Telegrams.

Otago Witness, Issue 1159, 14 February 1874, Page 16

Telegrams.

Wellington, February sth. A meeting of boating men and others was held last night to appoint a Committee for selecting a representative crew for the Canterbury Interprovincial Regatta. Messrs Pearce and Hunter, M.H.R.'e, were present. A member of the Wellington Club said they would not allow the Dolly Varden crew to be broken up, but would send them m any case, and practising will commence at once. The City Council to-day discussed the question of drainage, and the advisability of electing a mayor direct from the people. A yachting club has been formed. February 6th. The Ocean Mail has been admitted to pratique. The passengers are still on the The' Colonial Prize Firing will be held at Napier on Tuesday, 10th March. February 7th. Whilst the correspondence was proceeding between the General Government and the Provincial Government of Wellington upon the subject of bridges, roads, and other works of the Appropriation Ordinance, lately passed by the Provincial Council— an appropriation which was about £50,000 on account of an anticipated loan— it was discovered that the Provincial Auditor had fligned a warrant for the whole amount appropriated. This act is likely to lead to his dismissal, and it is also probable the Ordinance will be disallowed. February 9th. At Messrs Bethune and Hunter's sale today, fleece wool in grease realised 9d, threequarter lambs lO^d, locks 3£d, greasy wool 10d. There were few buyers, aad no inclination to speculate. February 10th. Yesterday the Post called attention to the fact that by a proclamation issued October 28th, Parliament was called together on the 10th February. To day a number of members met in the Legislative Council, when the Hon John Johnson was called to the chair. There were present Messrs Waterhouse, Pharazyn, Grace, and Hart. Mr Waterhouse spoke at soms length on the importance of proceeding according to due form, in order that the subsequent proceedings should not be reviewed ag invalid Mr Hart quoted important cases in the reign of George 111., bearing upon the point, and seconded the motion for adjournmwnt for a fortnight, which was carried tmauimously. In the House, the representatives present were Messrs Fitzherbert, MXepn, Bunny, Reynolds, and Wakefield. Mr Fitzherberfc was called to the chair. Mr M'Lean proposed, and Mr Bunny seconded, the motion for adjournment till five o'clock to-morrow. The Customs revenue to-day was £6.iiib. The General Government have formally suspended Mr J. Dossefct as Provincial Auditor. . . H.M.S. Blanche arrived this afternoon, having left Levukaonthe 6th January, when the Commodure was there. The Blanche arrived at Apia, in the Samoan group, on the 14th January. Her object m going there was to settle the claims of British subjects against the Natives, and to enforce payment of awards made by Captain Douglas of HM S. Cossack, which the Natives had imored. After five days' palaver the fines were paid, and the remainder of the claims being settled she left Apia on the 25th, and had light winds until the last three days. She left Sydney on the 14th July, and since then she has been statioued at Fiji. lhe Blanche will remain in New Zealand probably till May. She leaves here in a few days for the Auckland and Campbell Islands, returning to Auckland. February llth . The House of Representatives wet at five o'clock. The Clerk said that in consequence of the absence of the Speaker and Chairman of Committee, it would be neceseary, according to the rules of the House, to adjourn till the following day.— Mr Vogel then made the following statement :— lne meeting of members of both Houses yesterday arose through the non-appearance of an expected proclamation of prorogation. Some weeks ago it was intended to farther prosue Parliament. His Excellency was i advised to that effect, and signified his willingness to comply with the advice. It is probable * proclamation of prorogation has been »iened, but if so, it has miscarried. As a few members of Parliament attended yesterday some members of the Government also attended the meeting which took place. Since then the Attorney-General'sopinxpa has been taken, and 1 attach it for your information It is clear the present meetings do not constitute a session, and as soon as the prorogation can be proclaimed it will be. la the meanwhile, if members in Wellington imeet daily, such meetings will not constitute a aession, and members will probably, after to. day, not meet, at least so the Government will advise them. To-day, they will probably meet, as yesterday they agreed to do bo There seems no reason why you should put yourselves to the trouble of coming to Wellington at present." A telegraphic circular of the above was aeTjt by the Government to each member ot Parliament not in Wellington. The -At torner-General's opinion says :-" I think thatu Sis Excellency the Governor has not met and accessed the two other elements ot So General Assembly, neither of those elements can proceed to any business, but adjourn till met by the Governor and ad, dressed by him. Consequently neither House can sit. Each may meet, but cannot sit and proceed to business. It is held that a complete Act must be paaued, otherwise

Act, there must be a Bill passed by each House, and assented to {by the Governor. Therefore there will be no session within the meaning of the section of the Constitution Act, and the Governor may safely and properly prorogue to a later date. The time elapsed between the date to which the Assembly was prorogued by the last instrument of prorogation, namely, 10th February, and the date of the next instrument of prorogation, will not have been a Session, although members of each House of Assembly may have met and 'adjourned. The Independent says it was requested to state that although Parliament stood prorogued by proclamation till yesterday it was not the intention of the Government to hold a session at the present time. A proclamation further adjourning the meeting of the House till the thirteenth of April was weeks ago forwarded to His Excellency for signature. The document is now at Hokitika, where it was expected His Excellency would arrive in time to sign the proclamation and inform the Government by telegraph. It is supposed that the Governor is weather-bound in some sound or inlet on the coast. The Blanche will replace the Dido on this station. The European population at Fiji are said to be strongly in favour of annexation. Cakobau was received in state aboard the Commodore's ship. Auckland, February sth. It is stated that the Flora M 'Donald was in a. thoroughly uuseaworthy condition through age. The disaster has caused an agitation for a Government inspection of sailing vessels. A portion of the Flora M 'Donald's stern, with her name painted on it, has been found. None of the bodies have been recovered. The Provincial Governmenthave despatched Barry, a miner, to prospect the TJriwera country for gold, in compliance with the wishes of the Natives. February 6th. All the female immigrants, per Lauderdale, were immediately engaged. There were 80 applications in excess of the supply. February 9 th. The ship Wave Queen came up the harbour last afternoon all right. The wind is still strong, but no further damage is reported. The Chile's fore-royal was carried away, also a portion of her bulwarks. The walls of Masefield's foundry crushed in the roof of the adjoining cottage, but the residents were in another apartment, and were not injured The estimated damage is now fixed at £10,000. The steamer Challenger is completely smashed up, and a cutter sunk on top of her. A seaman belonging to the Wave Queen, named Richard Knott, was drowned in Rangitoto Channel while endeavouring to rescue the crew of the cutter Challenger in distress; George Arnoff, one of the Challenger's crew, was "also drowned. The Challenger was wrecked on Rangitoto. The men clung to I the rocks until the two mentioned were washed off exhausted. A man named Washington is believed to be lost from the yacht Columbia, which was wrecked at Breakwater. Four Maoris are also reported to have been lost, but the rumour is not verified. The damage done is estimated as follows :— Coralie, cutter, £500 ; Aim, cutter, £600 j Lauderdale, barque, £1000; dial lenger, p.s., £3000 ; Gemini, s.s., £100 ; Devenport, pa, £200; Takapuna, p.s., £1500 ; Enterprise, No. 1, p.s., £2000 ; Otahutie, cutter, £350 ; Golden Isle, schooner, £1000 ; Teazer, cargo boat, £100 ; Gleam, yacht, £50; Wharves, £500; Chile, ship, £500 ; 'Victoria, s.s., £70 ; Two open boats, £70 ; Galatea, yacht;, £70. Various vessels, such as the Miranda, Triad, Dee, Prima Donna, Three Brothers, Janet Gray, &c , say £1500; Beatrice, barque, £200 ; Volante, yacht, £60 ; Challenger, boat, £60. Damages in town, £1000. Total, £12,390, as estimated by the Cross. A later telegram says :— Surveys made of the shipping show the damage to be far under the gross estimate, as the vessels are not so much injured as first stated. The total damage is now estimated at £6000. A body has floated ashore on the North Shore, supposed to be the owner of the yacht Pearl. If this is the case, it will bring the number of lives lost up to four . February 10th. Further information leaves no doubt that the yacht Pearl has been wrecked, and all hands lost. Mr Waymouth's body has been identified. # At the official enquiry nto the wreck of of the Flora M 'Donald no new facts have been elicited. A quantity of wreck has been washed ashore at Whaupua saw- mills. February llth. The Clerk of Workß to the Harbour Board estimates the damage done by the late gale to wharves and the sea wall at £1000. The repair of the vessels is actively proceeding, and shipwrights are in great demand. Benjamin Worthington, who was supposed to have been lost in the yacht Columbia, sunk near the Breakwater, comes from Nelson, It is reported that he owns property there. He leaves a wife. The body of Hautie, Worthington's companion, was found floating in the Harbour to-day. . H.M. schooner Alacrity has arrived from Fiji. She brings full details of the hurricane. Koro Island suffered the most. Another severe gale at Ba destroyed trees. Portions of the wrecked vessels have been found on the Ba coast, but not identified. The British Commission is continuing its labours. The English Government has de termined to allow the question of annexation to be settled by the Natives. Two chiefs are in favour of annexation. Two Line Jelwid, labourers on Boyd/s plantation up *

dispute, and one killed the other with an axe. The ship Allahabad, with coal, from Newcastle bound for San Francisco, losther charts, chronompters, &c. , during a gale on the coast. The cabin is a complete wreck. Captain tiellars, of the Southern Cross, who met her, gave her his mate to pilot the ship into Auckland for repairs. Mr Alexander Saunders reports .-—Buyers : National Insurance Co., f 1 2s ; City of London, £1 ; National Bank of New Zealand, £3 3s ; Caledonian, £10 15s ; Tokatea, 16s. Sellers : National Bank of New Zealand, £3 ss; Albion, £4; Caledonians, £11 15s; South British Insurance Co., £2 ss. Christchukch, February sth. Efforts have been made to get Mr C . C. Bowen, R.M., to contest the Superintendency election, but he positively declines, consequently the present Superintendent is expected to have a walk over. February 7th. The Wesleyan Conference yesterday decided that the annual Conference in future should be composed of all ministers and one layman from each circuit, and that_ the general Conference be composed of ministers as provided in thj constitution, with the i number of laymen in each district to be ] equal to the number of ministers chosen as , representatives. They also decided that the j next New Zealand Conference shall be held in Auckland on January 14th, 1575. At the , Conference Ordination Service held yesterday, the following probationers were ordained for the full work of the ministry :— W. Karl, i Canterbury ; W. H. Beck, Lawrence ; H. j Bull, Canterbury ; S. W. Lewis, Auckland ; < L. Williams, the Thames ; F. W. Isitt, Balclutha. Dr Wilinshurst, of the ship Isles of the South, I'D arrested on a warrant for embezzling medical comforts and selling them. February 11th, The New Zealand Wesleyan Conference decided yesterday to send to England for three ministers. The Conference terminated to-day. Napiku, February stli. A Maori woman, one of Hapukau's wives, has been thrown from her horse. Her foot caught in the stirrup, she was dragged a long distance and literally torn to pieces. All the immigrants per Queen of the North are already engaged. February 7th. The scores for the Colonial Prize Firing are— Crossman, 99 ; Moore, 95 ; Burne, 88. The Provincial Council was prorogued dayMajor Gordon, after an inspection, complimented the City Artillery and Kifle Companies. He said that when his report was sent in, he believed that reductions would take place in the Force, and that many of the sedentary Volunteers would be made to resign. New Plymouth, February 7th. _ The chief Moehau, better known as Aperihana, is dead. Tauranga, February 7th. The Superintendent and the Executive are visiting the district. February 9th. The Superintendent and the Executive held a monster native meeting this afternoon. There were great rejoicings, and songs of welcome. Complimentary allusions to the native member and Mr Commissioner Clark were made. 1 Reeiton, February 10th. The Wealth of Nations' monthly crushing [ yielded 498 ounces of gold, value £1918. At i the general meeting of the shareholders it was dtcided to increase the battery from 15 to 20 stampers. Hoeitika, February 10th. Mr Hilman has been committed for trial at the Supreme Court, for assault with intent on a girl 8 years old. The evidence iB revolting in the extreme. The steamer Titan, while towing in the schooner Florence, got ashore on the South Spit. The schooner is also ashore, and in a worse position, further south. It is probable the Titan will get off next tide. February 11th. The steamers Waipara and Titan, and the schooner Florence, still remain stranded on the South Spit. An attempt was made this morning to get off the Titan, but it was unsuccessful j it will be, however, renewed this evening. The Wallace entered safely this morning, tho bar being much improved. Invercargill, February 6th. The weather yesterday was magnificent for the races. The Flying Handicap was won by Malabar, Happy Jack second, and Rosma third. Owing to Rosma being late, only two horses were entered for the Town Plate — viz., Tamburini and Sir Tatton, belonging to one owner. Tamburini cantered over the course. For the Ladies' Purse, Young Manarata and Sir Tatton were the only horses that started, the latter winning. For the District Handicap six started, Stackpole i being first, Orphan second, and Happy Jack third. This was a good race. Feb. 11th. Waddell, a cattle dealer, claimed in the District Court, to-day, £200 damages from the Superintendent, as proprietor of the Southland Railways, on account of his servants, the railway officials, having agreed to convey a heifer belonging to plaintiff from Invercargill to the Bluff. Through the carelessness of the servants the heifer was put into a truck or van unfit for the purpose. The consequence was that the feer &ttej»pfc<4 to jwp out, a»4 ow

plaintiff's leg, incapacitating him for business. The jury assessed the damages at .£2OO. Blufk, February 11th. The Governor's yacht passed here yesterday, bound eastward. Clyde, February sth. At the Dunstan races the first day of the meeting was not up to expectations in point of attendance, and from a racing point of view much behind former years. The results are as follows :— Maiden Plate : Earl of Lynne, 1 ; Port Philip Buck, 2. Grand Stand Handicap : Brunette, 1 ; Fenian, 2 ; Butterfly, 3. The Member's Plate was a walk over for Brunetto. The Trotting Race, for which there were ten entries, was won by Mr Low's Tapioca^ Lawrence, Feb. 10th. The following is the result of land sale today : _Section 1, £1 8s per acre ; 2, £2 Is : 3, £2 3s ; 4, £2 6s ; 5, £2 10s ; 6, £1 ; 7, £1 10s ;8, £1 12s ;9, £1 15s : 10, £1 4s ; 11, £1 3s ; Captain M'Kenzie purchaser. Section 12, £2 8s ; 13, £2 9s : David Robertson, purchaser. Section 14, £1 13s ; 15, £1 7s : 16, £1 11s ; 17, £1 Us ; 18, £1 3s ; 19 to 23, ( no offer. Section 24, £1 ; Captain M'Kenzie, pursbaser. Section 25, no offer. Sec1 tion 26, £2 ; John Buchanan, purchaser. Section 27, £1 ; 28, £1 9s ; 29, £2 ; 30, £2 ; 31, £1 3s ; 32. £1 6s ; 33, £1 ss ; 34, £1 7s ; 35, £1 11s ; 36, £2 3s ; 37, £1 13s ; 38, £2 ; , 39, £1 17s ; 52, £1 Is ; 53, £1 5s ; 54, £1 6s ; Captain M'Kenzie, pnrchaser. Sections o5 and 56, no offer. Section 57, £1 ; 58, £1 ; 65, £2 10s ; 66, £2 4s ; 67, XI 3s ; 68, £1 5s ; 69, £1 12s ; 70, £2 ; 78, £5 lls ; Captain M'Kenzie, purchaser. Section 80, £2 6s per acre ; Hugh Begg, purchaser. Section 81, £4 Is per acre ■, W. H. Cox, purchaser. The total will realise about £5500. There was a large attendance, and the bidding was spirited, one or two particular sections being started as high as £2 per acre.