NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5082, 21 December 1881, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PES PBEBB AfISOOIATIOir.] AUCKLAND, December 20. John Maointyre, settler, of Coromandel, on returning from Takatoa hill, fell down a precipice, smashed his skull, and died. Captain _ Elliott's new fourteen-roomed house, whioh was unoccupied, was burnt down last night. Mr James Pooiey, the builder, had a builder's risk on it in the Colo-n-'al for £1000, half of which was reinsured. Elliot'a previous new residence was burnt down a few years ago under similar circumstances.! There are twelve cases on the criminal calendar. Carter and Hood, the Sydney oarsmen, proceeded to Mercury Bay to-day., WELLINGTON, December 20. The Government have decided to give facilities for holding a Native Lands Court at Mokau, the Natives in. that district and Kawhia being anxious to pats their lands through the Court. Information has been received from Beef ton that the Golden Fleece have struck a reef 4ft i thick showing gold. I Heavy rain fell yesterday and this morning, and caused a flood in the Hutt river. Several gardens on the river bank are under water to a depth of several inches. The Government have received & telegram frem Farihaka that the Natives had a feast there on the 16tb, but there was no speaking. It is understood that no formal Native meetings have been held anywhere up the coast. It is also stated that Mr Bryce has met most of the Wanganui Natives who were sent from Parihaka to their own homes, and that they appeared very cheerful. Two Wanganui chiefs, who had been known to be the most surly amongst the Natives at Parihaka, appear to have got oyer, their pouri, OAM ABU, December 20. ' The first case under the Gaming and Lotteries Act was heard to-day, when Thomas Wilson was charged in tho Besident Magistrate's Court with promoting * half-crown sweepstakes on the race-course, i He was lined 5s without costs. j Mathew Maoready for attempting commit j suicide by breaking a vein in his arm was'

in,. n^^^rs** .-*_,. _, «,U^gj-j The "Star" states that n.. r? ~ OTieketers have definitely decided nnf , ''j* at lovercargill. «owa.ea not to pk T The Eaitangata and Shag Point rwi n pames have had tenders accepted S-S? ° OJ ?* of coal to the railway, in Dunodio theK Wl At a meeting convened by Mr P.v»« attended. Messrs Fish (DuneaiM siSn 8, * (Waikonaiti) would not sign the rSi <^" B arrived at, the other, were^S resolutions were as follows --"Tw •' ? ba of the magnitude of the interests uSohriTJ is, in the opinion of this meetia. vii* desirable that all action in relKto <& lj with the pastoral leases whioh tltw« in March, 1883 should be the newly elected Parliament _a 4 had S opportunity of considering the be»t . disposing of the lands affVteoV' «_£? prevent any injury accruing to the prlS lessees by reason of such suspension 2 should be offered a renewal of their W** ft? a farther period of one year on theffij terms, subject to the condition that »». _3 required for sale or settlement on dcS payment, agricultural lease or deferred «» ment pastoral blocks, may be taken f M ££ purposes after March, 1883, without oonZ. sation."' r®' _ INVEROARGILL, DacembsrM The half-yearly sitting of thr SumL Court opened this morning. Judge WflW charge to the Grand Jury was brief, and <»s tamed nothing of general interest beyond a reference to the small amount of crime in _* district, as evidenced by the lightness of tha calendar. For stealing Masonio U m \yl from the Club Hotel, Thomas six months' hard labor; for thifc of £5 Wm! Lloyd, aged 15, two months; John Gofe'De for steahng a trunk and a large qaantitv 0 f jewellery belonging to Mr Batoheldw (of Bent and Batchelder), six monthe • J ]» Holmes, for embezzlement of publio 'moDm three years. The Court then adjourned. * [fbom oub cobbbbpondent 1 ASHBURTON, December £0 There is every probability of the usxt meeting of the New Zealand Grand Nations! being held at Ashburton. A heavy shower of rain fell last night in Ashburton and its vicinity. The prospect* of fair yields from the orops are considerably brightened, but much moro wet is still needed WELLINGTON, DocembofrSQ. In referenoe to the rules for proeeedisf &0., relative to election petitions, whioh it •was mentioned yesterday tho Supreme Ooart Judges or the Chief Justice and two other Justioes are required by section 14 of the Elections Petitions Act, 18&0, to draw up I understand that it is now hold by jjj 9 authorities that it will not be necessary that Judges should meet personally in Wellington so long as they can agree on the code of :uks drawn up by one or two of their numW,_.(l submitted to the rest of the Benoh.