TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10420, 24 July 1895, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(Feu United Pbess Association.) :;.-". Auckland, - July 23. Arrangements have bgeu completed by a southern firm to take over the Auckland Fibre Company's works at Mechanics' Bayl Messrs Passmore and Fletcher are now there completing the details of the purchase. At the Crown Lands Board meeting a letter was received from the Surveyor-general informing the board that when rents on \Crown lands are more than two years overdue steps should be taken to forfeit the sections. Rents amount ing to £3496 are doe ip the Auckland district. Tha bo.\rd resolved to act "upon the suggestion. "The police are unable after investigation to throw any light on the mysterious stabbing affair in Richmond road on Sunday,night. A youug named Hetherington was found this morning in the basement of the Opera House in"an unconscious state. He had fallen through a trap-door. Being seriously injured he waa taken tb the hospital.

-Wellington, July 23. The Minister for Laods informed a deputation this morning that tbe Fair Rents Bill would be introduced at an early date, and that he would use every effort to pass it into law. The Government intends to give a subsidy to the Vancouver route, and to reduce the subsidy on the San Francisco route, but by way of compensation for the reduction the San Francisco contract will be extended to five years. Gold and silver bullion to the extent of £36,000 came from Auckland by the Takapuna to-day, and will bs shipped -to London by the lonic.

The annual balance sheet of tbe benevolent trustees shows fche receipts to have been£lo,s2G, and the expenditure £10,090. Monday, the 19th August, is the date fixed for the Muoicipal Conference, subject to a possible alteration dependent on the dates to be fixed for the introduction acd secoud reading in the House of the Local Government Bill.

Evideuce in connection with a claim made by Sparrow nnd Co.. of Dunedin, on tha para Para Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Collingwood) has been' takeu in Wellington by tha Hon. B. Richardson as arbitrator. Sparrow and Co. supplied iron pines required by the company, the contract price being £7580, and they vow claim a b&lancrt of £2337 with interest aud £500 as damages. It is expected that the arbitrator will make bis award in abont a fortnight.

Christchusch, Juiy 23. At a meeting of hctelkeeper6 to-day, a resolution was passed asking the Government in the licensing legislation to make a provision declaring it illegal for houses to be " bound " to bre wars. It was stated that a petition on the subject hnd already betu signed by 30S8 persons. A resolution was carried—" That in view of tbe recent casss in whicii fines were inflicted on hotelkeepers for serving, people -representing themselves as travellers, a deputation from this meeting wait upon the hc.t-iiktepers and endeavour to get a unsn?mcus agreement to refuse all : drinks wi Sunday, aart lhat this resolution be I. forwarded as a; recommendation to the Licensed Victuallers' Association,"

At a meeting of cottiers on the lands recently Hooded by Lake EDeomeri', it was resolved bo take steps to constitute a drainage district, nnd taks the work of dealing with the hke out ol the hands of tho Selwyn County Council. It was decided to ask the Government to appoint engineers to make a snrvey of the beach with » view of making a permanent opening fiom the lake to the cci.

Invercargill, July 23. "Mrs Ellen Tonar, aged 61, wife of a labourer at Riverton, committed suicide this morniug by throwing hersalf into tho river.