TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1899, 26 June 1890, Page 18

TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS.

The correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle wires that a large meeting of over 200 settlers was held at Stratford on the 18th fast to which several M.H.R's., including the Premier, had been invited. The object of the meeting was to advocate the opening of a very extensive block in the neighbourhood of Stratford of 300,000 acres. The actual result of. the meeting is not yet known. The Postmaster-general has cabled to America the decision of the New South Wales Government re the San Francisco service ; and notifying that unless an assurance is given that the American subsidy will be granted the New Zealand Government will be compelled to recommend the discontinuance of the San Francisco subsidy in November next. The movement commenced at Invercargill last week for establishing farmers' agency on principles similar to that of the South Canterbury 00-operative Association has taken definite Bhape, a prospectus having been issued. The capital proposed is £50,000 in £5 shares, 20a payable on allotment. Business will be commenced when 1000 shares are taken up. The provisional directors are all farmers. The Government last week received a cable message from Sir Henry Parkes stating that New South Wales will not join New Zealand in continuing the 'Frisco mail contract. If New Zealand continues the contract the Australian Governments will simply pay their poundage fees. The effect of this decision will be that unless the American subsidy is carried the 'Frisco service will cease after November next. A prisoner in the Taranaki gaol named William Mahew. who has been committed for vagrancy, was found to be making a rope with which to hang himself. He is supposed to be insane. The Invercargill sittings of the Supreme Oourt were opened before Mr Justice Williams with only I two criminal cases, which is the lightest for years. The grand -jury was not discharged, however, owing to the judge wishing them to deal with Samuel Edward and Joseph Jephson, committed for trial at Queenstown on Monday for the larceny of dynamite from a mine. O. Milligan, charged with an aggravated assault on Gorman, his father-in-law, was convicted of common assault and sentenced to one month's hard labour.