TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1856, 17 June 1887, Page 22

TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS.

The Wellington Land Board have decided to recommend the Government to authorise postmasters throughout the colony to receive payments due to' land boards by country settlers in the same manner as premiums to the Government " Insurance department are received. ' William Dallas is gazetted a member of the ' Otago Land- Board, and the Rev. Donald Macriaughton Stuart, garrison chaplain to the Duu- . edin Volunteers. ' The locomotive of the' evening train to Lumsden was derailed by coming into collision with, a couple of horses straying on the line South of Milton, on Thursday. Both animals v were killed, but no one in the train was. injured. ' In sinking a well for the Invercargill water supply a large quantity of timber has been encountered at a depth of 102 ft from the surface, and 70ft below high water mark. The contractor has been greatly delayed by the stratum of quicksand, an immense quantity of which has been taken out without making any progress in sinking the cylinders. , f The taking of evidence in the Wallsend inquiry is , at length coucluded. -Mr Binns considered 'the management of the Wallsend raine very.laxin firing shots when gas was being given off, and that sufficient care had not been taken to see that places were properly clear of , gas before shooting. The evidence has been forwarded to Wellington. , j. ■ James Anderson was committed for trial at Christchurch on v Fridyay last for stealing a bag containing ' £6 10s in cash and a £5 cheque. " The bag was dropped in the street by Mrs Martin, and Anderson, who was in a good situation, and not in want of money, picked it up and cashed the cheque, which was signed by Mr Martin. The mayoral election at Inveroargill necessitated by the retirement of Mr David Roche was held on Friday, when Mr E. A. Tapper was returned by a majority of 95 over his opponent, Mr Aaron Blacke, the figures being: Tapper, 337 ; Blaoke, 242. The Finance Committee of the Southland County Council have recommended that the salaries of the county clerk and treasurer, the engineer, the collector and valuer, and the in--spector,.(four officials) be reduced by 10 per cent., and that the surfacemen be reduced 6d per day off 8s and 7s wages now ruling. j ■ Dunn and Walker, two miners, burned by the - Wallsend explosion, are about to sue the company for damages. ' Dunn claims £200, and Walker £150. . On Saturday at midnight a robbery was attempted at the Free Library, Auckland, the' would-be thief effecting an entrance by . the window, which is said to have been left open. The night watchman (Keogh), ; who ( was just then going his rounds of the building, hurried forward in time to see the intruder, jumping out again through the Window, and gave chase, accompanied by the police, who had come up, but the thief disappeared, and search for him proved unsuccessful. It is evident from various circumstances that he had endeavoured to force open a case which usually holds 1 gold and silver ornaments and relics presented to the city by Sir George Grey. It since transpires, however, that the most valuable articles in this case are removed every evening to a strong room. John Wilson, secretary of the Waitara Harbour Board, was arrested on Monday for the embezzlementof £40, fees payable to the board.' There are other charges of a similar nature, amounting in all to about £500.) The premises of Messrs Macdougall and Co., wine merchants, Wellington, were burglariously entered on Saturday night, but beyond indulging in a heavy drinking bout, the burglars did no] damage. The police are inquiring into the affair. Mr George H. Merson, a veteran of the Maori , war of 1845, died at Christchnrch on Monday. \ He served on H.M.S. Castor and Powerful, and ' was in the first Chinese,' the Indian, and the' Crimean wars. He arrived at Lyttelton in 1857. A movement is on foot at Nelson to present a testimonial ■ next Tuesday to Benjamin Crisp, i who has ■ been in these ! colonies 68 years, ■ of which 50 years, have been spent in New Zealand. The old veteran has for 43 years past undertaken the task of procuring a treat for all the children of Nelson on the Queen's' Birthday. The'testimonial will take the form of a medal and a purse of sovereigns. Mr William Makepeace, a musician, has been missing from Kaikoma since May 27. The presumption that he was drowned has been confirmed by the right hand, the back, and other bones of a' human being being washed ashore here. ■ An Agency telegram that so, with the exception of the band, there is little doubt that the remains are those ef the missing man. It is not shown- how the back and bones have been identified, but possibly they may have some distinctive features which has led to their recognition. The operative bootmakers at Christchurch have decided' not to take part in the jubilee celebration procession, stating 'that they have no sympathy with ■ the Queen's jubilee.