TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6736, 18 September 1883, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(Per TJnitkd Pbess Association.)

Auckland, SepCembor 17. Mr John Lundon, formerly member for the Bay of Islands, writes from Samoa that a great deal of discontent has prevailed there amongst both Natives and Europeans with the nature of tlio government, and that a petition would bo generally signed praying that the island should be annexed to JNew Zealand. Tho matter has been laid baforo Sir Oeorgo Grey, who recommends that a form of petition be drawn up under tho Annexation Act of last session and forwarded to Mr Lundon to obtain the signatures of the islanders Hannah Parson, aged six months, a passenger by the Doric, died at the quarantinestation on Saturday night from pneumonia after measles. ■

Charles Fletcher, butcher at Mercer, committed suicide by drowning himself, in the Mangatawhiri Creek on Saturday. He had_ been drinking heavily, had been suffering from" rheumatics, and was in pecuniary difficulties. Moncure D. Conway, the lecturer, is _ a through passenger to Sydney by the Australia, to lecturo in Australia on " Men and Things in England." Ho goes thence to India, to study Indian literature. It is not known whether New Zealand is on his programme. The Doric's cargo for Auckland is valued at £13,600. She has also cargo for Southern ports to the value of £18,700 for Canterbury ; to the value of £9000 for Otago, and £21,700 for Wellington-making tho total value of tho cargo £G3,000. In order to expedite the discharge of cargo, and enable the vessel to proceed speedily to Southern ports, she will not be thrown open for public inspection.

Wellington, September 17. An extraordinary complication has arisen here in the City Council. On Friday evening Councillor Magmnity, at the end of the meeting, handed in his resignation. The city solicitor has advised that there is no statutory provision enabling a councillor to resign, and that to have effect the resignation mußt be formally accepted by the Council. A special meeting to accept this resignation was called for to-day,, but this forenoon Councillor Maginnity, in writing, .withdrew his resignation. Tho Council held a meetingin the afternoon, when both resignation and withdrawal were placed before it. By a majority of one the Council accepted -the resignation, and ordered a new election for Thorndon Ward, quite ignoring the withdrawal. It how turns out that to day's meeting of Council is in itself illegal, through the h proper notice not having been given. At tho Divorce Court to-day a rule nisi was granted in the case Pizzey v. Pizzey and another —the petition of tho husband for dissolution of marriage on the ground of tho wife's adultery with tho co-respondent. Tho parties were married at Burkes Pass, Canterbury, in 1880, and subsequently resided there, wh&nce they came to this district.

• Nelson, September 17. The Bridge Hotel, at Brightwater, which was destroyed by fire early on Sunday morning, was owned by Mr Tafner, and was insured in tho Colonial Offico for £300, and the stock arid furniture in the same office for £200, to secure a mortgage. Mr Tafner lost his personal effects and £52 in notes. ■ Chmstohdhcfi, September 17. At the Police Court to-day Joseph Patrick, for assaulting two member? of the Salvation Army during the procession on Saturday, by throwing packets of flour at them,_was fined £2. The diamond-drill waß successfully .started at the Springfield Colliery Company's works to-day. The proceedings ended with a pnblic luncheon. A button of smelted gold weighing lSdwt was shown at the Mining Exchange to flay by a miner, who said it was the result of a week's work at Ninety-mile Beach. A deputation from the Clinritablu Aid Board interviewed the Minister of Land* to day to induce him to withdraw frmn sale land at Russell's Flat, and reserve it as an endowment for an orphanage. Mr Kolle.ttun declined to accedo to the request, as the land had been I advortised three months, and it would be unfair to i the public. On the question of the unsuitability of Lyttelton as a site for an orphanage, he did not agree with the deputation that an inland sits was preferable, being of opinion that children, especially very young children, were better reared near the sea. He suggested that the older boys should be drafted to iSurnham, where proper classification could be made. Tub Mayor raised the question of endowments for the city, but Mr Rollestoiv deprecated it as likely to rouse the jealousy of other cities.

To-night colours were presented "by Mrs Barker to Major Pollard,- of the. Salvation Army, in Tuam street Hall; which was crowded, Upwards ef 3000 were present. The proceedings were orderly. At the Supremo Court the trial of Stranaghan v. Australian Mercantile Union Insurance Company began to-day. Counsel for defendants stated it will lait the week. The same plaintiff recovered £500 from the Standard a few weeks ago, but this has not prevented tho present action. :

Tisiaru, September 17. Informations have beon laid by the police against the members of the Salvation Army and the " Progressive" or Opposition Army for obstructing the thoroughfares, and acting in a manner calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. Oamakc, September 17. The Upper Waitaki Ferry Hotel, owned and occupied by Mrs Ross, was destroyed by fire on Sunday morning. The building, furniture, &c. were insured for £1500. ' Owing to tho unsatisfactory nature of the reply received from the directors of tho New Zealand Refrigerating Company, the promoters of the Oamaru Meat-freezing Company have decided to take immediate steps to form a company. '