Telegrams.

Otago Witness, Issue 1418, 25 January 1879, Page 17

Telegrams.

■♦ PROVINCIAL ITEMS. Lawrence, January 37th. The Committee ot the County Council appointed to arrange with Mr Kitching for the purchase of the Beaumont punt, succeeded in doing so at L6CO, on condition that the bridge goes to arbitration. Tho delay in arbitration ha^ been caused by Mr Kitching not having appointed an arbitrator. Mataura, January 16th. There wag considerable excitement yesterday over the Mataura election. Last night the result was known for all places except the distant polling-booth at Fortrose. All the returns are now in. Total — Shanks, 309 ; Kinross, 250. Both candidates are thorough supporters of the Ministry. Oamartj, January 19th. The immigrants ex-ship Oamaru have all received employment. Tne married people have scoured engagements at the highest wages ruling. There were 17 single girls, out of which nine h<vve found homes with their

friends, and the remaining eight, who were only capable of filling situations on farms, have been well placed at wages ranging from L3O to L4O per year. Immediate employment on long terns was easily secured for the single men at L 55 to LOO per annum (six and 12 mouths' agreement) with premiums for harvest work. Owing to the Waitald River having shifted its channel, some apprehension was felt regarding the safety of the railway bridge. Stops have bean taken, however, to render everything safe by placing quantities of stones around the cylinders most exposed. Inveroargill, January 20th. Tho Commission appointed to examine Welsh, the Waikawa murderer, and decide as to his mental condition, comprises Dr Skae, Inspector of Lunatic Asylums ; Professor Macgregor, merlical adviser at the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum ; Dr Kemp, of Wellington ; and Dr Cecil Jackson, of Invercargill. At the annual meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board this morning, Mr Mitchell was re-elected chairman until February, when the first meeting of the new Board takes place. The annual accounts indicated that L 3700 had been received from reproductive sources, while nearly L3OOO had been spent on permanent works. The realisable property was valued at L 73.680, and the total liabilities were about L3OOO. The chairman gave a lengthy resume of the proceedings of the Board during the past two years. January 21st. The sittings of the District Court commenced yesterday morning, before his Honor Judge Harvey, The only criminal case was a charge of fraudulent bankruptcy preferred against John Fishenden, who was accused of taking out of New Zealand L 219 in money and various articles, the property of his creditors. The case fell through, in consequence of the creditors declining to prosecute. Two or three civil actions were decided.