TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1485, 27 March 1886, Page 1

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Dr McGregor's appointment as Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, Hospitals and Charitable Institutions, is to take efflc 1 - from the let Apr'l. At the meeting of that Wanganui Council last Wednesday night, it was decided in future the work is to be done by the Town Clerk at a salary of £2OO, and a junior at £BO, instead of £275, and a collector at £2OO. Last Tuesday night at Dunedis, Daniel McCrae, a boy, was very badly struck by the buffer of an engine at the Hanover Street railway crossing. Ha was struck on the head and thrown on the cattle trap. He sustained serious injuries to hia back, but is progressing favorably.

The libel action brought by Dr Stewart, of Christchurch, against Eoydhouse and Wakefield, proprietors of the Wellington Evening Press, was commenced at Dunedin on Wednesday, The plaintiff claims £2OOO damages for the publication of an article in the Press headed “Extraordinary hospital scandal! Revolting (Haclosures ! Manslaughter, or worse! The Government trying to hush it up,” in which the management of the hospital was condemned, and plaintiff was by implication condemned for having performed on a patient an operation which had ended fatally, and in which incompetence and criminal negligence were alleged to have been displayed. Messrs Fitehelt and Stringer appeared for plaintiff, and the Attorney - General and Mr Wi'ding for defendants. Plaintiff’s case was opened, but only two witnesses were examined on Wednesday, On Thursday the bearing of the libel action was continued, and plaintiff’s case was practically concluded. The crossexamination of Dr Mickle, and the evidence of Dr Stewart and Di Colynham, and the reading of the evidence taken by Commission, occupied the whole day.

The Indian Government have a standing offer of £SOOO for a machine to clean rhea, commonly known as China grasp, Mr C. J. Powiall, a resident in Wellington, has at different times sent four machines, none of which has succeeded ; hut not dissouraged, he has another in hand. Mr Pownall has had some experience with New Zealand flax. \ statement has been made that two French chemists have succeeded in treating the rhea fibre chemically, but Mr Pownall states that this has nothing to do with separating the fibre from the leaf, as the reward is still held out. It is thought the new French process might be applied to our flax with success.

At a meeting of Auckland hoot manufacturers, to consider an increased tariff of wages, and new regulations submitted by the Bootmakers and Operatives Society, after a desultory discussion, it was agreed to adjourn till next week, to work out tariff calculations, and agree to a common basis. It is stated that the demands of the men mean an increase of 20 cent, in wages, or per cent, over southern rates,

A Maori woman named Henga Mapu was found drowned at Wanganui on Thursday. A meeting at Hawera passed a resolution in favor of raising a loan of £IOO,OOO for the conatniction of a breakwater.

No further telegrams have been received with reference to the construction of tho Nelson and Springfield Railway. The Government have for some time been in communication with the AgentGeneral and a syndicate on this subject. The contract entered into between the syndicate in New Zealand and the Government, under which the former had to pay a deposit of £SOOO within 12 months, expired in January, and the contract has therefore been formally broken, but as it is optional for either party to break the agreement, the Government will take no action.

The Secretary to the Post-office has received a c-iblo lo the effect thi>t the e.s. Mariposa, with the English mails of the 25th February, left San Francisco for Auckland on the 14th inst, being one day later than time table date. The Mararoa, with the Colonial mails of the 2nd inst., arrived at San Francisco from Auckland on the 23rd inst, one day later than time table date.

Last Wednesday night a fire broke out in the dwellinghouse of Mr Truman, at Waikari. Truman is a bootmaker. He set to work in the first place to secure the safety of hie family, end, as he thought, he got them all ont. Then .he proceeded to save some articles of furniture, etc., from the building. Seddenly it was discovered that a child was left in the parent’s bed. Horrified at the thought, Trumans’ instant resolve was to save it at all hazards. With this intent he rushed into the burnieg portion of the house, but he himself fell a victim to the flames. At about six o’clock on Thursday morning those who searched the blackened ruins found the remains of toe father, but of the child they saw no trace. At Dunedin a young man named Metcalf was fined 10s, with £2 16s costa, for illtreating a horse by beating it, and attaching another horse to its neck by a chain, to make it go. He elected to take (he alternative of four days’ imprisonment.

It fs expected that the Southland Frozen Meat Company will escape liquidation, the shareholders having responded well to the cull to take up more shares. Dr Lemon, by instruction of the Pcst-ma'tsr-General, has intimated to Mr Pender that Government having co«s dated his p r (*po»nls that New Z“alnnd tdionld join in the subsidy to the Austra-ian-Ki glish citde lines, in consideration of ceitain reductions he proposes to make, h«vp come to the conclusion to decline his libra. The Government, Dr l.envn addl'd, considers the proposed reductions it fl nr, and that the rales should be reduced to a fr iction of a present scale. The Postmaster General has aUo cabled to the Pustrnaster-Generals of New South Wales am) Queensland, asking them if they are willing to join in laying down a c ihle bet -'e*n Australia and New Zealand, .vith the object of charging rates nit exceeding threepence a word. Sir Julius Vogel added that his Government wa« of opinion that the colonies should join together, with the object of getting cheap cabling from Europe, and suggesting a conference of Postmaster-Generals ; asking them also, if they entertained the idea, 'o communicate with the PostmaaterGettrral of Victoria.

The attent’on of the Minister of Justice has been called to the Case of Mary Moran, at Qamaru, She will have to be in gaol for six months waiting for next criminal sessions, if the usual course is followed, aa a change of venue ia impracticable. The Minister will probably direct her relsaae on bail, in view of the peculiar circumstances of the can.