Telegrams.

Otago Witness, Issue 1340, 4 August 1877, Page 14

Telegrams.

INTERPROv t INCIA.L ITEMS.

Wellingion, July 29th. The Customs authorities have received the following notification from the secretary of the Marine Board for South Australia :—: — "New bright revolving first order light, having eclipse every 30 seconds, will be exhibited at Tapsra Reef, Spencer Gulf, on August 20th, visible about 18 miles."

A Gazette issued to-day notifies the alteration of the Sittings of the Circuit- Courts at Nelson and Hokitika as follows :—ln: — In Nelson on the first Monday in October, and in Westland district and Hokitika on the third Monday in September.

The following vessels have arrived id London : — From Melbourne — Highflyer, Hapoyaford; from [Sydney — Eastminster. Wave of Life, Rajah j from Lyttelton — ship Canterbury. In a Gazette issued to-day, South Dunedin is proclaimed a borough.

August Ist.

Twenty thousand shares in the Union Fire and Marine Insurance Company havo been applied for in Wellington.

Auckland, July 31st. An open air meeting of unemployed is called for Saturday.

August Ist. At a meeting of the Waste Lands Board to-day plans and schedules of confiscated lands were laid before members. It was resolved that Government be requested to place th.9 laud under the administration of the Board. The Chairman stated that the amended terms of Mr Vesey Stewart for an additional grant of land at Kati Kati had been approved by the Governor.

Mr Vesey Stewart was passenger to-day to England.

CHRisTCHiracnyJuly 28th. Nominations for the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap close at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Ist August.

A rather curious action was commenced in the Supreme Court this morning, Dr Campbell, plaintiff, v. the executors late Mackay, defendants. Plaintiff's evidence shows he attended Mackay professionally at various times, for three years prior to August 6th, 1876, when Mackay died from heirt disease. The day before death, Mackay gave him a deposit note for £500, and a promissory note as parting gilt, also a cheque for £550, to enable him to draw the money represented by the deposit note and promissory note. Mackay knew at this time that he was in a dying state, and made his will the same day. There was no witness present when Mackay made him the gift. He filled in the cheque by Mackay" s request. Mackay signed the cheque, also endorsed deposit note and promisßory note. After Mackay 'a death Le presented the cheque at tne bank, but payment was refused on the ground that the signature was unlike Mackay's. The executors under Mackay's will refused to recognise the cheque, and Dr Campbell now sues to recover the amount. The proprietress of the boarding-house where Mackay lived' gave evidence that she was called into the sickroom by Campbell on the day the gift was made to find Mackay's cheque-book. At that time Mackay was sitting up in bed smoothing the bedclothes to write, aad Campbell said, " You havo given me these papers." Mackay replied "I have." Campbell then said, •' But what about your mother and sisters ? " when Mackay replied, " Never mind them, they are all right." During this time no sum of money was mentioned. The case will be continued tomorrow.

Thirteen thousandtwohundred and twentysix letters were debpatched from Christchurch Post Office laat Saturday, San Francisco mail day.

Lightband, Allan, and Co., large manufacturers of boots by machinery, have closed their establishment for a fortnight, preparatory to reducing the scale of wages. Sixty employe's have been thus thrown out of work, and have telegraphed to the associations in other parts of the Colony and Aus tralia to support them in resisting any reduction.

Several butchers were fined at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning for having light weights in their possession. July 31st.

The case of Campbell v. Executors of the late Mr Mackay was resumed this morning. The evidence for the defence was to the effect that Msckay was always a very hard man, ODe not at all likely to make presents of large sums of money, that prior to his death he waa more than once wandering in his mind, thab old friends were refused permission by Campbell to see Mackay, and that Macßay, while in bed, had several times said he had lost confidence in (Jampbeli, aad would like to have another doctor. After the conclusion of the evidence, Counsel for the defence asked for delay to enable him to amend the issues. On resum- | i»g, counsel for Qaiupbeli said after what

had transpired, he would ask the Court to enter a non-suit against his client, which after some discussion was done.

The land sales for the montji have realised £175,000.

During the past twelve months there have been 25 alarms of fire in Christchurch, 21 being in buddings, one chimney, one gorse fence, one haystack. Eight buildings were totally destroyed. None of the fires were of a very important character.

The land sales yesterday realised £24,851. Nominations for the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap, of 500 soys., and the Canterbury Cup, of 500 soys., close at 8 p.m., to-morrow.

August Ist Messrs Lightband, Allan, and Co. write to the Lyttelton Times this morning, denying lhat they have locked out their hands with the vier/ of effecting a reduction m wages. They also say : " Hs.ving had four years' experience of their Trade Union, we have found not the slightest disposition on the part of the men to fall in with any idea whatever that meant a change in the system of working, even when such change did not affect their interest in the smallest degree. We recently imported from England and America some new machinery, and a few weeks ago put on two or three hands on weekly wages, with the idea of ascertaining its capabilities, and intended eventually to fix a price for piece-work in connection with the machinery. We do not at all object to the piece-work system. The Union drove those men off the premises under threats, and from that time we thoroughly made up our minds not to recognise their Society any longer." The letter further says it was intended to adopt a system by which the men could earn better wages than elsewhere, and'that the men were not locked out for a fortnight, but, so far as the old mode of working was concerned, for ever.

The Acclimatisation Society has sent to San Francisco for prairie hens. An application f:om Melbourne for song birds was refused by the Society.

Oamaru, July 26th,

In the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day William Collins was charged with setting fire to his house on the 6th inst. The evidence of Mr Hislop was heard on the 18th mat. The evidence to day, given by SubInspector Smith, Constable Johnston, Messrs Sumpter and William Aitken, agents of the New Zealand and Trans-Atlantic Offices, in which the building was insured in the respective sums of £200 and £100. James M'Nab and Thomas Powell also gave evidence. The Magistrate said the case was one of great suspicion, but the evidence was not sufficient to justify him in seeding it to a higher Court for trial. Prisoner was therefore discharged.

July 28th. It is reported from Moeraki that the schooner Frank Guy, in beating out this morning, missed stays, and went on the rocks at the Point.

July 31st. At a public meeting last night the following resolutions were carried : — " That, in the opinion of this meeting, the proposal of the new Education Bill to include the whole of Otago (exclusive of Southland) within one Education district, is unsatisfactory to this part of the Province, inasmuch as the Board would probably meet at Dunedin, a distance of eighty miles from the centre of the Waitaki district." "That the district comprised within the County of Waitaki is sufficiently large to be constituted a separate Education district, and already contains no less than fifteen public schools, and baa within its bounds Education Reserves of considerable extent ; and that the Chairman, in the name of this meeting, be authorised to sign a petition to both Houses of the Legislature, praying that such separate Educational district m3y be constituted.

Timaru, July 31sfc.

The Customs returns for July, including auctioneers' licenses, &c, amount to £1365 ss. Heavy seas were coming in throughout the day.

Nelson, July 26th. Messra N. Edwards and Co. have sold their Avondale run, Marlborough, containing 62,000 acres (one-third freehold) and 15,000 sheep, to Mr Charles Teschemaker for £23,000.

Kumara, July 26th.

A mining accident has occurred at Connor's Claim, Larrikin's Terrace. Three men were working on the face of a drive at the bottom of- the Bhaft when a heavy fall of earth took place. One man escaped with a few bruises, but the other two — named Kennedy and Mulrooney — were covered with earth. Mulrooney is severely injured and ia not expected to recover. Kennedy sustained a fracture of the leg and other injuries. July 27th. Mulrooney, one of the men injured in the late mining accident, died shortly after being released. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

Greymouth, July 27th. The Grey Council Committee appointed to draw up suggestions for the amendment of existing Gold Regulations, agreed, by a majority of one, to suggest that the gold duty should remain as at present. The counterproposition was to recommend tne duty to be increased to 2s 6d per ounce, and miners' rights reduced' to 10s, and available over the whole Middle Island.

July 31st. Messfs-G. W. Moss and Co. report large sales during the past week in the shsre market, especially Hopeful and Golden Fleece Extended. They quote Hopeful, £5 15a; Golden Fleece Extended, £1 Is j Welcome, £2 ; Keep it Dark, 11s to 11s 6d ; Energetic. £6 10a ; Wealth of Nations, £5 ; Anderson. 4s 6d ; Jast in Time, 14s 9d to 15s ; United, 8s j Alexandra, 13a ; Nil Dasperandium, 3s ; South Larry, 2s 6d ; Independence, 6s.

Westpokt, July 28 th. Ellen Wan was committed to gaol Jast night, under Coroner's warrant, for the manslaughter of her infant child, 11 months old, through neglect and ill treatment.

Napier, July 28th.The sale has been made of Messrs William Lyon, Kore, and Co,'s Pororangi properties,

11,000 acres freehold, and 2000 acres leasehold, with all plaut and improvements, 13.500 Bheep, delivery after shearing, for £22,500.

la the Waka Maori libel case, counsel on both sides have agreed to sifc till 10 o'clock every night till tht> evidence is closed.

August lßt. The Taradale Board of Conservators have awarded the bonus of £50 to Donkin's floating fipar, as being the best plan for river protection. This plan has been tried successfully in the Opawa river, Marlborough.