LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 707, 6 September 1870, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

GREAT FLOODS IN OTAGO. ARRIVAL OP H.M.S.S. CLIO AND GALATEA RETIREMENT OF SIR DAVID MUNRO AS SPEAKER. "Welliiitgton, Aug. 27. Arrived at 1.30 p.m. to-day H.M.S. Clio, Commodore Sterling, from the Cape of Good Hope, after a favorable passage. She sighted one iceberg, and lost a man overboard on August 15. She parted company with the Galatea shortly after leaving the Cape, rejoined her off the Snares, and came up the coast in company. On the Clio entering this harbor, the Galatea hauled off from the land It is supposed this was owing to some derangement of the machinery. August 29. Sir David Munro, to-day, took a formal farewell of the House of Representatives, announcing that it was not his intention again to seek election as Speaker. Messrs M'Lean, Vogel, and Stafford expressed deep regret at the announcement, and highly eulogised Sir David Munro's conduct as Speaker during the last ten years. Mr M'lndoe withdrew his motion in favor of making the Legislative Council elective, as the Government promised to consider the question during the recess.

Government opposes the £650,000 loan to the Otago, as heing in conflict with their policy. Dxtnedin, Aug. 27.

Heavy and incessant rains have fallen during the last two or three days, and there have been great floods at Oamaru, Waikouaiti, Taieri, and Tokomairiro. At Oamaru, the flat part was nearly submerged; persons had to leave their houses. The landing stage was washed away. A shepherd, named M'Bride was drowned while crossing the Shag Biver. The weather is clear to-day. M'Lennoa has been further remanded. He has tried to dash his brains out in the cell j has since been confined in irons. August 28. Work was commenced to-day in the construction of the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Bailway. No official notice of it was taken. The contract was signed six months ago j the Provincial Government guaranteeing eight per cent, for fifteen years on a capital of seventy thousand pounds. The Provincial Government has received an offer from Audley Coote, Tasmania, agent of the English Capitalists Company (Begistered), London, for the construction of a railway from Dunedin to Clutha.

Auckland, Aug. 26. A fire broke out in the ship Excelsior on Friday night, and damage was done to the amount of £SOO. The ship was insured in the New Zealand, Pacific, and Southern Companies. The origin of the fire in unknown. The Golden Crown Company has declared a dividend of £25 per share. The s.s. Eangatira was lately shipping cattle at the Waitara, when the yard broke, wounding one of the men dangerously, and slightly hurting two of the passengers. Taipari, native chief at Shorthand, has filed his schedule.

A fire has occured at Watson and Scanlan's, painters' shop, Queen street. The stock destroped was insured for £BOO in the New Zealand office, and £IGOO in the Victoria. The value of

it was £3500. Patterson, Bay, and Co's traveller had £3OO worth of Melbourne samples in the store, which were all destroyed. Blundell, a watchmaker at the Thames, was robbed of 40 watches. Three men have been arrested at the Waitohahi creek, and nearly all the watches have been recovered. The names of the men are—Nash, Johnson, and D. Dick. Napieb, Aug. 30. Tongairiro was very active last night. Repeated reports very similar to those from a large piece of ordnance were heard three miles off, and clouds of Bmoke were perceptible over the volcano.