COLONIAL NEWS.

Press, Volume XLII, Issue 6304, 2 December 1885, Page 6

COLONIAL NEWS.

ITEMS.

AUCKLAND. - A meeting of-shipowners and others in: I terested in shipping bn-jinesß was held at the office of the Northern Steamship' Company. Mr ,G.,W.~,Owen presided. After ' some discussion it was resolved—" That shipowners and, others, interested in the shipping of Auckland communicate with the owners of shipping in all ports in New Zealand and, Australia to unite to resist what ia regarded as an undue demand of labor, even to the extent of laying up their vessels." Some discussion then took place as to trading of foreign I vessels on the; New Zealand coast, which was proving most damaging to the shipping interests owing to the low rateßof freights, foreign owned vessels accepted, and also as.to the stand being made by various Unions. J It was felt the attitude of the Union was' oppressive to snippers, and it would be better if owners were not to recognise Unions. It was ultimately resolved—"l hat a Committee of four be appelated, for the purpose of obtaining their assistance in pulling down the present obnoxious pressure placed upon the shipping interest by the Seamen's and Firemen's Union, and fixing the rate of wages. Steamers to be laid up, if necessary, unt-1 such time as satisfactory arrangements can be made to carry on their ; business." A committee of four was appointed to give effect to the above resolu- j tions. • ■-■-''** ]

.- Wahanui had a long conversation with MrßJlance at Alexandra., Wahanui expressed himßelf as being anything but unfavorable to believing -that the time was fast coming when titles should be adjudicated upon by the Land Court. Hopa had an interview with the Native Minister, and he too is as favorably, disposed towards the Land Court. As the prinicipal chief interested in. the Bangitoto country, he also ia willing to permit permanent gold prospecting. A Hfturaki - chief, owner of ithe Tuab.ua district, in a private interview which he too had, expressed his willingness to permit prospecting in the'Tuahua die-' trier., providing applicants for prospecting certificates were approved by him. He was, however, opposed to indiscriminate prospecting-, lest persons of bad character should come trespassing on the lands, and interfering with tbe : people, their settlements, and their Cattle.

; The new volcanic island reported by the -captain of the Myrtle in the Tonira group .was not active*; but is identical with a submarine volcano lately observed. * The Kingites are blackmailing railway contractors at Kibikihi, charging 7s 6d before permitting a waggon to cross the Punui river.

: The second annual meeting of the sharebolders of the New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company was held on Nov. 11. Arthur Bull, Chairman of Directors, presided. The balance stood at £5372. No dividends. Sir F.- Whitaker and Mr A. Bull were re-elected Directors.

t The Hon.'Mr Ballance, Native Minister, has received details respecting the outrage at Botorua. He regards it as merely a row, which has apparently hot been very judiciously dealt with, but feels confident nothing serious will ensue. : The Northern Steamship Company has declined to recognise the claim for evertime made by a seaman belonging to the Federated Union. The latter has decided to test tiie question in a Court. A labor agent brought under the Hon. Mr Bali Mice's notice a scheme for importing 2000 female domestic servants. The Minister said that the question was a large one. and would' receive due consideration. 1

Sir Wm. Fox lectured on Nov. 16 at the thd auspices" (A th« Goepel Teinperapoe_ JSXlsaxoxa. on tilie "grognesg of -tUxa Xemperaxuse 3klo-caineiit in <S:rr«avfc Sn*taizt. susd . -&2ko Contment,** Hlll HI I 111!

Spxxrareon Tn xnbviiis a vote or thanks, a hope was expressed that Sir Wm. Fox would re-enter Parliament as National leader of the temperance party. He stated nothing would induce him to do so for ordinary political work, but if he caw a reasonable prospect,of getting through a Local Option or Prohibition law, he ■would he -willing to consider tho matter. The result of tbe smelting of fifty tons of ore from the Crown mine, Kafangahape, by-the liamonte process, is gold and silver •worth about J&4QO, less cost of smeltiegThe net return is 45221, which is considered disappointing. A further test ia to be made.

The twenty-second anniversary of the battle of Bansiriri was celebrated at Hamilton by a dinner at which sat down a number who were -with the Imperial and colonial troops. The affair passed off with eclat.

A find of coal was discovered near Bawak&wa rjver, totally dissimilar to the Bay coal. It is stated to indicate ateeamof oil or eas shale " WELLINGTON. Dr. Alexander, ef Dunedin. who has just returned from a second visit to Fiji, has sent to the Colonial Treasurer a further report on diseases which have assumed an epidemic form in several groups- Befernng to the result of his investigations as to symptoms and effects of the "cerebellum spinal meningitis." He states that the mortality is quite 80 per cent, and some places perhaps 90. The disease is a peculiar one, and most deadly, very few surviving an attack. In accordance with a promise made last session, Government are arranging for the establishment of an Agricultural Department, and the organisation of this branch has been placed in the hands of Mr Walter Beeves, formerly a farmer in the Hawke's Bay and South Canterbury districts- Mr Beeves, who is said to be quite an expert in i agricultural work, has submitted to the Government a valuable report on the agricultural products shown at the late Exhibition. . . Professor Eirk has submitted a report to tbe Government on forests in the North. It is stated that the Government intend to have the Maori census taken next year. It has been arranged that the vacancy caused by Colonel Header's death is to be filled by Sir George Whitmore's appointment as Acting Under-Secretary of Defence and Commissioner of Constabulary, without pay, and Major Gudgeon has been appointed as Acting Assistant UnderSecretary, with an allowance of £100 a year in addition to his pay. , It is rumored that a valuable discovery of a rich and well defined gold-bearing 'quartz reefs has been made in the vicinity of Wellington, somewhere between here and Wairarapa district. The Minister of Mines has received information, but will not disclose particulars until a report has been made. The Minister of Mines has received a telegram from the Thames from W. rraser, Mayor, and J. Brodie, Chairman of the County Council, to tiie effect that the mining lectures by Professor Black have been received with great enthusiasm, and were very successful. Professor Slack wires to the same effect, and states that he is holding classes all d*y long, and that Mb pupils are a very intelligent class. In some insstances they went ahead of him in : knowledge of assorting and testing. He looks on the Thames as a Btrong place in which to establish mining schools. The following - tenders have been re- - ceived for the Hurusui-Pahau section of I the Culverden permanent w*y contract:— Accepted — Stocks and Wallace, Christ- ; church, £3976. Declined—Coates, Palmerston South. J84057; Andrew YVanston, ' CnristchUTeh, wB4OSB. In connection with the New Zealand

Bifle Association, it is understood that tho Government will pay the liabilities of the old Association, and will deal liberally with. the new Association if placed under new management, as was proposed at the annual meeting in Wellington. * Mr G. S. Cooper, Under-Secretary for the Colony, who baa returned from a visit to the Marlborough and Nelsoa districts in connection with tbe administration of the Sheep and Babbits Acts, reports that within a year he expects that clean certificates will be granted so far as sheep are concerned. Wita regard to rabbit extermination, strong efforts are made by the settler?, and he considers the back of the nuisance has been broken. OAMABU. A conference of members of the Education Board and members of the School

Committees was held on Nov. 6, to take into consideration the question of secondary education in Oamaru. The question is this:—The Waitaki High School ia situated three or four miles outside the town of Oamaru, and at the present time no provision is made for the education of girls at it. This fact, and the distance of the i school- from the town, has created a good deal of discontent, whioh found expression to-day in a resolution being carried to the effect that the school should be transferred to or near the town. The school is a large and handsome structure.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court Nov. 12th, the Bey. Seth Smith was committed for trial at the Supreme Court for criminal libel, the libel being contained in a document of alleged immorality on the part of the sons of Mr C. G. Moore, late President of the Blue Eibbon, whom Seth Smith and other members of the Committee forced from office. The prosecution was brought at the instance'of one of Mr Moore's sons.

A meeting of shareholders in the National Insurance Company was held Nov. 16, at which it was resolved—"(l) That this meeting sympathises with the meeting of shareholders held in Dunedin on Friday last, and trusts that the Directors will see their way to accede ti the wishes of the shareholders expressed at the meeting by declaring a dividend. (2) That in tbe absence of explanation, this, meeting views with alarm the great increase of working ex•sjeaees, while the income remains almost stationary." DUNEDIN. The Union Steamship Company have received a cablegram from San Francisco, announcing that.the Oceanic Steamship Company's fine new steamer Alameda will leave San Francisco on the 21st November, carrying the first mail under the new contract. She will come right through to Auckland and Sydney, calling at Honolulu en route. ~ ,-,

The Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company's annual report states that the net result does not snow as large a profit as last year. After making allowance for depreciation of plant and for dividend paid for the halfyear, the profit and loss account shows ah available balance of .£5890. It. is proposed to pay a dividend of 10 per cent, for the half-year, and add £2000 to the reserve and £1000 to the suspense account, and carry forward the r. St. At a private meeting of shareholders of the National Insurance Company it was resolved to ask the Directors to declare a dividend out of the reserve fund equal to the previous half year, and a deputation i was appointed to wait on the Directors before the general meeting. Mr Buckland addressed a fully-attended .meeting of his constituents in the Public Hall, Waikouaiti on Nov. 13th. He '.adversely Criticised the Government throughout, expressing regret he .had not seen them turned out before the close of the session. On the question of protection v. freetrade, he declared himself a freetrader, believing protection would be bad for the cities and still worse for the country; that it would not benefit any class, and least of all, likely to be of service to laboring men. His remarks on freetrade were most favorably received, and a vote of thanks and confidence was carried without dissent. At the Wesleyan district meeting a resolution was passed sympathising with the efforts now being made for tiie promotion of social purity, and recommending the Conference to urge upon theLegislature the raising of the age of protection to females, and making laws relating to social immorality more equal in relation to the sexes.. Dr Boseby, Congregational Minister for the past fourteen years in Dunedin, was a passenger for Melbourne recently, having accepted a call to Ballarat.

At a meeting of united District Boards.,

a motion was carried asking the Government to supply .free passes to members attending the meeting. A reply has been received that the Government could not assist. The Premier stated it was hoped the Board would only require to meet once or twice a year to allocate funds. At the annual meeting of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory, John Roberts, Chairmm of Directors, presided. A report, recommending a dividend, was adopted. The Chairman expressed the opinion that the price of wool would go up. Bishop Neville has offered to give .£2OOO towards paying off the debt on All Saints' Church provided the Church be devoted to Cathedral purposes. Mrs Gordon, wife of a Postmaster at North Taieri, by stepping off the wrong side of a train at Mosgiel fell, and the train passed over both bands, which will necessitate the amputation of at least one arm.

The exports of wool from Port Chalmers and Oamaru for the twelve months ending October, eh Aw that fllflfil biles' Were fot-

■wrmr--ae<i. -fco - London, **-*■» 0^ iiiii'fiiif fiii iMsSiifl mated at 6,957 000. At a meeting of the National Insurance Company, Mr J. M. Ritchie presided. .An amendment to the adoption of the balance* sheet waa proposed by Mr Walter to declare a dividend. The amendment was carried on a show of hands, but lost by a I large majority on a poll, a number of share- [ holders -walking- out of the room. Messrs Cilesdinisg, Hallenatcin, Kempthorne, and Edmund Smith were elected Directors. INVKECAKGILL. A correspondent of tbe "Southland •Times," an experienced digger, writes from thai Msrivale diggings that gold is generally distributed. There is gold, not waterworn as previously stated. A. quartz leader four inches wide has been struck at 25ft It is no place for any but experienced diggers, with time and capital to do three months' prospecting.

Every (effort ia being made to establish afTwaggon competition with the BluffInvercargillßailway on a permanent footing. The merchants have asked the Harbor Board to provide shed accommodation, and last night the Bluff Council accepted the tender of £450 for metalling one of the worst parts of the road. Tha Invercargill merchants have collected over £100 for repairing other portions, and the County Council are to be asked to subsidise the same. The proposal of the Manager of Railways is considered by the merchants unsatisfactory, and they are determined to maintain the waggons, by which the goods can be carried at less than half the recent reductions on the measurement of goods made by the Manager when here. Additional waggons have been engaged.