TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13518, 15 February 1906, Page 8

TELEGRAMS.

(Pis United Pjsiss Association) HASTINGS, February U. The Premier arrived by tho midday train and laid tho . Wndation stone ot the now Presbyterian Church. He was acoordcd a. splendid reception, and afterwards was present at a. garden party on the racecourse. Ho opened the Oatholio baaaar in the evening, Mid. was afterwards entertained at » musical reception. A number of deputations jvill be received to-morrow morning. WELLINGTON, February 14. The hearing of the divorce case of Mary Aime O'Brien v. John Jamca O'Brien was continued to-day ia Camera before tie Chief Justice and s common jury. The jury after several hours' deliberation, found on the issues submitted that respondent bad committed adultery in July or August, 1905, and that an allegation as to adultery with a certain ■woman in 1893 was not. proved. A decree nisi was granted, to be made ateolute at the expiration of three months. Tho questions of costs and alimony were reserved for argument. The warship Cambrian sailed for Lyttelton to-day. Shortly she visits Brazil and other South American porta, returning to Australia via Easter Island. Mr Sydney Johnston, of Takapau, Hawke's "Bay, has lent his house to his Excellency tho Governor tmtil tho beginning of tho parliamentary session. Their Exccllencics will take up their residence there early in March. CHRISTCHURCH, February 14. Sir Joseph Ward has replied to the Mayor of Christehurch in regard to the proposed electrification of tho Lyttelton-Christchurch railway with a view to preventing the incouveriienco from which passengors now suffer when travelling through the tunnel, stating that tho matter ha 6 received very careful consideration, and ho regretted that, in view oi tho very heavy expense which would be incurred by the electrification cf tho line, he could not sec his way to adopt the suggestions at the present time. He had, however, for some considerable time past had tho question of the best steps to be taken towards an abatement of smoke in the tunnel under consideration, and steps were now being taken to give effect to the proposals made in that direction, and he was hopeful that satisfactory results would be achieved. At a meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Navy League this afternoon a motion was carried that tho league had not sufficient- funds to entertain the visiting •squadron, and, further, it was not Hie proper function of the_ league to expend its resources on entertaining. GREYMOIiTH, February 14. A public meeting was held last night of the lessees and sub-lessees of the Greymouth Native reserve. It was convened by Mr Guinness, M.TI.R. The meeting decided ' that it is desirable to have legislation framed to enable the Government to acquire the freehold of the reserve, also that if the reserve were acquired bv the Government tho present- tenants should have the option of obtaining the freehold right, out or on tho deferred payment, system, or he able to lake up tho land_ on lease in perpetuity. The business portion of the town is built on the reserve, and one speaker contended that if a better tenure than the present, one existed the tenants probably would erect more substantial buildings in place of the present premises. ASHBURTOX, February 14, The police have lodged a notice of appeal against fhe magistrate's decision in the recent ease against, the Timaru Brewery Company, which was dfsmissed, the charge being in regard to a. 10-gallon keg of beer which tho prosecution alleged _ was not labelled as required by the licensing law.