NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4638, 12 June 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

["PBB PBBSB ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WIBB.] AUCKLAND, June 11. The Government steamer Stella left this morning for Russell, on lighthouse work. The inquiry into the collision between the John Bull and Columbia yesterday is proceeding at the Customs. Joseph Worms has been committed for trial on three oharges of forgery and uttering. About eighty constabulary have arrived from the camp at Cambridge to go into winter quartars". The Pukurangi blook was completed today at the Native Lands Court, except the final settlement for the claimant. Te Whetu's small block of 3000 acres occupied the Court to-day, to be followed by Takarora, one of the largest blocks. A publio meeting will be held next Wednesday to protest against the property tax unless the North Auckland Railway is provided for by money or land. The North Auckland Railway committee have requested Sir G. Grey to bring forward in the House the injustice of levying the tax in Northern districts where so little borrowed money had been expended. Intelligence has been received from New Caledonia to May 28th. It is rumored that another bank is to be started unconnected with official administration. The schooner Marian left Noumea for Auckland on May 14th with twenty-one passengers, probably Communists. Mr Sneehan leaves Auckland to-morrow for the Thames, to address his constituents. A meeting re the property tax to-night waß poorly attended, and was adjourned till Monday. GRAHAMSTOWN, June 11. An unknown person made a murderous assault on Mr Campbell, solicitor, last night, striking him on the head with a blunt instrument. Mr Campbell is unpopular, through informing againtmen working without miners' rights, and this is supposed to be the cause of the assault.

The " Star " draws attention to the shooking state of the Auckland quarantine station, and states that 10 passengers of the Earl of Granville have died from fever contracted on the island, and the quarters were alive with vermin and filthy in the extreme. NAPIER, June 11.

The Working Men's Club have decided to j petition Parliament against the provisions in ! the Licensing Bill requiring clubs to hold a. license.

It is stated here that no speoial'or private intimation was received relative to the beer duty, but that the merchants and brewers who got rid of their stooks did so because, of the Hon. Mr Whitaker's statement in the Legislative Council. -He is , reported in "Hansard" to have said—"l am afraid that my hon. friend's (Col. Whitmore) beer also will, have to bear taxation as, well as his property." The matter is under consideration. This however does not explain how it was known, more than twelve hours before the .financial statement was delivered, here that the tax would be 6d per gallon. There is some excitement about a reported gold discovery in the Mohaka district, and half a dozen parties are working on the reefs. Some stone whioh was alleged to have been taken from Thompson's olaim yielded at the rate of 20ozs. to the ton. Many doubt whether the stone was obtained there. There is nothing to justify a rush. Both papers here- support the beer, tax, although the " Herald" regards it as excessive. The petitions against it are being largely signed by the publio. A meeting of the Licensed Victuallers Association took place yesterday, when they carried a resolution that " the Licensed Victuallers of Hawke's Bay deem the imposition of sixpence per gallon on colonial and imported beer to be a great injustice to the trade and. the general public, and that it is a gross injustice to place suoh an imposition upon.a colonial industry that is already heavily taxed. A copy of this resolution to be forwarded to the members of the House representing this province." It was resolved to place petitions in eaoh of the. hotels for signature, praying that the tax be abolished. WRLLLNGTON, June 11. The following message has been received by Dr. Lemon from the Lord Mayor of Dublin, for circulation to the Irish relief committees in New Zealand: — "While acknowledging with the utmost gratitude the magnificent contributions received, I feel bound to say furl—er that any assistance which can be extended will be much needed during the next two months. I would therefore ask that your subscription .lists_ be not and that any further contributions may be forwarded." • • . A despatch has been received from Sir Michael Hicks Beaoh, late Secretary of State for the Colonies, intimating that the Royal assent has been given to the Acts paß.ed by the New Zealand Parliament last session.

A woman named _liza Blanford was found dead in bed this morning. A medio— examination showed that death resulted from suffocation while in a fit. At the-inquest a verdict was returned in accordance with the medical testimony. At the inquest held yesterday on the body of Cornelius Croft, killed on Tuesday, a verdict of " Accidental death " was returned. About th_ty iiiformaturns have been laid for sly grog selling. Among those summoned are oyster saloon keepers and fruiterers. The oharges will be heard in a day or two. Dr. Hector states that the exhibitors from this colony obtained 99 awards for first merit, 85 for second, 81 for third, 59 for fourth, being 324 in all; so that more than half of the exhibitors obtained awards. HO-ITL-A, June 11. The Albion for Newcastle and Melbourne took with her 5920 ozs. of gold shipped by the Bank of New Zealand and 1768 ozs. from the Union Bank of Australia.

TIMARU, June 11,

The Supreme Court sittings were resumed to-day. True bills were found in all the remaining cases but that against James Anderson for horse stealing. James Kelly for larceny, received four years. John Griffin, barman, for larceny from the till, was recommended to mercy on account of his youth, and was sentenced to six months. William Quinn, Charles Pontiff alias Hankins alias Deaf Charley, John Seen, Michael Lynoh, and Joseph Sims were found guilty of forcible entry on the land of John Coll at Mahikihi. The judge, reserved his decision on a point of law, prisoners being ordered to come up next session if called upon for sentence.- Stewart Doig ard John Soott were found Not Guilty of horse steading and discharged. The Court resume s to-morrow,

OAMARU, June 11. The Harbor Board committee have decided to recommend the building of a north wall whioh would enclose an area of sixty acres. This area would be dredged to a depth .snf-icient to admit of home vessels loading up. 'The probable cost will be about £72,000.

A slight shosk of earthquake was fe_ak Tapanui on Friday night. — mm at _ A meeting of publioans and brewers was held to-day to consider the beer tax and new Licensing Act, and was attended by aborsixty persons. In the first place the brewera were asked togstato definitely their intenUona in regard to the beer tax. All the brewer. present said fcbey could not pay the tax «nl if it was imposed they would oharge it to th* publioans. A long disoussion ensued as t-th* inability of hotelkeepers to submit " and a decision was ultimately arrived al that two delegates be appointed by the brewers and two by the publicans, to proceed to Wei' lington, and if necesiary to work in conjunction with other associations to secure the repeal of the tax. It was proposed that the tax be reduoed to 33, but this was opposed by a large majority as admitting the principle of excise. Regarding the new Licensing Bill the following amendments were proposed :— " That the license fee for club, be £50 and that they be liable to police supervision and to .the operation of the local option clause > that wholesale licenses be £50, also Bubjeot to the local option clause; that the only restrictions re barmaids be, that they shall be limited in their hours of work to ten hoursthat the provision with regard to lamps should not apply to citieß and towns lit at tho expense of the ratepayers." INVERCARGILL, June li. A meeting will bo held by the country settlers of tae Riverton district on Monday next to protest against the property tax. At the inqueßt on George Ogilvie, found dead at Woodburn station, the verdict was that he took poison while temporarily inisano.