TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1526, 1 July 1886, Page 1

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

The four deserters from the whaling barque Petrel at Russell were released from Mount Eden prison on Monday on an order from the Minister for Justice. Their uentence had ten days' to run, and they will be witnesses on the charge of murder against the captain and two mates of the vessel.

Messrs Meßae and Humphries (sufferers by the late eruptions) intend to proceed to Wellington to lay their case before Government, on the ground that the salvage party for rescuing their goods was ordered back. The Portland cement referred to in the Public Works Statement is being manufactured at Waogarei. A company was formed two years ago and imported machinery from England. They h*va new got fifty tons ready to be tested. The specimens tested some time ago passed' the ordeal satisfactorily. The material used is Mahenange lime. A boy named Jones, six years old, watt killed on Monday at the foot of the Tinakori Range, Wellington, by a log rolling over him. Some men on the bill displaced a log, which struck Jones, who was playing at the foot of the hill with other children, killing him instantaneously. Mr Sherwood's seed shop and general etore, Blenheim, was broken into on Sunday afternoon or Sunday night, and a cash box containing £33 was stolen out of a chest of drawers.

A novel pedestrian contest came off in Lancaster Park on Monday afteruoon. It was a 100 yards race, for £4O, between J. Harris, the well known bookmaker, and' Mr A. G. Clark, a late arrival from honi9. Both men were in a state of desh, the very reverse of that which is supposed to be necessary for such encountors. Clark weighed 17 stone, and his opponent 15 stone. Clark beat Harris by half a yard. Time 12^8ec. Mr Holland's Commercial Hotel at Gore was burned down on Monday morning. The building was insured for £iioo in the New Z-aland office, of which £2OO was re-insured in the South BritiEh.

Edward Fiax, residing in Wingfisld street, Wellington, uttempted to shoot his wife on Tuesday night. No cause was assigned for the act.

The UuDeriin Oily Council have settled Irwin's claim, through tho death of his wife by the blasting accident, for £ISOO. Some new claims are understood to have

arisen,

The monthly escort (Otago), brought down £30,000 worth of gold. The hearing of the application .for an extradition warrant nt the Police Court, before Mr H. G. Seth Smith, K.M., on the charge of murder against the c-iptnn and two mates of the Petrel, was resumed at Auckland on Tuesday arid lasted nil day. The evidence of two of the crew was taken, and the case remanded till next day. A shooting affriy occurred at Jones' Hotel,Grey town, Wellington, resultipg in a'man named Wm Summers, of F-alher-stone,being'seriously wounded by arevolver Hred by a weli-known criminal mimed James Marti? alias W, J. Simmons, The Jailer was just out of gaol after doing a twelve months' sentence. Martin has been nrresti'd. The committee of the St. John Ambulance AnsociatioD, Chmtchurch, at a meeting on Tuesday nfternoon, decided to present a cross to MrMcßae f Wairoa, in recognition of his gailantryvduring the Into volcanic eruptions in the hot springs district.

The bailee-sheet of the Union lnsur-' ance Company shows a balance of £J8,317 9s 4d, of which amount the directors recommended tliat £IO,OOO be devoted to paying the usual dividend of 10 per cent, leaving £8617 9s 4d to bo carried forward to next year. The report states that the business has been considerably pruned at various quarters, and though such action reduces the premium income, it is likely to add to future profit. Professor Black's analysis of the dust from Tauranga is that it is very little use as a top-dressing and would make poor soil. It might improve heavy clay land by opening it up, and might on accouut of ihe ; fineness of the division yield a little soluble nutrient to a first crop. He is much disappointed l with the character of the dust trom an agricultural point of view. At a largely attended public meeting at Dunedin on Tuesday evening, resolutions were carried favofable to Home Rule for Ireland. It was resolved to despatch a cablegram embodying the resolutions to Mr Gladstone.

The deferred payrneut settlers in the Otago district have decided to appeal to the Government for relief. They want the price given for land reduced, several year's experience having proved that they will be quite unable to carry, on. At a meeting of Orangemen of the Canterbury District, held at Chriatchurch on Tuesday nigh l , it was decided to cable to the Imperial Grand Muster at Home, offering men and money fr> assist the Ulster men "in their difficulty." A subscription list was opened, and nearly £2OO was subscribed in the room. A resolution was passed to the effect that the Orangemen view with regret,the action of the 52 members of the.iNew Zealand Parliament who sent a cable message expressing sympathy tfith Mr Gladstone. John Roberts, arrested at Wellington on suspicion of having caused the death of Edward Mullens, with whom he had, been drinking, was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tue«d«y afternoon, and after evidence bad been heard was discharged, the Bench stating that there whs not a shadow of a stain on bis character.

Quite an epidemic of fires have oc« curred at Auckland during the last few days. On Frid ;y Jarret's blacksmith's shop at Oatnbrii'lgo was destroyed. Oa # Saturday moining a bootmaker's shop in Pitt Street, Auckland, and a boardinghouse in Wellesley Btre«t were destroyed ; both were insured. On Sunday morning a four-roomed cottage at Mount Jlideu was burned down ; the family escaped in their night clotlios ; insurance, £425. On Wednesday a store and tenroomed houso at Widoui were destroyed ; insurances, £1430, On Monday two cottages ontlie Nswton Road, Auckland, were destroyed. On Tuesday morning $

St. George's tfall, Surrey Hills, with the Newton Borough nfbre, and four empty shops were destroyed ; insurance £I6OO. Another tire occured at the same time in a cottage a short distance from the hall, and the building was destroyed, although the fire was extinguished once. A bundle of rags soaked with kerosene was found «t this fire, and this owner and his wife were »rrexted 'charged with arson.

At South Malvern, North Canterbury, on Friday niglitv BirkettV stotcrttaa burned ; insurance, £350. The' fire 'was caused by a kerosene lamp bursting.