TELEGRAMS

Southland Times, Issue 133357, 20 January 1896, Page 2

TELEGRAMS

(Pkk Pbess Association). WELLINGTON, Jax 18. Mr George Hutchison, M.H.R., left for England to-day. A picnic inaugurated by the natives to celebrate the settlement of the YYuirarapa Like difficulty waa held at Pigeon Bush yesterday. There was a large attendance of settlers and natives, and the Premier, Hon. J. Carroll, Messrs Buchanan and Hogg, M.H.Rs., were present. Several speeches were delivered, all the speakers referring with great satisfaction to the settlement by the Government of a matter which had been attempted by successive Governments. The visitors were moat hospitably entertained. Another violent nor-west gale passed over Wellington last night. There wiis some excitement at Fitzgerald s circus. About 7 o'clock the wind lulled and the proprietors decided to open. Within a brief i-pace of time an immense crowd had gathered in the tent, but by 8 o'clock the wind was again blowing in heavy gusts. Suddenly a large rent was made in the roof and shortly after this the quarterpoles began to break and the public were requested to leave. Fortunately nothing like panic ensued, otherwise several must have been injured. As it was one woman received a sliglt scalp wound from a falling pole and one or two minor injuries were reported. TIMARU, Jan. 18. The Primitive Methodist Conference renewed its testimony in favour of local option and the direct veto, agaiasb gambling and for the repeal of the CD. Acts ; directed temperance sermons to be preached in the churches on the third Sunday in November, and requested stations to observe Good Friday aa a day of consecration and prayer. Mr VV . P. Hartley, of Liverpool, waa appointed representative at the English Conference ; T. A. Cowan, vice-repreaentaiive. The Rev. J. Olphert was nominated coin. mittee'a delegate to the Conference which is .-■ to be held a.t Feilding in January nract. DUNEDIN, Jan. 18. John Ferguson, aged 13, was this morning convicted and discharged at the Police Court tor drunkenness. The evidence showed that . he had tapped a cask of elderberry wine where he was staying, and, besides getting ! mad drunk himself, had made two cirfa tipsy. *