TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

West Coast Times, Issue 3217, 17 January 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[PER PRESS TELEGRAPH AGEKCr.I Auckland, Jan. 15. The complete returns of the polling for the Marsden district are— Douglas, 223 j Munro (the former member), 164; Bradley, 134 ; Hull, 65. The Premier stated to a deputation from the Thames, that the Auckland' goldfielda' revenue was stopped to meet deficiencies on the Mercer railway for interest and working expenses. | Arrived — Wellington, from south. The polling at Hokianga for the Maori election, Northern District, resulted as follows :— Hoe Karika Tawhite, 173 ; Reior Tetai Papuhia, 105 ; Wiremu Katene, 12; Natai Pene Tui, 1. Napisr, Jan. 15. Eastern Maori Electoral District ; poll at Napier.— Karaitana, 127; Rotorua— • Karaitaua, 30 ; Hikiro, 43 ; Keepa, 17. Wairarapa— Karaitana, 38 Wairoa— Karaitana, 17 ; Hotene, 27. Taupo — Karaitana, 11 ; Keepa, 37. Waipawa — Karuitana, 77. Gisborne— Karaitana, 17 ; Hotene, 48. Other returns not yet to hand.

Cheistchobch, Jan. 15. j The Canterbury cricket team, for the interprovincial match, leave for Qdnedin to-day. jCjt is "considered the strongest ever "sent. 1 i Q the Tithes, b^vs the taani is strong in bowling, j stronger in "batting, but strongest in fielding. The Kaiapoi clerical scandal has ended in a letter to the parishioners from the Primate, in which he says, that a portion • of the charges borne out by evidence, only shewed that Carlyon has evinced want of judgment and discretion by an eagerness .to carry out his ministrations in ways he had found both useful and successful in his English cure, but which were novelties in Kaiapoi, and had thus given some color to the charges against him, and that he (the Primate) considered it to be due to Carlyon, aad the interests of the Church, that he (Carlyon) should retain the cure of Kaiapoi. Wellington, Jan. 16. Cook's Straits on board the ' Luna— J On Thursday last she left her anchorage in Island Bay, at 2.30 a.m., and once more dropped the grapnel. Shortly before nunrise, after twice dragging across the supposed line of the cable, without succeeding in hooking anything, the grapnel was hauled on board, the soundings were aa usual about 90 fathoms, only about 170 fathoms had been paid out, and some difference of opinion existed as to whether there had been sufficient chain out, to allow the points of the grapnel to drag well on the bottom, so as to hold any obstruction. The appearance of the grapnel certainly indicated that enough chain had not been paid out, as it had not the same j burnished appearance as was shown by the first grapnel. We hauled in once more, and put in the new and heavier grapnel brought from Home by the Tui. and in ' order that it might be close to the bottom, it was shackled to fifty fathoms of ship's chain, and thrown over for another draggiug match. The ship was then at about the same place as when the cable was hooked on the former occasion, but about half or three quarters of a mile on the White Bay side. Just after breakfast, and when according to calculation, we ought to be on the cable, it was noticed that the man at the wheel was not keepiug the course, though the helm was hard' down, and it was soon beyond a doubt, that we were fast to the cable. Prom that moment until the cable showed above water, there was the most anxious suspense, and it was during this critical period, that Captain Fairchild's skill and seamanship came into play. He took every precaution to prevent' any slip or surge in the hauling -gear, such as had previously occurred. Ai soon as the cable showed above water, it was made fast, so aa to prevent it breaking away when the grapnel should be taken in. The cable was in godd condition, but, now 'that we had caught it, there was a good deal of doubt as to whether it should be cut and tested, or underrun to discover whether we were on the Wellington or the Blenheim side of it. At noon preparations were' made to underrun the cable, and upon the Tui coming up, she was kept alongside while the work of under running was going on, to render any assistance that might be necessary. About one o'clock the break was reached, and the buoy was thrown over, the end of the cable being fast to a chain which had been ready for it. All is now in good train for joining the break, as the end can now be picked up in half-an-hour.

Dumedin, Jan. 15. A fire broke out at half-past one o'clock this morning, in Brown's mill, Bond-street. When first' discovered 1 V few' bucket's of water would have extinguished' it. As it was, the Brigade were veYy slow in getting the hose on, and the bottom floor and top storey were completed gutted, while, singular to state, the middle floor was not damaged by fire as the flames shot up through the floor lifts, which acted as a kind of flue for the flames. The amount of damage done is not at present ascertained, nor is the origin of the fire known. The Evening Star office 'next door, was at one time in danger, as was also the Harbor Company's Office. The plant was insured in the National for £500 ;in the Soulh British for £250, and the stock' was insured in the National for £250, in the South British for £250, and in the Transatlantic for a like sum.