TELEGRAMS.

Southland Times, Issue 3180, 22 August 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

j Auckland, we^nesda^, The Preshytery met to-day and initiated measures for e|ta^liahing;;;a f justentatipn; fund through the Auckland district. \ yj. >WA&<SAN-01, Wednesday.

In! tlie K. M. Court this morning, Joseph Jessop, convicted yesterday of having had an illicit still in , his, possession, was sentenced to six months' 'imprisonment' with hard; labor. .

WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

A \ deputation the; .brewers from Nelson, Dunedih,* Auckland, Christchurch, and Wanganui, waited on the Hon; Mr Ballance this morning, and submitted a long' serie¥ of reasons against the beer tax; After long discussion ' Mr. Ballance asked if they; would like the duty reduced on English beer Avhich was higher 1 here, than in any other Australian colonyf " ThY Government had this in view whfin imposing jthe tax, and while willing to give every consideration to recommendatioris o£| breviers, they felt bound -tinder the^preßen# circumstances to adhere to the measure. He tromised to -consider the question of rebate oh ' stocks, there should also be a provision to prevent private .brewing except for household purposes. ■ '

HOKITIKA, Wednesday,

Another public meeting to consider the railway question was held last evening — the ilayor in the chair. It was resolved unanimously that it ; should be earnestly urged on the Government and the representatives, for Ho.kitika and Totara the necessity |qr constructing the Hokitika and I Grfcyiributn railway without delay, the work to be commenced simultaneously at both ends.

Referring to the settlers who recently •■left Jackson!s Bay settlement, the resident agent there, in his annual report to the Government says, the departure of those .adults who left the settlement .for good will be no loss, and the colony would gain if tlipy left it tomorrow. The report speaks favorably of the ultimate prospects of the settlements, but complains that the Italian immigrants are totally unfitted for pioneers owing to climatic influence and previous habits of life. The report concludes : — "There are some good men amongst them as amongst other settlers, but the proportion? is very small. The settlement has been heavily handicapped by- having such material to work with, but notwithstanding this I have not the least doubt of its ultimate success, and the operation of the inevitable law of natural selection will no doubt result in the surf^yal of the fittest.

TIMaRU, Wednesday. In the football match the Christchurch College Boys v. Timaru, was won by the latter i>y five touch downs to nothing. '!/& trotting • match to-day, between Mr William's grey horse and Mr Jonas's mare Fain, for £50 a side, distance five miles, won by the former by nearly half a mile.

I The Re v. Mr Preston'h as turned up all right. When he left Greraldine he did not go to Burkes Pass, but stayed on the road at another place. ■'' ' ' '■' DUNEDIN, Wednesday. i The Waste" Lands Board meeting to-day, 4apsed for want of a quorum. Three members are ; absent in Wellington, being members of the House of Representatives. *The poll for the vacant seat on the Edu'"cation Board has resulted in the election of Mr A. C. Begg.