, December 13th. Mr W. D. Meares, president of the Chamber of Commerce, received a letter to-day from tho Government, stating that if the present Commission cannot report on the line from Christchurch to Reefton another Commission will be appointed to do so, in order that full information on all the routes may be laid before Parliament. A little girl five years old, daughter of Mr Shiltqn, Rangiora, had a singular escape from a serious accident to-day. She was knocked down in the roadway by a horse attached to a loaded spring-dray. The wheel passed over both legs, inflicting no further injury than a slight bruise. The child was running about within an hour.

The stationmaster at Bennett's Junction met with a serious accident to-day. While engaged about the couplings attached to the engine, the snap of the connecting-bolt was driven through the sinews of his right arm, near the hand. Dr Weld was immediately in attendance. Mr Kuee3haw, who was on the train, took temporary charge of the station. Though the time-signal operations were successful on Monday .night, the desired data for ascertaining the longitude could not be obtained, as cloudy weather at Sydney prevented the stai-3 being seen. Colonel Tupman proposes to make another attempt at Wellington.

The Hospital Board have resolved to inform the Colonial Secretary that the Board has no reason to expect to be able to supply half the charitable aid required next year by voluntary contributions. There were 13 applicants for positions on the medical staff of the Hospital. Drs Stewart, Guthrie, Wilkius, Towuend, and Frankish were selected, and Dr Doyle was appointed medical officer to the Charitable Aid Board.

TntAitu, December 13th. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were concluded to-day, when three Chinamen charged with receiving stolen property were found not guilty.

Invercakgill, December 13th.

J. M. Gilchrist, a constable on sick leave, and formerly of the Canterbury force, was sentenced to nine months' hard labour at Ihe Supreme Court to-day for stabbing a man one nght a mouth ago. This concludes the criminal business. The Jennie Lee Company were delayed two nights by the grounding of the Rotomahana at Melbourne. They opened to-night at Sloan's Theatre to a very good house. . « SPECIAL TELEGRAM. (from our own correspondent.)

Wellington, December 13th.

Hardly any applications in regular form have yet been received for assistance under " The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, ISS2." Numerous inquiries have been, made as to the aid obtainable, but in most cases these merely resulted in a request that extension of time be granted for getting out the necessary plans, as required by the Act, or else the prayer is that funds may be granted in the absence of completed plans. Government, of course, are absolutely barred by the terms of the Act from granting either of these concessions, and so there io no alternative but to refuse, and to warn local bodies that complete application and plans must be in by the 31st inst., or else must go into next year's appropriations. Curiously enough, some of the local bodies have actually entreated that extension of time to the 30tli of June be granted, evidently oblivious of the fact that if applications are not in by the 31st of December they must perforce go into the next period, which extends to the 30th of June. So the effect of their beiu? unable to come to time will be exactly what they ask for, in ignorance of the provisions of the law. A general mistake made by local bodies seems to be in attempting too much at the outset—thatis, in undertaking works quite beyond their power to finish in a year, and therefore capable of being postponed to next year without any disadvantage being incurred. At present not half-a dozen complete aud: regular applications have been received from the local bodies of the whole Colony, and there is only intimation of one poll being taken as to raising a rate under the Act. It is possible, however, that many more may come in before the end of the month.

Mr Whitaker does not leave for Auckland until. Saturday next. Mr Conolly has left for Maiiborough for the Christmas holidays. Mr Bryce telegraphed to-day that he will not again bo within reach of telegrams for a week, as he goes into the Wanganui back country.