LATEST TELEGRAMS

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1109, 10 January 1885, Page 3

LATEST TELEGRAMS

(From our oivn Correspondent.)

Dunedin, January 9th. Iv the Nenthorne murder case, the jury found the three prisoners guilty of manslaughter. Judge Williams said he agreed with the verdict, and sentenced White and Crowley to five years each and Fitzgerald to three years' imprisonment. At the Trades and Labor Congress today, the following motion by Mr Howland (of Christchurch) was carried by a large majority, after an animated debate : "That, with the view of fostering local industries in New Zealand, a duty of not less than 20 per cent, be placed on all foreign manufactured goods that can be made successfully within the Colony ; and that all raw material for such manufactures be admitted free of duty."

An official explanation of the Hinemoa mystery has been given in Auckland. It seems that on December 27th Government received a telegram from the AgentGeneral, stating that the British Ambassador at Berlin believed that Germany intended to annex Samoa, or proclaim a protectorate over the Navigator Group. A Cabinet Council was lately convened at Wellington, and after mature and prolonged deliberation the decision was that the Governor should be requested to communicate to Lord Derby the opinion of his advisers that Samoa should forthwith be annexed to New Zealand by the Colonial Government, and that Her Majesty should be advised to assent to Sir George Grey's Annexation Act. Tn the meantime it was. decided, with a view to a practical effect being given to the decision of the Cabinet, that the Hinemoa be made ready for a voyage to Samoa. The Governor sent a cablegram to Lord Derby, who replied disapproving of the proposed annexation. It has been decided to again urge upon the Imperial Government the importance of sanctioning the proposed action of the New Zealand Government. It is anticipated that the forthwith pressure to be brought upon Earl Derby will induce the Tmperiil Government to consent to the wishes of the Colonial Ministry, and in the meantime, pending advices from London, the Hinemoa is being kept in a state of readiness to proceed to Samoa at a moment's notice.