NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5703, 29 December 1883, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[FEB FB—SB ASSOCIATION. 1

AUCKLAND, December 28

Mr Bryce returns to Auokland from Waikato to-morrow, having completed arrangements for the survey of the boundary of the King Country lands, [and has also arranged for a survey .of the road from Alexandra to Kawhai. Mr Mitchelson remains in the Nortli three weeks, and then goes to Wellington. The Pomeroy season opened to the most crowded house ever assembled at the Opera House. Hundreds were unable to gain admittance, and had their tickets endorsed for the foUowing night. Captain Robinson of the schooner Three Cheers, which arrived from the South *•„ Islands on Thursday, reports the murder of a Chinaman at Birtaritari Island, where Captain Moller was shot. A white trader is accused of the crime. The murdered man who is known by the name, of Sam, his Chinese name being Drum, was a partner in a large China firm trading from Sydney to. these islands, and is said to be a naturalised British subject. He was found dead in his house with a long knife through his body from the right shoulder out through the left ribs.

The Pirate was insured as under:—The hull, -1000 in the Union, of which £700 was re-insured in the South British; cargo, in the Union for £700, New Zealand £150. Universal —5.15. The freight was insured for £100 in the Universal.

Eight gum-diggers, who were induced by the representation of an ex-Auckland merchant named Oppenheimer to go to New Caledonia, write describing their' experience. _ They- declare? the whole thing to be anaxrocious Bell; there is no payable gum onfthe island, and they are now suing Oppenheimer in the Local Courts for compensation. It is a fine day for the interprovincial cricket match, which commences at noon. The annual meeting of the Prince Imperial Gold Mining Company, Thatn.'s, was held to-day. The report showed that the dividends amounted to 3ua per share paid during the year, representing -35.000, and £483 i remained in hand. The value

4 t '«' cold obtained in the year was ■<»*»,_:. .. '■■•-.■•_, _ . . One nundred nominations for immigrants were received this month by the Auckland Immigration Officer. At the Crown lands sale to-day the receipts were £1500. At the inquest on the body of Francis McMahon, a verdict of " Died from rupture of the aort*" was returned.

Captain Robinson, of the schooner Three Cheers, from the South Sea islands, reports the murder of a Chinaman at Butartare Island, where Captain Miller was shot. A white trader _i accused of the crime. The murdered man, who was named Le Rum, was a partner in a large China firm trading from Sydney to these islands, and is said to be a naturalised British subject. He waa found with a long knife through his body from the right shoulder out through the left ribs. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson intends to remain in the North for about three weeks; after which he will retu n to Wellington. During his stay Mr Mitchelson wid visit Waikato for the purpose of looking into the public works in progress there,, and examining into railway management. GISBORNE, Oecember 28. A young single man named Edward B radish was killed at the South Pac fiu Oil Springs to-day. His hand caught in a rope, which coiled round his arm, the next coil went round his neck, and his death was instantaneous; WELLINGTON* December 28. A telegram from Nelson states that the steamer Charles Edward struck on Alligator reef on her passage from Wellington to Nelson. The forecastle got full of water, but the watertight compartment prevented the vessel from sinking. She proceeded on, and arrived at Nelson this morning. _ Arrangements have been made for —is Excellency the Governor and Major Cantley :to inspect this harbor and its entrance, with a view to designing a complete plan of ___£__IC—t* The Tui has been securedfor a trinround the bay and outside the- Heads. The expedition was to have taken place this afternoon, but the unfavorable weather rendered it impracticable. The inspection wilt,be made on the first suitable day. It is understood that his Excellency the Governor will probably leave Weliiagton on the 2nd January by the Hinemoa for Dunedin, and will remain in that city tor about ton days. He will most likely, go- on thence to Invercarg—L and,, after making a tour.of the inland country of Otago and Southland, will leave the Bluff- in the Hinemoa and visit the West Coast Sounds, proceeding homeward to Wellington by way of Hokitika. His Excellency's alsence from Wellington is expected to extend over several weeks.

A *' Gazette'" notice con—_tis information that the services of T. L. Shepherd as Clerk of the Court at Ahanra have been dispensed with. The weather yesterday and to-day is boisterous. Steady rain has set in, with every appearance of continuing. The Hon. Mr Rolleaton returns to New Plymouth from Kawhia on Monday, and comes onto Wellington about the end of the week. Seven cases, are on the calendar for the next sittings of the Supreme Court. Only one case is of a serious uature, that of Jas. Anderson for attempted murder. BLENHEIM. December 28.

There has been a heavy downpour of rain since seven o'clock last evening. The rivers are rising very rapidly, and it is feared a serious flood will be caused. Thousands of pounds of damage have been dene to the crops, which have for the moat part been excellent.

NELSON. December 28. The Charles Edward arrived from Wellington at ten o'clock this momißg, and reports that during a thick north-easter aha struck a reef off Alligator Head, and immediately rebounded, and came on to Nelson. The water entered her f ore——tl c, but her bulkheads prevented any further damage. An examination shows the damage received is confined to her forefoot, which w_l be repaired in a few days. The official enquiry into the atrik—g of the Charles Edward will be held on Satur-

-_.V 1 -™-* _& •oncussion was verr SS?w i,-_ 4 -. <he ■«*•__*«» higher __ would have run over the reef, and too__rS_yß?**" <&e . CtUallT ** , «**s The weather whioh has been varr tempestuous be _e_«tttf _. DUNEDIN, Decembarv2_2_£s t * male ij ti»e ' ha « *« ™> «** It i» Probable that the St. Aioysins Colqf "♦_ L p .°° nti, J« Father Principal, left to-day for Au£

It has been decided to establish a butter Ibtrict 686 factorj,afc Stifling in the Clutna

The Roman .Catholics of Dunedin Diocese are signing a petition to ParUtt? ment praying that justice and equity mabe done them in the matter of education, either by placing their schools on a footing of equahty with public schools orb? exempting them from taxation for pubui school purposes. *?««—i x. TJ 10 ~ d of Temperance held a conference in Dunedin last night, at which delegates were present fromChratchurch, Kaiapoi, and Kangiora. The funds were shown to be in a satisfactory state, the receipts for the past five years having amounted to-1248. and the oxpendituretS £735. Bro. Caygill was re-elected G.W.P

{mom oub corbbspondbnt.T -r- -. WELLINGTON, December 28. His Excellency the Governor intends leaving. Wellington next week for the South. His absence from the capital will ?£?,,. ext — d over several weeks. Sir William's presentplan is to start in the Hmemoa on next Wednesday (the day after the New Year), and to go on at once to Dunedin, where a stay or about ten days will be made. An excursion is also pre* jeefced into the interior of Otago in various directions. The Governor then goes to Invercargill, and will most likely visit the interior of Southland and possibly the Lake Country. Afterwards the Hinemoa will pick him up at the Bluff to take him to the West Coast Sounds, finally bringing him back to Wellington, via Hokitika. Much of this programme however depends on the weather being propitious, of which at present there is little sign. It is probable his departure may be delayed, as his Excellency intends before leaving to make a> flying :survey of Wellington harbor fot defence purposes, with Major Cantley (who is now staying with him), and then drawing up a general scheme of defence, which Major Cantley will elaborate in detail wh— bis Excellency is absent on his tour. A steamer has be*n chartered fortheaurvev tnp, and tins was to have taken place today, but has had to be owing: fe unfavorable weather. I believe Sir W.„ Jervois and Major Cantley will subsequently visit Auckland, Lyttelton, ant Dunedin, together, preparatory to devia-Ut a scheme of defences.