TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11795, 26 July 1900, Page 5

TELEGRAMS.

(Per United Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, July 25.

At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce the president, expressing satisfaction at the defeat of the Chambers of Commerce, Bill, suggested an organisation between tba various chambers in the colony, with a meeting, probably, in Christchurch during the Exhibition. The suggestion was warmly approved, and the chamber decided to circularise the other chambers' oru the subject. The chamber also passed a resolution in favour of the. reduction o£ telegraph charges to |d per word after tha first 12 words.

In the case of James Brennan v. James Donaghy, arising out of the Onehunga shooting case, and in which plaintiff was badly wounded by the defendant, the jury found that the defendant was a lunatic at the time he shot Brennan, and that plaintiff was entitled to £750 damages ironi defendant for injuries received. Argument was then heard on the question, Can damages' be recovered from a lunatic?

WELLINGTON, July 25. The arrivals in the colony during June were 784, and the departures 1032.

The Government have declined to give the Education Board the amount necessary, some £6000, to rebuild the Thomdon, School, recently burned down, in brick, but' have allowed £4826 to replace it in wood.

Steps have been taken to form a corps of military engineers here. Colonel Penton has intimated that the services of the corps ■will be accepted at once by the Government.

TIMARU, .July 25.

Mr R. Y. Ferguson, manager of tha Geraldine branch of the Farmers' Association Stores, has been committed for trial for embezzling £247 in the months of May and June last. Other sums were also mentioned. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £150 each.

WAIMATE, July 25.

The Times office was burned down shortly after 4 o'clock this morning, nothing being saved. The business was leased by Mr M.> Smith,- who had no insurance on his stock. He estimates his loss at about £150. The building and plant were insured, but the amount is not known here. Incendiarism is suspected, as a suspicious fire broke out in the office three weeks ago.