SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XII, Issue 3437, 6 October 1879, Page 3

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

['ADVERTISER' SPECIAI WIRE.]

(PER PRESS AGENOY.)

AwxuTO.S&tod&y.

William Denham, on remand, was charged at the Police Court this morning with stealing from the person of Matthew Singleton, on the 30th of Soptember, a pocket book containing £10, and securities to the valuo of £4000, the property of Matthew Singleton, a recent settler. Proseoutor deposed that ho met prisoner at the bar of the Globe Hotel, Wakefield street, and got into conversation with him. After staying some time and paying for the drinks they had, he went home and missed his pocket book, from which he had taken a note in prisoner's presence. On returning he met Denham, who appeared concerned at his loss, and offered lo show him to the Police Station. He did so, but would not go in, and made tracks. He should know some_ of the notes again, especially one, whioh had the name of a man on the back of it. It contained also the receipt for 75 shares of £50 each, being stock in the Midland and Great Western Railway of Ireland He subsequently mentioned his loss to Mrs Sullivan, of the Occidental Hotel, and described the money. She said the prisoner had changed a note there. Showed him the noto containing writing on the back, and he recognised it as one of those he got from the bank. _ Detective Brennan deposed to finding the pocket-book of prosecutor empty in a closet of the Globe Hotel. After othor corroborate evidence prisoner was committed for trial. ['ADVERTISER' SPECIAL WIIE,] Pbb Pbess Agency. TELEGRAPH OFFICE ARRANGEMENTS. Wellington, Saturday. Some inquiry having been made as to the exact terms of the reply given by the Postmaster • General as to Mr Stevens' question regarding telegraph officers, the following may be taken as an accurate statement of the in> tentions of the department:-It is proposed to do away with the system of overtime at all large stations, but not until such time as the staffs are so strengthened I that no operator need be called to | do more than eight hours' duty during one day; it is hoped that this &ystera j will be more acceptable to the operators! generally than the present. The staffs of the following Btations have already been | brought up to the standard to enable I overtime to be suspended from the Ist of. October:-Hokitika, Greymouth.Timaru, | Auckland, Nelson, and Grahamstown. It is believed that by doiag away with overtime, and thus curtailing the hours, a beneficial effect will be secured in diminishing the percentage of sickness. The extra duty on Sunday to be from 6 to 7, and for this no overtime will be allowed. Sunday duty will bo taken alternately. COAL FIND AT FEATHERSTON. It is now reported that very fine sampies of coal have been picked up within a short distance of Featherston. It is intended to ask permission from the owner of the land to prospect for the seam, whioh it is expected will be found not far from where the specimens were picked up. The Goldon Point Gold Mining Company, at Picton, commenoed crushing today A number of Maoris are petitioning Parliament for a grant of £100,000 and a million aores of land as compensation for certain wrongs whioh they oonsider have been inflicted on them. The Customs revenue colleoted at the Port of Wellington for the week ending to-day, amounted to £4395 33 Id. Sunday. THE SEVERE WEATHER, Yesterday a gale from south-east set in and since then it has beon very cold, and to-day there were several small showers of hail and snow, covering the ground so as to admit of snow balling. _ The hills all round the city are quite white with snow and hail, Feathebstone, Saturday, A fire broke out yesterday at Faber's hotel, in an up-stnirs room a little after 9 o'clock, and is supposed to have been caused by a stove pipe getting heated. The building was totally destroyed, but a considerable quantity of s'ock and furniture was saved. The Bank of Australasia, although very much damaged, was, by the exertions of the inhabitants, saved; also, Gilpin and Pardon's store and other buildings. Considerable damage is done to stock and buildings, at Gilpin and Pardon's, through hasty removal, Insurances: Faber's hotel, £800; fruiterer and stock, £700; said to be in the National Office. Ohbistohcboh, Saturday. A man named Knglehart has been arrested at Lyttelton on suspicion of having stolen jewels from the Museum. Lyttelton shipping:—Sailed: Now Zealand Shipping Company's Orari, for London 5 the Penguin, mlh the following 1 passengers: For Wellington—Mr Meredith, Miss Beauchamp, Miss Stenhome, Mrs Ballon and family, Messrs Miles Meredith, Findlay, MoLauohen, Galley Sturgeon, Hodgson, Buddie. Armstrong, Wilson, Learmouth, Freesh, Lean, and Peran; for Nelson—Mr Raikes and family; for Napier—Mrs Fielder and Mr Wilkins; for Greytown-Mr Murray -, for Auokland -Mr Edgecumb and family, Messrs Withers, White, and Calender. Hawea, for Port Chalmers; passengers, Messrs Tait and Tearsdale. The weather was not favourable to the oponing of the cricket reason. Most of the matches trere.postponed.^ A benefit entertainment in connection with a local Bohemian club of literary and professional men, took place this afternoon, at the Oddfellows' Hall, and was a great succass. In the case of Kirby against Davies and Frost (of the Lottus Troupe) for £100 for services as agent, judgment was given for defendants with costs. A PROMISING HIGHWAYMAN. A youth, named Pillow, 18 years of age, was charged, at the K,M. Court, with an attempt at sticking up Mr May, draper, last night, on the Eiccarton road He fired two shots at May, one of which grazed his shoulder, and demanded his money. May, who was driving home with his wife, jumped out of the trap and knocked Pillow down. Another trap passing by went to the police station, and returned with a policoman. Pillow was dressed in two suits of clothes, had a black mask, and was armed with a revivor and small Bowie knife. At his I home it was found ho had quilo a small I armoury, consisting of a large American , knife, a Japanese knife dagger, a sixchambered revolver, and an assegai. All I the articles are supposed to be stolon. Ho I was remanded to the 13th inst,

Dunedin, Saturday. The Baths Committeo of the City Council propose asking the Harbour Board for a silo for fresh and salt water baths, Several effortii aro being made lo raise funds for the relief of sufferers by the late fire, but there is no organisation in the movement al present. K, C. Jones, of Ibis city daimß, to have invented an instrument that will give warning immediately on the outbreak of fire in any apartment in which it is placed. 'I ho woather is wrotched; wind, hail, and snow. There is nothing doing, evon the police court had a clean sheet today. At Gore an occupied house belonging to Mr Mackay was burnt this morning. It was insured. The Lawrence Hospital Committee will probably ask the County Council to take over that institution, as the Committee cannot obtain funds to carry it on. Owing to the inclemency of the weather it was deemed prudent to tranship the Forfarshire to the quarantine island to--BJTHE WAITAKI JOCKEY CLUB. Oamabu, Saturday. The races on the second day were the handicap hurdle race, fifty sovs., two miles, Te Whiti first, Robin Hood second, Little John third.—Waitako Jockey Club handicap, eight sovs,, If miles: Maritana first, Bangatira second, Chancellor third; won easily, time 3 minutes 12£ seconds.— Champion stakes, fifty sovg., 1 mile and distance, Yorkl, Pinfire 2, Libeller 3.— Consolation handicap, 25 sovs., one mile: Unknown 1, Chancellor 2, and Libeller 3.