NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4636, 10 June 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PKB EBHSS AfIeOCIATIOW BPEOIAI, WTBH.J AUCKLAND, June 9. A Maori named Tikey was burned to death at Omaha. . He waa mad with drink, and ie believed to have Bet fire to bis whore and banged himself.

NAPIER, June 9. It was known on Tuesday morning by ft merohant at the Spit that the beer duty would be imposed, and he cleared out his stock to an hotelkeeper. A brewer also got an inkling of the state of affairs, and acted accordingly. The duty saved by one hotelkeeper alone was £60. At a meeting of lioensed victuallers held before the statement tret made, the tax—the amount of which wag kßown—and the question of who was to pay the tax were disoussed. This morning a worse blunder was made. The police had received intimation early in the evening that they were to hold themselves in readiness for extraordinary duty. They remained up all night, but no further instructions came. It was not until ten minutes to ten o'clock that they received offioial intimation of what they had read in the papers three hours before, and the brewers were not slow to take advantage of the delay. All the carts in the town were employed in carting beer, and the whole duty collected did cot exceed £250. WELLINGTON, June 9. A resolution was unanimously passed at a meeting of all the brewers here that the duty be added to the price of beer, and collected on delivery. At the Compensation Court, in the case of Kircaldie and Stains and the General Government, judgment was given for the plaintiffs for £4853, and fifty guineas costs. The claim was for £5750, the value of land taken by the defendants for the new railway station. At a meeting of the licensed victuallers last night, a deputation was appointed to wait on several members of the House of Representatives this afternoon, for the purpose of placing before them suggestions and alterations in the new Act, to avoid matters whioh would be prejudicial to the publicans. The body of a newly born infant was found on Kaiwarra beaoh last night. As yet there is no clue to mother. At the inquest an open verdict was returned. At the Magistrate's Court Annie Petersen and Lena Smith, two young girls, were sentenced to six months' hard labor for laroeny from a dwelling.

TIMARD, June 9.

There are twenty-two prisoners for trial here. The offences comprise larceny, robbery with violence, forgery, arson, horse stealing, forcible entry, and shooting with intent. The criminal sessions are likely to ocoupy nearly a week, after which a number of speoial jury oases will be taken.

Owing to the illness of Judge Ward, the Distriot Court had to be adjourned to-day. DUNEDIN, June 9.

The " Star " says it has reason to believe that no such ch&nges in connection with the management of our railways as are authoritatively stated in to-day's "Daily Times" are likely to be effected. Mr Oonyera will continue in oharge of the Middle Island railways, but will in future be known as the General Manager, while Messrs Grant, Hannay, Arthur, and Baok wilL probably receive their proper designation, viz., Traffic Managers. Mr Armstrong, at present locomotive engineer in Dunedin, is to be transferred to the North Island, where he will have charge of a station. Aβ to the Railway Telegraph Department it is generally known that that branch of the service has already been taken foyer by Dr. Lemon.

Considerable consternation has been expressed by the brewers at the imposition of the beer tax. Early this morning the Custom-house officers inspeoted the breweries and took stock. In the country districts the police have been instructed to aot similarly. Constables Townsend and Golborne haye reoeived £10 eaoh for their pluoky conduct in capturing Butler. The Urso concerts concluded last night. They were the greatest success of any concerts ever held in Dunedin. Scherek, the aooompanist, has been appointed conductor of the Choral Society. Judge Williams has held that Mr Wattes assumption that he had power to take judicial notice of the city by-law without proving the same was erroneous, and quashed the conviction in the appeal case, allowing costs against the Inspector of Nuisances. INVEROARGILL, June 9. Mr Downie Stewart's aotion re the wooden buildings is greatly approved of, the publicans here, even the owners of stone and brick hotels, concurring that the action of the Invercargill Bench threatening to close wooden houses next year is tyrannical, arbitrary and a stretch of power. The Dipton Rabbit Skin Exhibition promisee to be a great success. Many exhibits are dressed almost equal to sealskin. The beet will be forwarded to the Melbourne Exhibition.