TELEGRAMS.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1618, 26 October 1885, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(FROM OI T K OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, 24. Owing to the inclement weather to-day the second day's racing of the. Island Ray Jockey Club stands postponed till Monday. The Exhibition closes on Siturday next. The Government intend promoting Col. Whitmore, commander of New Zealand forces, to the rank of Brigadier, or Major-General, iv order to place him equal in rank to the commanders of the local forces in the other Colonies. Consequent on the passing of Captain Russell's motion during the late session, over seventy officers of the Public Works Department in various parts of the Colony have received notice that their services are dispensed with. Other discharges will shortly follow. The Hon. the Premier addressed his constituents at Dunediu yesterday. He made a lengthy speech, and dwelt specially on the policy pursued by the Ministry during the recent session, and at the close of his remarks was loudly cheered. Blenheim, 24. A shocking shooting affair took place this morning. A lad of 14, named Norman Winstanley, accidentally shot his younger brother, Oswald, iv the heart, the result being fatal. The boys were liolh cadets, and had been at skirmishing drill on the previous day, and the elder had inserted a piece of lead into his carbine for practising shooting at mark. He was handling his carbine iv the i-ed-room this morning, showing his brother how to drop on one knee to receive cavalry, the weapon resting on the floor at halfcock, when it accidentally went off with the fatal result already descri ed. Mr Justice Richmond opened the sittings of the Supreme Court to-day. There was only one criminal case, and that a simple charge of larceny. In charging the Grand Jury the Judge said that the weight and magnitude of the apparatus of the Supreme Court

was disproportionate to the offence to be tried. It was like an elephant picking up a pin. He congratulated the Grand Jury on the lightness of their work. The Judge goes to Nelson by Mon*« day's steamer, or overland on Tuesday. Nuw Plymouth, 24. The Hon. Mr Ballance had been deputation ised during his stay here by the Mayor and Mr Samuel, M.H.R., also by others on all varieties of subjects. He was taken to Waitara yesterday, and shown over the freezing works He leaves for Auckland by the steamer Rotorua. Crristchubch 24. An unusually large brill was caught off New Brighton this morning, and presented to Sir J. Yogel by the fisherman. In accepting the gift Sir Julius expressed an opinion that a society should be formed in New Zealand similar to the National Fisheries Association of England to deal with the Government on the one hand, and the trade on the other, in order to place the fisheries on a thoroughly satisfactory basis. He also advocated the format inn of aquariums in the principal towns of the Colony.