NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

[FEB PBBSS AGE3TCY.] Auckland, December 17. Cases of sunstroke are numerous. Great prepara*ti<mß -axe being made for the forthcoming races/which *re expected to be the best ever held in Auckland. '*:.'*" Gbahahstowx, December 17, ■ The Government steamer Hinemoa arrived here to-day from the North via Kawau, with Messrs Macandrew and Blackett on railway ? btts2i#ss. r They go TegAioba. js... ts.ji Defl£mbefc47. : -' A native named Hohepa, a near relative to the Ngatinianiopotb "chief iTaonui, waslstftick by lightning on Saturday last while riding between Orarmi and Otawn. He and his horse were killed instantaneously. New Pltmobth, December 17. Labor ia getting so very scarce here that if a supply from outsider is not soon available, it is feared the Inglewood- aaw mills will he stopped. The hands are leaving in two's and three'evto go harvesting, for which farmers are giving high wages.

December 17. It is.reported tint awaogements ae,.beicg made for connecting Inglawood with Hawera at opce, by means of "Cobb's coach, and that an. attempt win he" made shortly to drive a coach, through.

The Drapers and Clothiers' AsTOciation are raising and discussing the cpiestiou, of a half holiday during the week.

It is expected the railway extension to Masterton will he convicted, in eighteen months from the present tune. Ansui^«iOice,Ancil»tid,

Mr Sheehan is expected to leave for Auckland j and the East Coast on Thursday next. I The Maori arrested for having been in the bed-room of Mr Justice Gillies at the Criterion Hotel, Napier, and sentenced to a month's im- . prisonment for intrusion, has been released by the Minister of Justice. Mr "sheahnn, Major Kemp, and other chiefs visifethe Waikato., Dr.-Hectorhas beeu'np the Mokau river about five miles, to examine the coal; seams, which he reports to be three to five feet thick, and quite accessible- The coal is coaaidered the best yet found in the North Island. Dr. Hector is going through overland to Te Euiti. Instead of interfering with the present plans of reclamation for tho railway station site, the Government propose to reclaim a site between Mills' fonndry aud the Queen's Wharf, upon which to build the station. This will allow the reserves and the land to be sold to remain as -in the published plans. There are no fresh cases of fever on board the Hermione, but some insubordination among the sailors is reported. A large public meeting was held tonight, the j Mayor in tha chiir, to discuss tho Chinese ques- ! tion. A series of resolutions were currie-1 unanimous'y to ihe effect tbat the Government should be memorialised to prevent the introducj tion of Chinese. J-'evcral speakers dilated upon the manifold dangers likely to arife if the un restricted influx of Chinese were allowed. A letter from the Colonial Treasurer was read, in which the utmost sympathy was expressed with the movement. At a previous meeting a resolution was carried unanimonvly to urge upon the Government the advisability of removing the present railway station to a more central 6ite. Dunedin, December 17. Mr Leary, the retiring Mayor, is a candidate for High Ward in tho (.ity Council. On account of the death of the Princess Alice, commercial houses, public bodies, aud shipping displayed bunting at half-mast today. There are 100 candidates for tho public school scholarships of Otago. The annual hreaking-up of the hoys of tho High School took place to-day. An address was delivered by Dr. Macdonald, showing tha state of tbe school. He was frequently cheered during his speech. There are six cases of typhoid fever in the Dunedin Hospital at present. Those suffering from it were passengers by the Timaru, which arrived iv port last month, and which was not quarantined by the Board of Health, notwithstanding that tho medical member of the Board strongly urged that the vo sel should bo quarantined. Mr Stout was at Port Chalmere on tho day the vessel arrived, and it is said that it is due to his influence that the vessel was quarantined. One of the passengers died on November 27th from fever, and another died in hospital yesterday. henry Lion Metz, arrested by a Dunedin detective in Adelaide, for forgery, is now being escorted back to Dunedin by tbat officer. In Dunedin there are eleven candidates for the Junior and three for the Senior Civil Service examinations.

The female immigrants, by the ship Canterbury have been all engaged, the demand being far in excess of the supply.

Balclutha, December 17. The platelaying on the section of the railway carried out by day labor is completed. The last rail was linked this afternoon. The line is rea-iy for opening aB far as the commencement of Proudfoot's contract.

The river protective works are proceeding rapidly. Banks of gravel are. being put over the bank to-day, and fascines of scrub will be placed along the face. of the bank to-morrow. It is believed this will answer temporarily until the permanent works are completed. Invbrcabgill, December 17.

. The appeal against the election of Mr Thomson, County Councillor for Winton Biding, waß heard to-day before Mr McDonald, B.M. The chief objections were that the date of the election was not notified in the manacr required by section 10 of the Begulation of Local Flections Act, 1876 ; that the day of poling, instead of that "of election, had been notified; that: the place appointed for the nomination of candidates being' within a municipal borough was not within a riding. The case was -argued exhaustively, and the magistrate sustained the objection. The election of Mr McMillan for Gore and of Mr >mith for Awaroa, having been also petitioned against on similar grounds, were also declared void.

[frost our own correspondents.] ' . Auckland, Thomas Bennell, on remand, was again brought up on the charge of murdering Charles Moller on the 7th October last at Batadita, Kiugswell Group, in the Pacific. Mr Brookfield, Crown Prosecutor, appeared for the prosecution, and said that he was in communication with" the Government upon'the matter, but had not received a' reply.' He would ask for a further remand. Mr Hesketh, who appeared for prisoner, suggested that as the case was probably beyond the jurisdiction of the Court, it was doubtful whether the prisoner could be legally kept in custody. His Worship; said the prosecution could only Await instructions from the Government. The case was adjourned until the 20th,. '.■'' , ~

Walter Brodie, an old Auckland colonist and brother-in-law of Mr Walters of the-London " Times," arrived bythemail.steamer to-day.

The first sod of the Kamo railway is to be, turned by- the Premier in six weeks' time. Timaru, December 17.;

' Iri the Supreme Court to-day true- bills were found in all the cases but that against William Bradshaw, for larceny. Thefouowing- sentences, were passed -.- —Alex. Bell, for shooting--;with, /intent to,HP, three years; John Thomas. Pain, for embezz'ement, twelve months; Hugh Mackay for horse stealing, three years; Bobert Young, ,forgery and uttering, three years; David Douglas, larceny from the person, two years ; i Benj. Goodman, forgery, ona week; William Noon, two charges of forgery and uttering, and brie charge of larceny, pleaded guilty, and iwas sentenced to ten years; William Bradbhaw, for larceny, one year ; Walter Wright, charged with forgery, and; Jas...."Lees, with larceny from a dwelling, were acquitted,.' The " Evening Telegraph " appeared fir the first time to-night. *•• ''-■ '■"' Dtthedin, December 17. In the matoh Christ's College v> University the former made 51. Borton'was highest with 13, Hamilton next with 8;''• The University, "At the luncheon adjournment, had 54 for eight wickets. - InVEBCAfeGrDi,, December 17. r The Southland County Counoil voted £ 100 for the demonstration at the opening- of the railway tiChristchuroh. ; i

: : The Magistrate to-day quashed the election of three representatives to the County Council on account of infoTmalities. ■:,;■"' i