TELEGRAMS.

Southland Times, Issue 3290, 6 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

+ ■ (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION'S SPECIAL • WIRE) \ _.~NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday. >T_e following tenders were sent from here for the Stratford raUway contract : — Messrs BerW and Newman, ; McGonagh, £18,475 ; GlehdehTng, £18,462 ;D. Wilkie, £18,871. — •:.'!__eOTltb'j&^^ New Plymouth on the south, is to be soid in quarter acres on Wednesday* and is expeetecV _to'reaUskialarge : priQe ; , j_'T? / 1. iZ''../J'JiZ A standing crop of grass has been sold at £7 per acre,, and 10s. - to.. 1 2s a day is being . paid to' mower s. - — - .- -•■■-v- -:.-,,; Cobb's coachp the 'first -wheeled vehicle which has ever passed behind Mount Egmont by the road through tbe heavy birch, has reached Inglewood, driven by Chevannes, of Wellington. WELLINGTON, Saturday. The site recommended by the deputation yesterday being found unsuitable for a railway station,, the latter wUI be erected immediately in the rear of the Government Buildings. Mr G. E. Barton denies having published a statement of his intention to remove from Wellington to Auckland. Mr E. Stafford, assistant law officer, is j about resigning that position to join the \ legal firm of Hart and Buckley, from which the Hon. R. Hart retires. An analysis of some samples of the newly discovered Mokau coal, brought to the colonial laboratory, gives 87*1 per cent, of combus- ' table matter, and 2-5 per cent, of ash. The evaporative power is such that lib of coal Avill convert into steam 71b of water. A man named Arthur L. Sweet was to-day committed for trial for uttering valueless cheques. _ ; A man named E. H. McElwan, AA'ho was . under committal on a charge of arson, but out on bail, died suddenly to-day. He was out walking yesterday. Since his committal he has been drinking heavily, and death is supposed to have esulted from inflammation of the bowels, produced by drinking. There will be an inquest. The Governor attended Mr Rignold's performance pf Henry the sth, for 'the second time last night. ' '"'. *"' " The following is a complete list of prisoners committed for trial at the criminal sit- 1 tings of the Supreme Court, which commence on Monday: — : Kate Dawes, attempted suicide ; Chas. Schmidt, steaUng from a dwelling-house ; Jas. Murpbey, indecent assault; Wm. Murtagh. assault and wounding ; Wm. Watson, alias Sutton, stealing from a dwelling-house ; Arthur Fallon, assault and wounding; Edward Henry McElwan. arson ; George Webb, alias Smith, forgery ; James Allen Mackie, forgery and stealing ; Arthur L. Sweet, forgery. The Chronicle complains that the new tariff of fees in the Magistrates' Courts involves an increase of, ia many cases, 100 per cent, to suitors over the scale hitherto in force. Miss S. A. Jones, late matron of the Wellington College, commenced a civil prosecution against Mr Wilson, principal of the college, arising out of the late trouble " at the college." It is understood that tbe re-organisation of the detective branch of the police force is about to take place. A separate head for it will probably be appointed. i HOKITIKA, Saturday. The hull and cargo of the Mabel Jane, stranded at Wanganui Bluff, 20 miles south of Ross, was sold by public auction to-day by Messrs Learmonth and. Co. The hull fetched £55, and the cargo £220. Mr Lafontine was the purchaser. Sunday. It is reported that Duncan, the manager of the Union Bank here, has resigned, owing to the Inspector now visiting here calling in a great many advances. "CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The Lyttelton Times, this morning, announces its enlargement to eight pages, though the sheet only contains seven instead of eight columns, as formerly, being its old size before it enlarged a year ago. The Star, to-night, comes out in an enlarged form of eight columns per page, full size. At the inquest held upon the man Reynolds, who Avas found dead in his bed, it was shown that he had partaken of a very heavy supper just before going to bed. The post-mortem examination by Dr Frankish showed that he had died of apoplexy, and a verdict to that | effect was returned. It is intended to re-lay a great portion of the railway from Christchurch to Dunedin with 521 b steel rails, equal to 641 b iron. This has been found necessary in consequence of the wear and tear caused to the light rails by the heavy traffic. The change will begin at Selwyn on Monday. It has been raining heavily since 5 o'clock, and there seems every likelihood of its lasting. The improvements now going on at the Waimakariri Avith a view to preventing the floods doing damage to the railways in the future are estimated' to cost £12,000. Very elaborate plans have been drawn up in the Public Works Office here for the new men's wing to the Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum. The sum of £1000 Avas placed on the" estimates for carrying out the same. The tenders are now in, and have been forwarded to the Public Works Office, Dunedin, and, although the amounts have not been made public, it is understood that the lowest tender is £3000 ; consequently only a portion of the Avork can be gone on with for the present, or else less elaborate plans Avill have to be prepared. It is understood tbat the repairs to the Rangitata Bridge are completed. Mr Lowe, the Resident Engineer, who has been in charge of the bridge during the week, returned to-night. The re-opening of traffic will be a great relief to the sheds and stores along the line, many of which are choked up with wool and goods of various descriptions. Special goods trains will'be run to relieve this. Thirty extra waggons have been placed on the railway during the past few days, and absorbed into the general traffic. Express trains Avent through to Dunedin lon Saturday morning. The damage to the Rangitata Bridge is less than anticipated. A train of twelve goods trucks also went through. During the last fortnight, thirty new waggons were turned out of the raUway workshop, Lyttelton. The Times' Sick Fund, recently established, now numbers ninety-one members. Tbe City Council Water Supply Committee have ordered from J. Anderson, of the Canterbury Foundry, a cylinder twenty -five feet long, three .feet in diameter, and threequarters of an inch thick, to sink in an island in the Waimakiriri for testing the proposed ' Avater supply scheme. Comparative returns of the goods traffic on .the Christchurch-Dunedin sections show the revenue of these sections, for the four Aveeks ending November 16th, to be £30,936, against £26,854 for the corresponding .period of tbe previous year. A Churchman's Club is proposed here, but the idea seems only to include providing a well-stocked reading room. A sticking-up case is reported from the northern part of the province. A Mr Blackett had been collecting money and was returning home Avith a large sum in his possession Avhen a man jumped across a fence and made for him. Blackett gaUoped off, and a mile further on met another man, who was about to attack him when he became frightened and bolted. It was known that Blackett carried the money. The night was dark and drizzling, and no clue is likely to be found to the would-be highwaymen. OAMARU, Sunday. A fire occurred on Saturday night in a shop in Thames street, occupied by A.A. Solomon, music seller. The fire was first discovered by a gentleman Avho was passing about 12 o'clock, and he at once gave the alarm, and with the assistance of a large number of people, Avho arrived on the scene, got the flames under; not, however, before a considerable amount of damage'had been done to the stock of pianos, &c. Great damage was also done by persons in attempting to save property. The stock was insured in tbe South British for £1000. It is not known in Avhat office tbe shop, which formed a portion of what is known as Waitaki House, and Avhich is the property of Messrs Butterworth of Dunedin, is insured, nor for what amount. It is fortunate that the building is of stone, and strongly constructed, otherwise the adjoining block, which is of wood, could not possibly, in the absence of any -water supply, have been saved. With the present weather it is expected that harvesting operations avUI commence, in many parts of the district, in about a week. - DUNEDIN, Saturday. The sports to-day were postponed in consequence of the inclemeflt weather. Rain fell heavily from 6 a.m. to 2 p;m. Three thousand two hundred and sixtyseven persons booked at the Dunedin railway station : on January 2nd, Of these 1920 ■

travelled upon the Ocean ' Beach line, and 1347 upon "other lines. •■' : ". "Augur," tbe sporting writer in the Australasian, sums up a review of the weights for the Dunedin Cup with the foUowing tip -.^''.Templeton, Natator, Benjiroo, -Dead Heat; .Coventry, and Naiad, seem to be the best jib; land I should not be surprised if -one "6fV this lot proved tha Avinner." The betting oh - the cup is as -follows : 8 to 1 against Fishhook, Titahia, and Mata]; 9 to 1 against Templeton, 100 to ""8 •-against , CarnbaUo and „FaUacyj 100„.tq. 7 against • -M^ir^aneburyi -•CbanceUor^ and Natator^ 100 to 6 against Insolvent, Sinking Fund, and ;|NemojT.Qo to 5 against Pinfire, Cloth of ' Ma-old,? Jangler, Longlands, Learets, and York, and 100 to 4 to 1 against the rest. when~l)r Stenbpiise.Avas, crossing, in his buggy .from Union street to Logan's. Point, his horse tbbk fright and began to back' into the water. The Doctor kept his seat and endeavored to control the horse, but his efforts were ineffectual, and he was carried • over the bank into the race, from Avhich he speedily extricated himself by swimming. The horse was cut severely, and the buggy smashed, but the Doctor escaped witn a few slight bruises. The number of immigrants nominated .at the Dunedin office during the<pasfc month was 72 souls, equal to 58 statute adults, and at the Invercargill office 26 souls, equal to 23 statute adults. . , : , At the ,Police<)ourt this i morning, -William Gawn, a carter, for behaving liimseif in Princes street in a disorderly manner on New Year's morning, was fined £5, witb the alternative of one month's imprisonment. Burton's circus gives its closing performance to-night, and leaves on Monday for a tour in the country districts. It has been fairly patronised. The Kelly and Leon's Minstrels are- draAviug very large houses, and are to play three weeks longer in Dunedin. (PER PRESS AGENCY.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. A tailor named McElwan, who was out on bail for arson, aud who was to appear at the criminal sitting of the Supreme Court on Monday, was found dead in his bed about mid-day to-day. For the last few days he \yas observed to be strange in his manner, and bid good bye to several of his friends a day or two ago. The doctor refused to grant the usual certificate of death from natural causes, the body, when found, being swelled to twice its natural size. An inquest is to be held on Monday next. It is supposed deceased committed suicide by poison. There are only four cases for hearing at the next civil sessions of the Supreme Court. The New Zealand Rifle Association resolved that the secretary should at on:e proceed to Nelson to make necessary arrangements for the meeting next month. Hunter's farm, in close vicinity to Wellington, and recently purchased by Messrs Ja'jobJ Joseph, Moeller, Young and Saunders, will be laid out in new townships called Brighton. Four hundred pound is to be expended to place it in tramway communication with Wellington. About 180 acres were valued at £100 per acre, level land, some 20 acres hilly at £30 per acre, the remainder of the land being veiy rough, aud valued at £2 per acre. It is understood some hitch has occurred regarding railway free passes for the Press of the colony. Mr Macandrew positively refused to authorise the issue of them until such time as the matter was brought before a meeting of the Cabinet. It is stated here, on good authority, that the Government have decided to order that the last sentence of the law be carried out on the convict Welsh. Judge Williams advised the Government that there was no reason why he should not suffer capital punishment. The Government are about to offer a substantial reward for such evidence as will lead to tbe conviction of the persons who set fire to the Government buildings at Blenheim, in November, 1876. Detective Brown has been here several Aveeks making inquiries, and is said to have obtained important information. It is understood that the Government are organising a detective department for the whole colony. It is probable that Inspector Thomson, of Auckland, will be chief inspector, and that there will be three detectives for each of the principal towns, and that the GoA r ernment will endeavor to prevent their identity being known to the public. MARTON, Saturday. Had it not been for a fortunate change of wind yesterday the Postofficc must have been burnt. As it was, all books, papers, and documents had to be removed. NELSON, Saturday. The resignation of Mr Sharp, M.H.R., Avho has left for England, Avas posted to-day. DUNEDIN, Sunday. Mr Parker's estate in South Canterbury, containing 9500 acres, was purchased on Saturday by Mr Henry Driver. The price has not transpired, but it is said to be at a much lower rate than land, in the same locality, Avas sold for a short time ago. Solomon's shop in Thames street, Oamaru, was burnt down this morning. The property was insured in various offices to the extent of £1000. The origin of the fire is not known. The Taieri County Council has a credit balance in the bank, of £1345. Divine service was celebrated in Dunedin to-day, in tbe Scandinavian language, by the Rev. Mr Smallcy. About thirty persons were present. The following telegrams per Press Agency came too late for publication in Saturday's issue : — AUCKLAND, Saturday. At the inquest held on the body of Bridget Connolly, the jury returned a verdict deceased committed suicide while iv a state of temporary insanity. Dr Philsoa, Dr Bourng, and the husband of the deceased gave evidence clearly proving that she swallowed carbolic acid. The Star states Sir G. Grey will turn the first sod of the Waikato railway, at Hamilton, in a few days. Mr Sheehan proceeds to the Waikato tomorrow, to visit Rewi. Mr F. J. Moss arrived at Cambridge this morning, and reports that the track through Kakora Bush offers no difficulty for the construction of a good coach road. The lake could be reached comfortably from Cambridge in a day, and from Auckland the best route would be far superior to the Tauranga road. Mr Moss left Awhoa school-house at 6 on Monday morning, entered Kahawa bush at 7, and got out of it at 3 on Thursday afternoon, reaching the native settlement Tapara the same evening, where the natives received him. He started during the night for Cambridge. The track had not been used for years, and was quite overgrown. The natives had great difficulty in finding it, and had cut a Avay right through bush — no more than 20 mUes broad. Tapara and Awhoa are equidistant from Cambridge. There are no creeks to bridge, and there is fine bush country for settlement, chiefly Rimu, and very good ; land. Mr Henessy, of Opotiki, who was tried this session for shooting a settler named BaronAvetch was drowned while fording the river ou horseback. His horse rolled over him and his body Avas found last Sunday. Wm. English, brought up from Opotiki, will be tried for wounding a Maori with a billhook. GRAHAMSTOWN, Friday. Mr Stewart, R.E., and Mr Beere, C.E., arrived to-day and commenced preparations : for constructing the first section of the. Thames YaUey RaUway. The local authorities have also been communicated with re the acquisition of the land for the Unes, the greater portion of Avhich is expected to be given. WANGANUI, Friday. Mr Aley's house and shop were destroyed by fire to-day. They were valued at £650, and Avere uninsured. WBLLINGTOSr, Peidat. A despatch from the Secretary of State received by the Governor contains a memo, stating that the attention of all foreignGovernments should be called to the pro-! vision of "The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878," under which, except in the cases of countries specially exempted by the Privy Council in whole or in part from tbe operation of the Act, aU animals landed from abroad in any part of the United Kingdom wUI, after Ist January next, be slaughtered at the port of disembarkation. The Lords of Her Majesty's :■ Privy Council will require from any .country applying for exemption^ . statement of the law which regulates theimportation of animals into that country ; of the •methods addpted to prevent the spfeading" of every contagious /disease wheh it exists there' ";* a periodical 1 report of the' general sanitary condition -of their ;ahimals. It is alio "-'desirable /that their Lbrilslnps should be " furhished before the Ist ; of NQvember; next

with such information on the points above referred to as Her Majesty'srepresentatives in foreign countries which export 'animals to the United Kingdom may ,bs ."able to obtain through the British Consulate. !