NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XXXV, Issue 4823, 19 January 1881, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBB FBBSS ASSOCIATION.j AUCKLAND, January 18. The city valuation shows an increase of 200 properties in the year. A fire occurred at HobaoneviUe, Waitemata pottery works. A part of the brick work kiln gavo way, and the flames caught the woodwork. The shed wae cut in two helves, which saved the machinery, which wae, however, partly destroyed. The insurance was £1000 in the North British. The loss is £4001. The Governor lays the foundation stone of St. Andrew's Episcopalian Ohuroh, Cambridge, under the auspices of the Masonic body. The Myrtle, brigantine, from Tonga, reports that the Auckland schooner Edith was quarantined at Vavau with measles on board when the Myrtle left. The Myrtle also brings new* of the wreck of the Auckland brigantine Active. The veaeel drifted ashore at Samoa in a calm and became a total wreck. The passengers, crew, and original cargo from Auckland were all saved. The wreck was sold for £30. The Active was owned by Meisre Lane and Browo, Whangaroa, and MoArthur and Co., Auckland, and was insured in the New Zealand Company for £750. and the Union for £350. NEW PLYMOUTH, January 18. The police effected the capture of an illicit still this morning in the bush near Inelewood. WELLINGTON, January 18. The following additional entry has been received—Bandwick, for the Flying Stakes, Hutt Park Stakes, and Bacing Club Handicap. At the Magistrates' Court the proprietor of the Princess Theatre Hotel was fined £5 on two informations for selling liquor on Sunday. The proprietor of the Viotoria Hotel for refuting to admit the police sergeant on Sunday without unnecessary delay, was fined £2, and the license to bo endorsed. It has been decided that the Froperty Tax shall be peyable either at the end of February or early in March. The Aot requires it to be paid in two instalments for the year, but it would be neoessaiy to have the dates for each moiety close together, in order that the tax may be collected during the financial year. By the original intention the first moiety was due some time ago. TIMAEU, January 18. At the Magistrates' Court to-day, judgment was given against the secretary of the Timaru Regatta Committee for over £40, with costs, being money claimed by purchasers of privileges in consequence of the regatta having been adjourned. DUNEDIN, January 18. . The Harbor, Board's receipts for 1880 are £83,881; expenditure, £82,419. Last year's balance of £29,127 has been reduced to £1462. During the year 302,000 oubio yards have been dredged at an average cost of 6£d, and 302,000 yards reclaimed at an average of llfd. Tha "Bruce Herald" states that the directors of the Bank of New Zealand have presented the widow of the late Mr Alfred Jorea, their late manager at Nelson, with a, cheque for a £1000. Austin, Sco t's trainer, accepts Edwards' challenge. At the Crown Lands sale, 4164 acres of pastoral land in the Silver Peak district sold at the upset price of 20s per acre. The Bingaroema, which sails to-morrow, will take 175 Lincoln rams from the celebrated flocks of Messrs Button Bros., Southland, for the forthcoming Napier ram show. Over 400 names have been reoeived of persons willing to beoome members of the newlyprojected Gaelic society. Private letters state that Professor Blackie I will probably visit Hew Zealand after visiting ! Canada.

INVEROARGILL, January 18. The Civil sittings of the Supreme Court here today came to an abrupt termination, the croiß actions Murray, Millar and Walker v Tapper and another, in whioh Mr Jas. Smith and Mr MacDermott, solicitors, Dunedin, were engaged, having been taken out of Court for arbitration.

The rate it is intended to offer harvesters this season throughout the Southland district is 25a per week and found. Last year they were paid 30a.

[-BOH OTTB OWN COBBHSBONDBHT-] WELLINGTON, January 18. At Mr Bryce'e request he was finally relieved of the charge of Native and Dafence Departments to-day by Mr Rolleston, who took formal oharge of both. The latest rumor outside is that his tenure of these offices will be permanent; also that on a new Minister being appointed, Mr Rolleston will resign the portfolios of Landa and Mines, and that a re-allotment of portfolios will then take place, This is merely outside rumor, and is not given as on any authority at all. It has been pointed out that Mr Rolleston formerly held the Under-Secretaryahip of the Native-Depart-ment with credit, and therefore would not be altogether new to the special work. I merely give tho rsport for what it is worth. I hear that Mr J. R. FitzG—_ld, the Auditor-General, is preparing a very lengthy and exhaustive report on the ayatema of audit in tbe various Australian colonies recently visited by him during hia official tour. I understand that the different ayatema are carefully compared, so as to exhibit in strong relief their respective merits and demerits. The report ia looked for with much interest in official and financial circles.