TELEGRAMS.

Southland Times, Issue 5089, 19 November 1884, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

■«». (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Tuesday. The committee of the New Zealand EJucational Institute have received a letter from teachers in town and country promising -to aid in suitably entertaining the Southern delegates on their arrival here to hold the annual Conference of the Innlitute. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Trades and Labor Council have decided to give heaity support to the proposed industrial exhibition, and the Council expresses a desire to have an interview with the Colonial Treasurer on the subject. An uuoc:u pied house at Wadestown, owned by Mrs Woooward, was burnt down yesterday morning. It was insured in the Liverpool, London and Globe for L 250. Tne fire originated through v gorse tire spreading. NAPIER, Tuesday. About five months ago a man was saen to throw himself off Iho Taradale bridge into the river, and his body was never recovered. At the same time a person named Robert Thompson disappeared, and it was generally thought there was a connection between the suicide and his disappearance, Yoterday the body of a man was discovered at low tile on a mudbank in the l.igoon. The body had evidently been in the wfat-r a long time. From its state of decompositiou recognition was impossible, but ilior.u the drees it fe supposed to be Thompson. CHRISTCfIUKCH, Tuesday. The Wesleyan Conference was occupied ail day sitting with closed doors, considering the subject of the Tonga Mission. At the luncheon, several ministers of other denominations were present including the Revs. Messrs J. Elroslie, Howatson, J. White, and T. R. Fisher. The President took occasion to say that the brethren of the Conference would nevei forget the courtesy and kindness of tho ladies of the Christchurch congregations. He also welcomed the visiting ministers. The Rev. J. Eirnslie expressed his satisfaction at being present, aud the Rtv. W. H. Fitchett spoke on behalf of tho Confereme. At the evening sitting of the Wesleyan Conference the Rev, J. Symons submitted tho report on superannuation funds which showed tho income for the year as L 18,196, and the expenditure as L 7796. The capital account showed assets or! Ll3,Bo7,being an increase over liabilities during the year of LBSBB. The number of superannuated ministers On December 31st was 47, and of widows, 26. Tljh Missionary- Committee in London had paid all arrears due to this fund. Mr Symons stated that Mr Black, actuary, hud estimated the amount necessary to make the fund solvent at L 9990. Another actuary, Mr Tetipleton, estimated the necessary capita! at L 14,849, but aa the actual capital was so la-ge tho difference between these estimates amounted only to 1\ per cent. The Rsv. John Cope gave his owr, estimates, which were much lower than the above. He recommonded frequent valuations by actuaries. He thought the present scale of premiums and allowances perfectly safe. The Rev. W. H. Fitchett, seeing that there were such conflicting estimates, advocated sending Mr Cope home for the highest actuarial opinion. Mr Cope <Hd not see the need for incurring so large an expense, The Rev. W. L. Blamims thought there was satisfaction in the fact that however much the reports of th 3 actuaries differed they agreed in showing tha: the fund was improving in its position. After further discussion the report was adopted, and the actuaries' reports ordered to be printed in the Minutes. It was also agreed that the number of treasurers of: the fund be mci eased from six to eight, and that the words, " by other means," be inserted in the rule prov-ding for raising contributions of six guineas from each district. Votos of thanks were passed to the Hon. A. Fraser, Rev. J. Cope, and tr>« general treasurers of the past three years. The following were appointed treasurers till next general Conference : — Dr Wangh, Rfive. J. C. Symonw, 11. Bath, H. P. WiTlp, Dr Cully, Messrs S. G-. King, E. John, J. E. Beaver, M.L.C. DUNEDIN, Tuesday. At Wetherstones diggings?, Tuapeka county, to-day, a man named Taylor was crushed to d.'ath by a fail of earth from an embankment which jammed him against a dray. Ho was a single man, and had been twenty years resident in the district. A horrible occurrence happened at Curries farm. Swineburn, three mibs from Lower Kyeburo, in Maniototo county, this forenoon about ten o'clock. William Currie and his father, who wore working about a milo from Neil Curries house, saw smoke rising, and at once rushed to the house. They found it enveloped inflames. The two daughters of; Neil Currie, aged 7 and 2 years, we p c missing, and their remains were found in the ashes. Previous to the fire only the two children had been in the house, the father and mother being absent in another district. Messrs Barnes, Spedding, and Suoullar, all city councillors, were nominated for tho Mayoralty to-day. M. Gustave Beckx, Belgian ConsulGeneral for Australasia, was a passenger by train today to Christchurch where he will interview the Governor. He then goes on to Wellington. His special ob-je-.-i in visiting New Zealand is to meet M. D<j Harven, who arrived by the San Francisco bout in order to establish a Belgian se tlemect in the colony.