Telegraphic Items.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XIII, Issue 643, 23 June 1880, Page 2

Telegraphic Items.

(From our own Correspondent.) Dunedin, June 22nd. Andrew Morrison, boatman, in the employ, ment of the Government, was drowned this morning, at Mount Allan, Hindon Railway works.

Judge Bathgate resumes his seat on the Dunedin Bench in the middle of July. It is not known where Mr Simpson, R M., will go. Sarali Jones has been fined £1 for selling adulterated milk at Oamaru. . '- A Church congregation at Timaru lias resolved to organise a teetotal and anti-smoking society.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS. The population of Victoria on March 31st, amounted to 902,994. The Victorian Government will not join the postal union till the other Australian Governments decide what course they are to adopt. The winner of the Australian Coursing Club's Cup will receive £500, besides a 50-guinea cup.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

The following London cablegrams are published :—: —

A Select Committee has been appointed .by the French Chamber of Deputies to inquire iuto the alleged torturing of political prisoners in New Caledonia.

A disastrous fire broke out in Pennsylvania, One of the largest petroleum houses in ithat State caught fire, and a fierce and disastrous conflagration soon raged. The estimated loss is one million dollars. All efforts to check the progress of the fire failed. The catastrophe created great consternation amongst the' in« habitants. A later despatch says it is roughly estimated that two million dollars' worth of property is destroyed. A Spanish man-of-war at Cuba has been burnt. An American schooner is suspected to be in communication with the Cuban rebels. On June 14th an exciting scene took place in the English House of Commons. It lasted lor six hours, and has been unexampled for many years. Mr O'Donnell (Home Ruler) made an outrageous attack on the newly-appointed French Ambassador to London, and Mr Gladstone moved that he be not heard until an apology was made. O'DonnelFs refusal led to the scene. The Speaker was powerless, and Gladstone ultimately withdrew nis motion.