COLONIAL NEWS.

Press, Issue XLI, 25 February 1885, Page 3

COLONIAL NEWS.

INTERPROYINCIAL ITEMS.

AUCKLAND. The increase in city valuations in 1885 is .£37,688, being a larger amount than in any previous year. The Sash and Door Company is stated to have sustained over .£IOOO damage by the destruction of dams by buah fires. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company the report was not so satisfactory as previous year. The income from premium was .£9000; paid in compensation, .£6*221; general expenses, .£3OOO. A dividend of 6d per share was declared. At the annual meeting of the Union Sash and Door Company a dividend was declared at the rate of 4s per fully paid-up share for the six months Ending December, making £5941; carried forward, 43161. The Chair*' man stated thai losses by the bush fires were only £100./ Eleven thousand pounds were written v± fat ascertained and possible deficien<lesv The timber stock reserve stands at .£31,500. At Mr Sooth's Temperance Mission meetings /the Theatre Boyal is packed nightly; mumbers have been refused admission. Qrer 2000 have taken the pledge. The Native Minister met, at Alexandra, Wahanui, *P? welcome on behalf of( hM <»be. Mrßaaiw^|hanked

him, and said he hoped to see them all at Kihi to-morrow, when he intended to explain the purpose of his visit. Mr Boehfort, Engineer for the Trunk Bailway, joins the party at Kihi. The annual accounts of the Harbour Board show a net revenue of .£41,632. At the annual meeting of the Auckland Gas Company the year's profits were Btated at JC 15,667. The Company intend extending the gas mains to Onehunga shortly. Sir Julius Togel has informed the Whangarei Bailway League that a competent '< Engineer will be sent up at an early date to report on the railway stations. He a'l) . received a deputation as to extension of Kamo railway to Puhipuhi Forest. The dead body found in the Waikato river is supposed to be that of Gyde, engineer of the steamer Bangiriri, who was drowned seven weeks ago. The Auckland Fire Brigade entertained the Auckland and Thames return team at a banquet. Superintendent Hughes, in his speech, made strong charges against the management of the Fire Brigade demonstration, and complained of want of impartiality in the decisions. Mr Samuel Taile, railway reformer, has received a letter from Mr Conyers, in which he urges that gentleman to continue his , agitation in favor of his scheme for railway ' management. He states that after mature consideration he regards the leading prin- i ciple of it as thoroughly sound and practi- 1 cable. 1 At the annual meeting of the New Zea- < land Timber Company, the net profits for 1 the year was stated at J518.587. The Direc- ] tors recommended that the whole amount 1 he carried forward, to reinstate the mill destroyed by the late fire. The Aurora has arrived from Samoa, i She brings news to the effect that the 1 Germans are exceedingly annoyed at the < action of King Malietoa re petition to the < British Government, and it is reported they are fomenting a movement to depose him in favor of Vice-King Tamese, who is £ more favorable to German interests. When 2 the Aurora left, Webber, a German mer- 1 chant, Tamese, and several chiefs, were holding a conference on the subject. No open hostility has been shown towards the < King. 1 The Auckland Presbytery have passed 1 a resolution endorsing Mr Booth's temper- 1 ance mission, also urging the strict eu- 1 forcement of the early closing- of public c houses and the prohibition ef Sunday trading. An overture was made to the General Assembly of the Church re the < employment of barmaids. 1 At the half-yearly meeting of the Bay of 1 Islands Coal Company, the repert showed 1 thanls,4S6 tons of coal had been raised t during the half-year, being an increase of I 2920 tons on the previous half-year, but the 1 hardness of the coal, and the coac of raising absorbed the total receipts and .£203 ef a balance, leaving £5 to carry forward, t A resolution was carried asking the Direc- c tors to seek the remission of the royalty. i The Native Minister agreed to defer calling for tenders for the first section of t the Northern Trunk railway for three r . weeks, to allow the Natives to arrange i matters among themselves. ] Mr De Harven has gone to Waiwera to 1 interview Sir Julius Togel. He brought t with him from Belgium three Bilver- ] mounted fowling-pieces for presentation to Tawhaio, Te Tui, and Te Wheori. Booth closed the City Temperance Mis- < sion on Feb. 9th. There was a crowded J meeting, and 3169 new pledges were taken. He leaves for the Lake country. 1 A deputation waited on the Hon. Mr i Ballance on Feb. 11th, respecting removal of j the restriction from Native lands. Mr < Ballance said the policy of the Government 1 was not to remove the restrictions. The 1 question how these lands would be disposed j of would have to be decided by comprehen- i aive legislation nest session. Intelligence by the mail from Tonga ] Btates that the long-talked-of secession 1 from the Wesleyan Church has taken place. ] It is claimed that 1000 adherents of the t Wesleyan Church, including one European minister, twelve ordained native ministers, ] 800 local preachers, 600 school teachers, 600 1 leaders, and upwards of 5000 members are among the Beceders, and have joined the 1 Free Church of Tonga. 1 Sheehan, on the charge of the Castle- 1 town-Boche murder, was further remanded "< till the 19th. The Superintendent of Police 1 informed his Worship that since the pri- f soner's last appearance in Court he had re- < ceived a duplicate copy of the original war- -1 rant for apprehension of the prisoner, and J signed September 2nd, 1884, by B. Alton, ] Magistrate and Justice of the County Cork, i Ireland, bearing the seal of the Secretary j of the Home Department. He expected an 1 officer to arrive in Wellington shortly. Jas. Thompson, a half-caste, of Kapuo, < was arrested at Te Awamutu, charged with i stealing nine oases of printing type,"of the 1 value of .£2OO, part of the plant once used 1 in printing Gorst's paper, in the old days of ' the King movement. The prisoner was re- 1 manded. * 1 HAWEBA, 1 Geo. Moss, hotelkeeper, was convicted of 1 supplying materials used in the manuf ac- 1 ture of illicit whiskey. His sentence is deferred until tho Other cases are dis- 1 posed of. The illicit distillation cases were con- i eluded on Feb. 12. Sen*ences were passed 1 as follows:—Jno. Anderson and Peter j Smith, makers of the whiskey, six months. 1 Geo. Moss, hotelkeeper, Woodville, for 1 supplying material to work the still was 1 fined .£2OO. Burke, brewer, Hawera, for 1 carrying whiskey, was fined £200. Thomas Lloyd, hotelkeeper, Hawera, having < whiskey in his possession, was fined £50. All the fines were paid. i It was announced at the Hospital Com- ] mittee meeting on Feb. 16, that the House Surgeon of the Hospital declined to accept j the recommendation of the Committee that 3 he should resign, and had applied to the ] Colonial Secretary for a commission of en- . quiry. The hon. medical visiting staff also I forwarded a letter expressive of regret at 1 the committee's decision. The Committee } intend now to await the result of the Government action on the outcome of the commission. The Kingiteß have presented Mr Ashbury, late M.P. for Brighton, with a number of curios. Mr Asbbury, on returning thanks, pointedly referred to the grievances of the Maoris and. their certainty of receiving redress from the British Parliament, telling them they had done well to send their chiefs to England, and that no doubt their case would ultimately receive full justice and consideration from the Initish Parliament, whatever Government might be in office. First, he told them he had their case in hand. He, himself, who had once been in Parliament, and might be bo again, would further their case in every possible way. Ie was his intention, he said, on his return, to give a lecture on New Zealand and the King Natives, and to tell the people of England how great was the eßteem of the King and his people for them. He proposed sending the papers containing reports of his lecture to New Zealand. TAUBANGA. A special general meeting of the shareholders in the Chemical Manure Company was held on Feb. 16. It was decided to issue the balance of 30,000 shares in the Company. Applications are coming in. NAPIEB There was considerable excitement at the Harbor Board election on Feb. 9th. A large amount of political feeling was exhibited, and the election practically resolved itself into the question of whether the supporters or opponents of Mr Ormond (who is Chairman of the Board) should be returned. The result was a victory all alongthe line for Mr Ormond's friends. Mr W. C. Smith, M.H.8., was rejected at Waipawa and at Napier. The two retiring members, Mr H. Williams and Mr J. A. Smith, were defeated, Messrs A. McTay and H. Cornford taking their places, with Mr Neal, one of the late members, at the head of the poll. HOKITIKA. A large number of -citizens from all parts of Wesuand met at the County Council Chambers to present Mr B. C. Beid with a gold watch and chain previous to his departure on a visit to England. Mr Bevan, M.H.8., occupied the chair, and in a eulogistic speech referred to the general regret expressed at the less the district was sustaining. The Mayor, County Chairman, County Treasurer, and others spoke in high terms of the departing guest, wishing him and Mrs Beid all happiness and prosperity. BEEFTON. Mr Levestam, M.H.8., and Mr Field have visited every part of the district in reference to the East and West Coast railway, and have already obtained guarantees exceeding JE2QO. WELLINGTON. The total amount of compensation aid costs in the Plimmer-Beeves case against the Corporation ia .£4335 8a 7d. The amount will have to be paid within sixty days from December 24th. A deputation waited on the Hon. Minister of Justice and the Cojionral Secretary onFeb. 2, for the purpose of urging the appointment of Mr H. S. Wardeß to the Beaidenk Magistracy of Wellington Several of the gentlemen manner in which -Mr Wardell had tsransactedbusiness during absence on leave of Mr Hardcastle. with the views of the said the matter had not yet Cabinet, but when it wou-d strongly r urge the appointment of Mr WardelL

The following are the immigration and emigration returns for January:—Arrivals —Auckland, 420; Wellington, 778 5 Napier, 2 j Lyttelton, 115; Dunedin, 328;' Invercargill, 473; total, 2114. DeparturesAuckland, 204; Wellington, 192; Napier, 1; tfroymouth, 5; Lyttelton, 115; Dunedin, 3; Invereargill, 385; total, 905. Of the arrivals 969 were from the United Kingdom, 933 from the Australian Colonies, and 112 from other parts. Of the departures 165 were for the United Kingdom, 712 for Australia, and 28 from other places. Chinese—No arrivals, 1 left for New South Wales. It is intended that the Governor shall turn the first sod of the North Island mam trunk Kne at this end.Tawhiao performing a similar operation at the Te Awamutu end. No date can of course bo decided u P°n until a tender be accepted. The Meat Freezing Company are preparing 15,000 carcases of mutton for shipment to London by th-j Aoran:i and lonic on Feb. 15th. The "Post" of Feb. 12th p-.ys-"ltis rumoured in well-informed circles that- Sir Geo. Dcs Tceux, the Govorn«r of Fiji, who is at present visiting New ZeaUml. will in all probability succeed Sir Win. Drutnmond Jervois as Governor of this colony, when the latter'B period of s=rrieo expires." Government have received official intimation of the approaching visit of a deputation of chiefs from the Samoan Parliament in regard to the proposed annexation of Samoa. They will be received here by his Excellency the Governor, and the Premier and Colonial Treasurer will also be in Wellington to meet th-m. NELSON. P.P.G.M. Kearns, tho oldest Oddfellow in New ZealandAdied at Stoke on Feb. 2nd, aged sixty-eight. vHe had been an Oddfellow over fifty years, and assisted to start the Order in Nelson forty-three years ago. GBEYMOUTH. The Greymouth Harbor Board have, accepted the tender of Hungerford and McKay for extending the south training wall. The amount is X 17,938. WE&TPORT. The difference between the Westport Coal Company and theircolliers has beensettled upon a mutually satisfactory basis, and they returned to work on Feb. 3rd. The agree-: mentis that the men shall get relatively the same pay as that paid at Greymouth, such rate to be settled, by arbitration* • TIMABU. A man, whose name is unknown, was drowned while attempting to Bwim the Tekapo River near its outlet from Lake Tekapo on Sunday afternoon. "From intelligence to hand it would appear he attempted it out of bravado, for there is a bridge just above. Toe body has not been recovered. OAMABU. At a meeting of the Harbor Board, the expenditure of the Board in wages and salaries was reduced between £sio and .£6OO. A fierce whirlwind waa expnrienced on the Papakaio plain on Wednesday. Feb. 3, The wind lifted the roof off a blacksmith's shop, overturned two threshing mills, leaving one with its wheels in the air, knocked down trees, and levelled everything that stood in its way. The area it passed over was fortunately not large. DUNEDIN. The "Evening Herald" has been purchased by Meßsra Bracken, Bathgate and Melland, who tcok possession on Feb. 2. A deputation of country sheepfarmers waited on Chief Inspector Bayley here on Jan. 31, to request him to continue the importation of stoats and weasels as tho only sure means of coping with the rabbit pest. Mr Bayley promised to make known the representations of the deputation, who intend getting up a petition to Government on the subject.' Work has again been commenced at the Milton Pottery Works, under the management of Mr Guy Neville, nephew of Bishop Neville. There are five men and about the same number of boys now employed' The "Otago Daily Times" cays Mr Larnach is to be called to the Upper House before the session. Mr M. J. S. Mackenzie, M.H.B. for Maniototo, addressed his constituents at Naseby on Feb. 3rd. |He defended the alliance between Mr Stout and Sir Julius Togel. He characterised the cry for enlarged local government as spurious, arising largely from ignorance of the work done by County Councils, the membi rs of which were doing better work for New Zealand than the men who babbled in Parliament about the constitution of counties. He said constitution mongers were a curse to a country. A vote of confidence was passed. The inquiry into the cases of alleged dummyism at Waitahuna Weßfc was resumed on Feb. 4th. The most important -feature of the proceedings was the examination ef Mr James Smith, of Greenfield, who emphatically denied having any bong* ficial interest in the sections in respect of which dummyism is alleged. The inquiry was again adjourned for a week in order that efforts might be made to find three witnesses who were absent. The total coat of the new High School building is about .£IB,OOO. — " Dr. Maunsell, ex-Health Officer, has cent in a report to the City Council, .stating that the Silverstream reservoir is unquestion*"* ably polluted by the nearness of the slaughter yards, piggeries, 4c, from which seagulls convey offal to the reservoir. He/ say a, with a few weeks of warm weather/ an epidemic would be almost certain. ' Magnificent summer weather is being experienced. The Hon. Mr Stuart, Premier of New South Wales, who arrived at the Bluff on Friday, has gone on a visit to the Lakes. Another conference of delegates with re-' gard to the frozen meat trade is to ba held in Christchurch early in March. A report, prepared by Mr John Boberts (of Murray, Roberts and Co.), for the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, after inquiry and inspection in England, will be laid before the meeting. In consequence of the" recent report about the Silverstream Beservoir, the City Council have provided their own reservoir keeper with a boat and a gun, bo that he may prevent birds settling on the water. The Council are considering the adyisa--1 bility of erecting publi; abbatoirs. His Excellency the Governor opened" new Boys' High School on Feb. 11. There was an imposing ceremony. Amongst tho speakers were the Bey. Dr. Stuart;, Mr Macandrew, M.H.E., and Dr. Mac Donald, the Sector. In acknowledging the voto of thanks, his Excellency referred in feeling terms to the death of General Gordon. Gordon had been a personal iiiend of his. A more pure, generous, noble-minded man than Gordon never lived. He was a pattern to the rising generation. His Excellency fieft for Christchurch next morning. The Standard Insurance report for the year shows an amount available for .distribution of 411,621 10s 9d. From this £2812 10s had been paid as dividends in June, and the balance is recommended to be appropriated to the payment ef a dividend at the rate of 7i per cent, .£2312105; -£599(5 10s 9d is to be carried forward. The "Herald" states on the best authority, that Mr Macandrew has no intention whatever of proceeding Home on the Skye crofter mission. —~ The Harbor Board farther considered the dock question. The Finance Committee recommended its postponement, as there was no prospect of funds, the Port Chalmers members urged that the Board should go on with it or give up their trust into the hands of the Government. Eventually the Finance Committee was instructed to report what revenue could bo anticipated to meet the interest on the cost. ;..,' ..-v , . Mr Gerald Massey and Mrs Lina a lady American, conducted a public spiri* tnalistic seance in the Lyceum on Feb. 12, but the manifestations irer» act considered successful. s^_Ser*"" The Union {Company's new boat, tWrTekapo, formerly the Cape Clear, arrived Feb. 17, after a passage of sixty-one days. . She brought thirty-one passengers. One passenger named Kilpatrickdied on the voyage of consumption. / A recent "Star" says—"We anderstaite that a Dunedin gentleman, who has seen some service during the American war, today sent a telegram to his Excellency . Governor offering the services of fifty j for the Soudan, without bounty, guaranteed that they would be reac depart in three weeks, and that with! time their number would be doubled.' IriTERCABGILL. The Bluff Harbor Board consider? applications for a reorganised staff fc pilot and tug service. Captain Edie,t 8.8. Waihora, was appomtedHarpor-m and master of the tug, out of eign applications. The present Harbor-ma. was an applicant. The question of man him second pilot and mate was moowoJ* it was ruled that a* he ia<J ?9? B ** o * that position his claims' could not *f*'4u*\ sidered, and the present second pilot, fur McDonald, was appointed. tuMmA «- The licensing election m the second OW"; trict of InvercargiU resulted in the retort of the publicamr candidates. Efforts weremade by- the temperance party to return men favorable to the return to ten o'clock licensing. . . M » Insurance premiums in Invercanwu from Ist January to 20th November 188 a, were £J2jm. The losses were J839.51&. gontinmi on page &{