Telegrams.

Otago Witness, Issue 987, 29 October 1870, Page 14

Telegrams.

Welt,ii.gton, October 21st. The Home Commibsioners intend to leave England for Hew Zealand this month, Dr Featherston returning via America, and Mr Bell via Suez. October 25*h. Grea* sympathy is exprt- ssed here for the sufferers by the conflagration at Lyttelton. Subscription lists have been already opened, and Mr Heller, who conclud d his season here last night, yiveß an extra perform-tnee to-morrow nitjht, half the proceeds of which will be given to the Relief Fund. The reflection of the fire as distinctly visible in the sky here last nig^t. a boy named Tandy fell off thw wharf last night aud was drowned. October 27th Mr Heller's performance last ni«nt produced LlO for the Lyttelton Relief Fund. An inquest was held to-day on a body foiird in the harbour, and which was identified as that of William Porteous, a carpenter. The jury rbturned a verdict of " Found drowned." Auckland, October 21st, via Nelson, October 23rd. Mr Vogel has accepted a requisition si.-ned by 300 voters of Auckland City East, and Mr Clarke has since retired fom the contest. Sir Vogel's return is considered certain. j Mr Kell, is as yet the only candidate ! in the fie d for the East Coast. Mr Gil- '' lies will, it is supposed, stand for Franklin. ' ! t is reported that Mr John Williamson intends to relinquish his Government appointment and stand for Auckland City West. Mr Dignan offers himaelf for the Bame ward.

a seaman fell from the main yard of the Blanche to-day, and was killed. 5000 ounces of gold have been received from the Thames during the week. A ried of lignite has been discovered at Gr.ihamstown.

Sir Trevor and Lady Chute have arriv. d in the Hero from Melbourne, e?t route to England.

Cha'ig, the Chinese giant, has entered into a week's engagement at the Prince of Wales Theatre.

Commercial.— Mr G. W. Binney sold by auction, ex late arrivals from the South, wheat at 5a 6d to 5a Hd ; barley, at 3s ; bran, at la Id ; potatoes, at L 5 ", and flour, at Ll4 5s to Ll4 15a.

October 25th, The Governor issued a proclamation to-day prohibiting the export of gold, except on payment of the old we of duty. The Diocesan Synod opened yesterday. Alluvial workings have been discovered at the Thames. The enquiry into the Coromtndel election has concluded, and the conduct of the returning officer and others has oeen exposed. Chang, the Ohineae giant, appeared last nkht at the Prince of Wales Theatre. There were about 800 persons present. The Auckland races take place on 'be 2nd and 3rd January. The entries for the Two Mile Handicap close on the 19 'h November. The priz.es are L 75 and L 25 Mr Bennett's Diorama of the San Francisco mail route is a success. The elections are already exciting much interest. Mr John Williamson, Mr Gillies (Superintendent), and Mr Dignan are standing for Auckland City West. Mr R. Wood and six other candidates have come forward for the East Coast. Sir George Grey is not on the electoral roll, otherwise he would also have come forward. Mr Creighton h»s been requested to stand again for Newton. Napier, October 24th. Mr Hamlin, who has crossed from Maketu to Tapuaeharuru, reports seeing Te Whenuanui's people, who told him that Te Waru had lost 120 men of the different tribes connected with him from fever. This report has just been confirmed from Wairoa. Te Warn is now anxious to surrender. The prisoners taken at Mohaka have left Te Kooti, and are now at Waikaremoana, returning. Westport, October 25th. Some very rich quartz has been brought in from Anderson's and Murray's Creeks, Upper Buller, and prospecting claims have been pranted to Davis and party. The reefs are from three to six feet in .width, and the gold is well defined throughout. Christohurch, October 25th. A most disastrous fire occurred in Lyttelton last night, and raged for upwards of four hours. The en ire block of buildings bounded by London street, Oxford street, Canterbury street, and Norwich Quay, waß destroyed. Two- thirds of the town has been laid in ruins, and many families have been ren- ! dered houseless. The Christchurch. steam fire engine was conveyed to Lyttelton ry special train, and ereatly assisted to stop the fire. All the butchers' and bakers' shops have been destroyed, and food had to be sent from Chriatchurch this morning. i The estimated loss <s £100,000. The J cause of the fire is still unknown. 7.55 p.m. ! A large quantity of provisions were J sent through to Lyttelton from Chris'church this morning, as the whole of the 'w chers' and bakers' shops in the former town were deßtroj-ed, as well as eight of the thirteen licensed houses in the place. The licensed victuallers give a performance in aid of the sufferers to-morrow, and a public subscription also was opened in Christchurch to-day, and Ll9O subi scribed. Crowds of people from Christchurch visited the ruins to-day. The total loss and damage a r e estimated in round numbers at LIOO.OOO. The total amount of the insurances effected is L 23,180. It is principally on the buildings, very little of the stock in them being insured. The houses which escaped beirg burned are very much damaged, owing to the intense heat. The fire originated in an outhouse of the Queen's Hotel, in which a quantity of cases, with straw inside them, were Btored. The Christchurch Fire Brigade were on duty for 24 hours cop<iauously. October 26th. The Lyttelton Relief Fund now reaches LSOO, but there has not yet been sufficient time to receive anything from the districts outside Christchurch. Hokitika, October 24th. The Omeo, in lieu of the Rangitoto, arrived at Bam. to day. She left Melbourne on the evening of the 17th, and e r countered head winds throughout the passage. Passenger List : — Hon. Mr and Mrs Fitzherbert, Miss Attrill, and 22 for Hokitika. Cargo List : — For Dunedin, 17 tons ; for Wellington, 50 tons ; for Lyttelton, 30 to as. Bluff, October 27th. The s.B. Gothenburg, Captain Pearce, arrived here this evening at 6 50. She left Melbourne at 3 p.m. on ihe 22nd. The Ran itoto has been overhauled, and was to leave Melbourne on the 27th for Hokitika, and the Tararua on the 29th for the Bluff. Passengers per Gothenburg : — For

Dunedin — Miss J. Rose, Miss E. Malcolm, Mis 3 Farqubar, Mr and Mrs Marton, Mr Turnbull, and 34 in the steerage. For Lyttelton— Mr Oakden. Cargo Lis* : — For Dunedin, 180 tons ; for Lyttelton, 50 tons ; for Wellington, 33 tons ; for Nelson, 8 tons ; total, 271 tons. Melbourne, October 17th. The Rangitoto arrived on Thursday, and the Gothenburg on Saturday. The Somersetshire arrived to-day, after a passage of sixty days. The markets during the week have been very dull. Flour declined gradually, un'il sales were effected at Ll2. Quotations today :--Flour, Ll2 to Ll2 10a ; wheat, 5s 9d ; oats maintain last week's prices^ 3a 7d to 3a 9d ; sugars have advanced 20s and remain firm. Mr Macpherson has been elected Mayor of Melbourne. The Germans sent LI3OO home by the mail, and nearly an equal amount was sent from the other colonies. The mail took upwards of half a million in gold and specie from Melbourne. Mr Fellows goes home shortly, and is likely to remain. Reindeer won the Hunt Club Cup. The Warrior and Croydon are great favourites for the Melbourne cup, and are backed at 6 to 1. Supple will be tried for shooting at Mr G. P. Smith. He has determined to defend himself. The Victoria Permanent Building Society has declared a dividend equal to 20 per cent. Mr Egan, the Postmaster-General of New South Wales, died suddenly yesternight. Mr Htnry Parkes, of Sydney, has filed his schedule. Liabilities, L 36 000 ; assets, Ll3 000. He has resigned his seat in the Assembly, but his friends intend to reelect him. in a recent larceny case, tried in Sydney. the law officers gave it as their opinion that prosecution for a larceny com mi ted in New Zealand cannot take place in Australia. Prince Alfred leaves Sydney on Wednesday for Melbourne. Harris and Hewitt won one match each. The deciding match is to be run to-day. The South Australian Parliament has passed the Port Darwin Telegraph Bill, •inding the colony to finish the line by •he end of December, 1871. A copy of the Act was sent by the last mail, to satisfy the English company who propose to land the cable there, so that Melbourne will probably wish London a " happy new year" in 1872. October 22nd. The Duke of Edinburgh is a passenger by the Lady Young, which arrived at Queenscliff this afternoon. He is to land v. s andridge, and proceed thence to Toorak. The GrantTeatimonial Fund has reached f.20^0. The lists close at the end of December. The new wing of the Benevolent Asylum has been opened. It can accommodate 120 inmates. A portion of the barracks has been converted into an Industrial School for 400 children. Harrh, the defaulting Secretary of the Shire Council, who was lately captured at Auckland while endeavouring to escape to America, has been committed for trial. A traction engine has been started on the Whittlesea road, for the purpose of conveying timber to Melbourne. Detective Christie, who accompanied the Duke of Edin urgh to New Zealand, has been reduced to the 3rd class, and a Board has been appointed to enquire into his conduct. Mr Gawler, solicitor at Adelaide under the Torrens Act, will proceed shortly to New Zealand to initiate the Act there. Messrs George Lewis and Co, shipping agents, have assigned th«ir estate. Their liabilities amount to L 16.000. At the-Launceston assizes, an old man named Connolly, 80 years of age, was sentenced to death for murder. Two skeletons have been found near Cape Otway. They are supposed to be those of the South Sea Islanders who were wrecked there in the Marie Ga rielle l»Bt year. ' Commercial.— The markets have fluctuated during the week. Feeding grains have been easier, but have aaain reached last quotations ; whilst maize has reached 4a 4i. Wheat is at 5s lOd, and flour at Ll2 10s to 1.13, being an improvement on last week. Sugars are firm, and teas are steady. A great rush took place to take teas out of bond at Sydney, in conBequence of the rumoured increase of duty. The new tariff of New South Wales, however, increases the duty en coffee only, changes ad valorem into measurement duties, and makes the tariff generally very much like the Victorian tariff, practically realising as much from as many imports as we. do, only in another way.