TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9093, 18 April 1891, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(Peb United Peess Association.) Auckland, April 17.

A gumdigger named George Williams was burned to death in the destruction of his whare by fire at Mangawai. Deceased was at one time an officer in the navy, but gave way to drink. He was 35 years of age. An address and a purse of sovereigns from the public to Miss Arnaboldi i 3 to be presented to that lady on Monday evening next. About 30 of the City Guards went into camp to-night at the North Shore. At-the annual meeting of subscribers and friends of St. Stephen's Orphan*' Home, Parnell the statement of accounts showed that the capital account at the beginning of the year was £13 539 5s 3d, and during the year £100 was received from the trustees of the late C. O. Davis • but owing to the Bawlings' defalcations, amounting to over £1800, the balance carried forward was only £12,843 7s 3d. Some discussion took place regarding the auditing of the accounts, and one speaker maintained that the £1800 taken from the funds of the institution by the late treasurer (Rawlings) should be refunded by the auditors. It was resolved that the accounts be audited quarterly and the auditors be paid. _ _ _ The Native Land Laws Commissioners returned from Otarahanga, and sat again in the Custom House Buildings this morning, when Mr Theo Cooper, solicitor, gave evidence. He was emphatically of opinion that the Native land laws at present are in a state of hopeless confusion ; that there is no certainty or tenure about any lands derived from a Maori title, and that the legal profession find it almost impossible to advise clients with any degree of confidence in respect of such transactions. Recent decisions in the Court of Appeal had shown the urgent need of a reform. A fiaal sitting of the commission takes place to-morrow, andJhe commisioners leave for New Plymouth on Monday

Nsw Plymouth, Aprill7. thPsmwnfng, and left by train for Wellington tWThe VXa D ded steamer Wanaka maintains her poX The weather is still fine, and the plant to float her off is expected to-day.

Wellington, April 17.

Mr Danielle, of the Union Company, and a number of men left for Taranaki by tho Takapuna this afternoon for the purpose of taking part in the operations connected with tho raising I of the Wanaka. The Takapuna also takes up the balance of the gear r< quired for the work. At last night'B meeting of the City Council the Mayor, in referring to tho water supply, said that it had only been by sheer luck that tba city supply had not failed during tho past summer, which was fortunate!} a wet one. He thought that the council would have either to put out tbe electric lights in the summer or provide an iuereaee in tha supply of water. He also re-

ferred to Iho injustice of the corporation being saddled with the whole of the charitable aid rate. It was suggested that the matter ba brought before the Municipal Conference, and an endeavour be made to get the Government to make it a colonial instead of a municipal affair. Owing to the heavy charges for water tbe Harbour Board have instructed their engineer to ascertain the practicability of obtaining the necessary supplies for tho board outside of that supplied by the corporation. Mr Philip Corlifs, for many years accountant in the Evening Post office, died at 8 o'clock this

morning from inn immation of the bowels. Deceased, who was 30 years of age, had only been ailing a few days.

Blenheim, April 17.

Extraordinary electrical discharges were noticeable at 11 this evening in the direction of Wairau bar, resembling ships' rockets. No reports were heard, and the phenomena differed from sheet lightuing, inasmuch that the glare occurred at regular intervals in the same direction, and was not apparently subject to the oscillating caused by the condensation of the atmosphere.

CHBiSTcntmcn, April 17. The weather, which has been very dry for nearly three months, changed this evening, steady rain having set in. The annual statement of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society 6hows the receipts for the year ending March 31 to have been £50219 a lid, and the expenditure, including £50 accounts from the preceding year, £505 7s Ba. The debit balance is £2 7s 9d.

Inyeecaegjxl, April 17. A meetiDg was held to-night to consider the question of amalgamating the harbour districts, the moving cause being a desire to remove the Invercargill harbour from the jurisdiction of the borough council and raise funds for its improvement. A dredge was purchased, and did excellent work, but operations had to be stopped owing to the lack of funds, while the harbour is indebted to the town in several thousand pounds, if the improvements were carried out, 17 mile 3of railage to the Bluff would be saved jon portion of the trade. Resolutions aSrming the desirableness of amalgamating the Bluff and New River Boards, and appointing a committee to take further action were carried.