TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8721, 6 February 1890, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

O'i'.E Uk;tf.B I'KEES AMOCWnOK.I

Auckland, February 5,

To-day Ljri.i Carrington returned to Sydney by the steamer Alameda, which tailed this afternoon.

Serious bush fires have broken out in the Waikato. A great firo is raging at Mangawharo, and the valuable flax fields belongiug to Dilwortfi are in danger. At Ohaupo, ICusab's valuable bush was destroyed. Ifc is judged that the biioh near Ohaupo is burning ia many differ-. ;\« places. The houses of come residents arc ia danger,

The great baritone singer, Mr Charles Santley, arrived in Auckland by the Te Auau, from Sydney, to-day.

At n meeting of railway employes to-night, i resolution was passed objecting to the Railwa1 insurance Bill.

Wellington, February 5. A private letter from Sydney says :—" For some tiico pasS a number of our leading business men have been inquiring into tha possibility of growing eisal in this colony, aud a gentleman who has been engaged in tha hemp trade in London for the past. 25 years, and who has dealt largely iv New Zealand hemp at Home, has carried out a number of experiments hero which go to show that sisal can be grown as as a profitable speculation. It

is believed the Government will assisj in the matter of a grant of suitable laud at a merely nominal rental. If the fibre samples shown to mo can be grown largely, and there seems to be no reason why planta should not thrive, New Zealand is likely to have a formidable rival in a year or so. I was also shown a beautiful fibre prepared from the fourcoya, a plant which was found growing in a wild state in the vicinity uf Blan!y. Although the fibro hail been prepared by most primitive methods, the texture was excellent. This fibre is largely prepared in tho Mauritius, and is shipped principally to France, where it is used iv tbe manufacture of textile fabrics. The plant cau be grown here at even less expeDse than sisal, and owing to its fineness the fibre commands a much higher figure. lam given to understand that the gentlemen interested intend ■ to spend £20,000 ou the venture immediately." The Secretary of the Post Office supplies tho following information by mail steamer:—Through the burning of a t.raiu in Nebraska on the 9th January, about 40 tons of the United Sates mail matter was destroyed. Some of the registered and other correspondence was for the colonies and was lost; but the Post Office authorities do not think that the quantity was large. Had the British mail l'cr New Zealand arrived iv New York by the steamer Gallic iv due time, it would have been onboard tho train which was burned. The muil agent regrets to iuform the secretary that on the day the Alameda arrived in San Francisco (the 21st December), Mr It. J. Creighton, tho New Zealand Government agent, sustained a serious accident, by which, one of his legs was badly fractured.

Nelson, February S. The I'uaoral of the late Captain Lightfoot took place this afternoon, when all tho business places were closec'jami flags were flying half mast. The mayor and corporation, the Nelson anil Richmond Fire Brigades, the salvage corps, Masons, representatives of insurance companies, aud a great number of citizens followed in the procession.

Chkistchurch, February 5.

At the annual meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board it was stated that the receipts for the year were £27,807 15s lOd, atid the expenditure £24,214, leaving with the balance from last year a surplus of £5462, from which ! has to be deducted £832 for harbour works expenditure. The total assets ou December 31 amounted to £482,622, and the liabilities, including the £200,000 loan, to £202,131, leaving a credit balance of £250,491. There was a decrease in the tonnage of general merchandise of 867 tons as compared with the previous year, but iv the grain trade there was an increase of 17,788 tons. The dock dues left a balance cf £148 over expenditure. The number o: vessels docked wan 15, or two less than th'i previous year. Interest on the cost of the graving dock, £6825 per annum, is not included in giving the abuve balance. In the hoard's sheds 31,957 tons were handled as against 20,909 iv ISSB.

During last year the Sailors' Home at Lytleltou was used by 196 sailors, or 18 less than the previous year.

At a meeting of the drapers aud clothiers last niglit it was resolved to form a drapers' and clothiers' association in Christchnrch. It was also resolved not to closo on Saturday afternoons.