LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 106, 15 April 1876, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[Peu Press Agency.] WELLINGTON. April 12. It is believed that his Excellency will be advised to summon Parliament for 15th June, for despatch of business. The plasterers employed on Government offices here demanded a shilling per day increase, or 12 shillings instead of 11s. They mean to strike if the increase is not granted. LYTTELTON. April 12. Arrived —Euterpe, ship, from London, 101 days out ; all well. Cleared—Himalaya, ship, for London, with a cargo of wool, grain, and tallow, valued at £56,000. DUNEDIN. April 12. Traffic on the Port Chalmers railway has been stopped in a most extraordinary manner. Sparrow, Henderson and Co. commenced to launch an iron steamer ninety six feet long across the line ; the supports gave way, and the steamer remained on the line. The Municipal Council of South Dunedin, one of the new Municipalities, has accepted tenders for aloanof £20,000, at? per cent. Debentures were sold at the extraordinary rate of £BB per debenture of £IOO. About 20 minutes to 12 o’clock severe shocks of earthquake were experienced at Palmerston, making a wondrous rattle. Vibrations were North and South. Two heavy shocks were also felt at Oamaru ; one at 11.50, which shook chimneys had!} 7 , and cracked the walls of several buildings, including those of the telegraph office. April 11. The earnings of the Otago railways for the year ending March—£los,47s. GREYMOUTH. April 12. The Greymouth Coal Company struck grit overlaying coal in their shaft at a deptli of 225 feet. The damage done by the flood in the town is much heavier than anticipated. A six-room ed house at Cohden was washed away ; also several bridges in the neighbourhood. AUCKLAND. April 12. Arrived —Zealandia, after a passage of four days and sixteen hours. Heavy

weather. Five saloon passengers for' Auckland ; seven for Kandavau ; seventytwo for Francisco, and about fifty steerage. Sailed—Zealandia, with English mails at G p.m. She took eighty passengers from New Zealand, making up the complement. The steamer did not come alongside the wharf, but great numbers went off to inspect her. CHRISTCHURCH. April 12‘ Owing to the heavy rains several portions of the railway' lines in the Northern and Southern parts of the Province have been damaged. In two instances traffic has been stopped. The Hon. Jno. Hall has declined the vacant portfolio in the Ministry recently offered to him. The following are the weights for the Tradesmen’s Purse —Guy Fawkes, 9st 1 lib ; Parawhenua, SstGlbs ; Tadmor, 7st ISlbs ; Hercules, 7st 9ibs ; Ariel, 7st 7!bs ; Fishhook, 7st 51bs ; Pungawerewere, 7st olbs ; Elfin King, TstSlbs ; Cloth of Gold, 7st 2lbs ; Tattler, 7st; Yankee Grab, Gst 71 bs; The Chief, Gst; Wild Rose, sst 71bs. FIJI NE (VS. Auckland, April 14. The steamer Llewellyii brings the following Fiji news : A great disturbance is reported at Samoa. A meeting of chiefs was %o take place to decide whether the King should retain throne or retire. Captain Stevens, of the Barracouta, on proceeding to the meeting with a guard, was fired upon by hostile natives. Eleven blue jackets were wounded, and one killed. Sotnp chiefs to whom Captain Stevens applied, stopped the firing. Forty prisoners were brought in, and three chiefs surrendered as hostages for lives of Europeans. The intended meeting did not take place

Barracouta and Nymph were ordered to rendezvous at Auckland, where their presence is required to form a court martial on certain officers in the Australian squadron. It is publicly stated in Fiji that Gordon will be soon removed from the Governorship, and replaced by Birch, Colonial Secretary of Ceylon.