Telegrams.

Otago Witness, Issue 1320, 17 March 1877, Page 15

Telegrams.

INTERPROVINCIAL ITEMS, Wellington, March 10th. The subscriptions raised here towards the presentation to Captain John 31 ' Lean, late commander of the Ringarooma, amount to 115 guineas, and are still coming in. It is believed that about £1000 will be subscribed j in the Colony altogether. | The shore end of the second Cook's Strait cable was placed yesterday. The rest of the day was spent in fruitless endeavours to get a boat ashore with, the end of the cable. Heavy rollers prevented a landing this morning. While endeavouring to land the cable, the boat capsised with, se^en men. One man was drowned. The cable is now being se» cured in the cable-house, Lyell's Bay. ! March 12th. The Wellington Municipal Corporation has floated, in London the Corporation Consolidated Loan of £200,000 at 102 and onesixth per cent, through the Bank of New Zealand. \ ; March 13th. The Gazette issued to-day contains a proclamation announcing that the Governor has extended parts 12 and 13 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, to the Corporation of the Cicy of Dunedin. A round robin, has been signed by all the merchants, shippers, and carters, urging upon the Mayor the necessity for dismissing Mr Reeves, the present wharfinger, for in« competence and gross mismanagement. Auckland, March. 14th. The Auckland Acclimatisation Society has resolved to import a quarter of a million more salmon oya..

In Banco to-day, Judge Gillies sustained the Registrar's decision, releasing Sterndile from Gaol. In a Bankruptcy case today, it transpired that the bankrupt had passed all stages on five proxies, no creditors being personally present at the meeting. Judge Gillies considered such proceedings an abominable farce, and refused to certify for bankrupt's discharge. Christchurch, March 9th. The Hon. George Young, Canadian Commissioner, who has been deputed to visit the Sydney Exhibition in April next, waited upon the Chamber of Commerce here yesterday and explained the exact object of his mission, which is to draw closer the bonds of amity and commerce existing between these Colonies and Canada. He explained that the Canadian exhibits at Sydney would be principally agricultural machinery, and he suggested the advisability of urging the Government to send some one to the Sydney Exhibition to report on the Canadian exhibits. Tho Chamber unanimously resolved to ask Government to do so. A letter from the Minister of Justice has been received here stating that the Government will at 'once consider the law which prevents absentees being sued in the Magistrate's Courts without the consent of their attorneys, and will take measures to amend it. The agricultural statistics of theTpresent year give the following returns : — Number of holdings 4473, of which 2760 are freehold; land broken np but not in crop, 130,046 acres. Land in wheat, 92,417 acres ; estimated produce, 2,707,625 bushels. Oats, 75,354 acres ; estimated produce, 3,106,800 bushels. ■ Barley, 16,047 acres ; estimated produce, 505,701 bushels. Hay, 17,123 acres ; estimated produce, 21,213 tons. Land ia grass, 316,078 acres. Potatoes, 3424 acres; estimated produce, 25,886 tons. Other crop 3, 58,251 acres. Total amount- of land under crop, including sown grasses, 653,487 acres. March 12th. At the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, Edward Pooley, one of the English cricketera, was charged with assaulting Ralph Donkin. Prior to the cricket match here, Donkin made a bet with Pooley, but afterwards, considering it a catch bet, sent a message to Pooley that he cried off. After the match, Pooley claimed the amount of tha bet — £36. Donkin refused to pay. Pooley then assaulted him The parties being separated, Donkin went aw;y, and Pooley followed. An altercation ensued, which was followed up by another assault. Evidence was contradictory as to who was the aggressor in the second assault, but the R.M. considered it proved that Pooley struck the first blow in both assaults. He imposed a fine of £5. Edward Pooley and Albert Bramhall (the latter, a money-taker for the English cricketers) were then charged with wilfully and maliciously destroying clothes and plans, the propetty of Ralph Donkin. At 10.30 on the night of the assault Donkin's bedroom at Warner's Hotel waa seen to be in the usual order. Shortly after, Pooley was seen to come out of Donkin' a bedroom, and.Bramhall was standing close to the door. At 11 o'clock, the waiter, whose suspicion* werev. aroused, went into the bedroom and foundi Donkin's clothes and a lot of plans torn up.}' The damage to the clothes was valued at' 1 £35 ; the damage to the plans at £60. The Bench committed both men for trial. Bail was accepted — each man in his personal, nureiy. of £200, and two sureties of £100 each. At the Kaiapoi Regatta to-day, the Champion and Junior Four-oar races were won by Christchurch crews, Kaiapoi second. Entries for the Ram and Ewe Fair comprise 1860 rams and 1285 ewes, being more than double the number of last year. March 14th. A public meeting was held last night to consider the resolution passed by the City Council, affirming the desirability of borrowing £30,000 to purchase a block of land opposite the Bank of New Zealand for the purpose of widening Colombo street and erecting a Town Hall. There was a crowded attendance. A resolution was unanimously carried — "That it is inexpedient to purchase the land. A plebiscite will now be taken by the City Council to ascertain whether ratepayers generally are opposed to the proposal to purchase." Sixteen prisoners are awaiting trial at the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court, which will commence on Monday next. Gbahamstowh, March Bth. Moanstaiari's have been sold, to-day at £8. They are easier now, and have been quoted at £4 155. March 14th. George Halliwell, ex lineman of the Telegraph , Department, who has been missing over a fortnight, has been reported by a Maori to be wandering in the bush dimented. A search party has gone out. Wanganui, March Bth. Mr R. W. Woon's excursion parly to the head of the Wangaaui river was turned back by the Natives alter going considerable distance. The reasons assigned were annoyance and insolence of Europeans going on Native lands to prospect for gold. Nelson, March Bfch. The sitting of the, University Senate yesterday lapsed for want of a quorum. There are seven vacancies which the Government failed to fill up to-day. Vice-Chancel-lor Carleton and Captain Healehave arrived. Mr M'Rae, of Auckland, will be present in the interests of the Auckland Colfege. The session will commence at noon, and is likely to be stormy. March 10th. This morning Mr Osborno proposed that the sittings of the University Senate be open to the public. Mr Carlton moved to pass on , to the next order of the day. On a division | being taken, there voted for the amendment : — Mr Carlton, and the Revs. Measrs Johnston and Buddie ; against — Messrs Gisborne, Grace, Heele, and the Rev. Mr Andrew. Mr Carlton put in the proxies of Messrs Stafford and llolleston for the rmendment, and Mr Johnaton put in the proxy of the Rev. Dr Stuart for the same motion, which v still open to be brought up again. Oamaru, March Bfch. A meeting of gentlemen favourable to the proposed testimonial to Mr Macandrew took

place to-day in the Mechanics' Institute. The Mayor (Mr W. J. Steward) stated that he had called the meeting to consider a circular received by him from the Central Committee at Dunedin. The following gentlemen were appointed a Committee (with power to add to their number) to canvaas for subscriptions, namely — Measrs Steward, Hislop, Shrimski, Sumpter, W. Sutherland, Galbraith, Balmer, T. H. Brown, and Forrester (hon. sec. and treasurer). Tho Committee then adjourned until Monday evening, at eight o'clock. Invercargill, March Bth. A labourer, named Isaac Jeffreys, was killed this morning on the North voad, while driving a load of firewood into town. His horse made an attempt to bolt, and Jeffreys' feet got entangled in the reins. He fell, and was dragged some distance, and when picked up was insensible. He was conveyed to the Hospital, but died before reaching there. The deceased leaves a wife and three children. Taupo, March 10th. After an interval of nearly four years, the Native Lands Court is again to be opened in this district. The Natives generally are greatly pleased at this action of the Government, and hope soon to receive their rental's accruing daring the past three or four years, and to have Europeans settled on the country leased to the Government in 1873. March 10th. The Native Minister has announced his intention to meet the Queen and King Natives with Rewi on tho 20 th instant. Rewi and Major Mair come together from Waikato. Br Pollen will traveJ, via Tauranga, from Auckland. Amongst the important subject's to be brought before the Native Minister will be the opening of the trunk line of road through to Cambridge, so long successfully opposed by the King's party. Rewi, ib is said, still bitterly opposes the opening up of this last link iv the communication between North and South. Napier, March 12fch. It is understood that the Native difficulty has been adjusted, the arrears of rent paid, and the survey started. Greyjiouth, March 12th. The Golden Fleece Extended Company declared a dividend last night of Is 6d per I share. This Company has declared in dividends since 22nd November last, £16,800. . An attempt was made yesterday morning, at 2 o'clock, to burn down the premisea occupied by Mr Laing and wife as a store : and a dwelling-house in Tararu street, itn- ', mediately opposite where the Greymouth ' Hotel was burned down. A bundle of wood ! and rags, saturated with kerosene, had been 1 placed under a corner of the house and fired, ' but fortunately the blaze was seen before it ■got a good hold, and the fire was extinguished without doing much damage.