YESTERDAY'S TELEGRAMS

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6751, 4 February 1892, Page 1

YESTERDAY'S TELEGRAMS

(By Telegraph.)

AUCKLAND, Feb. 3.

The report of H. W. Wilson, the engineer who represented the Northern Railway League in the recent Stratford expedition has been given to the league. He estimates the cost of a six foot bridle track for eighty-one miles of the route at £B4OO, and a bridge over the Taurangarakau river at £BOOO. In Mr Wilson’s opinion the cost of making a railway by this route would be small compared witb the amount which would be required for the central railway, as there are no engineering difficulties on the Stratford line. He does not think the country there could be surpassed for grazing purposes, and there are seams of coal which are reported to be of excellent quality. Water is abundant, small creeks and streams being very numerous. The league proposed to call a public meeting to urge upon the Government immediate action in the way of opening up the country on the Stratford route. The Onehunga ironworks have been stopped temporarily because of the slackness pf employment for the men who preferred to stop work during the present hot weather rather than be only partially employed.

WELLINGTON, Ebb. 3.

A private letter by the San Francisco mail reports the death at San Francisco of Mr Joseph Biley, formerly of the Post Office Hotel here. Mr Biley was a great cricketer and athlete in his younger days, and was well known in the colony, especially to visiting cricket and other athletic teams.

An insurance at Lloyd’s for £13,000 upon the Oamaru dredge for its trip to and from Taranaki and period of its operations (at New Plymouth, has been effected by the Public Works Department through the Agent General’s office. The rate of premium is stated to be considerably below that asked by colonial offices. The dredge will be towed up the coast by the Hinemoa starting about the end of the present week, _ In the Supreme Court in banco to-day before the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Biohmond, argument was beard on the motion on notice on behalf of the Attorney-General for a writ of eertiori to the members of the Wanganui Licensing Committee to remove into the Supreme Court all proceedings, documents, entries and records in connection with certain applications made to such licensing committee by William Odgers and Edward Mollwain, both of Wanganui, publicans, for renewals of publicans’ licenses ' and in conneo*

tion with the refusal of such applications by the committee in June, 1881, for the purpose of euoh proceedings, etc., being examined, and the decision of the committee being quashed- The grounds slated in the notice of motion were fully set forth. Messrs George Hutchison and Barniooab appeared for the Attorney-General, and Treadwell and Fitzherbert for the three members of committee whose action was attacked. The argument of Messrs Hutchison and Barnicoat had not concluded when the Court rose for the day. CHRISTCHURCH, Fun 3. A deputation consisting of Mr Band ford, M.HB., and several others, waited rn the mayor to-day, to enlist his assistance in getting up a public demonstration and leavetaking to Lord and Lady Onslow, in wbiob all classes could take part. It was suggested that a meeting be held at the Godley statue, and the mayor should then present Lady Onslow with an album of Canterbury views. His Worship promised to bring the suggestion before the committeemen. A largely attended service for Mr O. Spurgeon was held in the Christchurch Baptist Church to-night. Pastor Birch presided, and representatives of other churches and the Salvation Army took part. 1 Captains Tieehnrst and Gibson hold a survey of the ill-fated ship Everest, but the result or the future action to be taken by the underwriters could not be ascertained In Lyttelton, It is probable that the owners of the vessel will.be communicated with before anything definite is decided on. DUNEDIN, Feb. 8. At a meeting of the Presbytery, the Bible in schools question was discussed, the opinion being generally expressed that it was not much use in approaching Parliament by petition as proposed. It Was eventually resolved to take np the petition at a special meeting. It was resolved to place on record the deep sense of the great loss sustained by the death of Mr O. H. Spurgeon, and express sympathy with the bereaved relatives. His Excellency the Governor and party arrived here by train from Invercargill tonight.

A sufficient number of passengers not having boobed the Union 8.8. Company have abandoned the fourth excursion to tho Sounds. The City Council to-night approved ot the fire brigade giving an invitation to the United Fire Brigades Association to bold the competition next year in Dnnedin,