NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6369, 17 February 1886, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

Ira nuns association. . _ . „ THAMEB, February Iβ. The following will be the representatives of the local Volunteer corps at the forthcoming meeting ol the New Zealand Bifle Association:—l names Bifl* Banger*. Captain Lucas (present champion of the cotony), Corporate A. Thomas, Thoma* Cluno. Inglis, Volunteers Hawk and Downie. Thames Kaval Artillery, P.O. Johns,,, Gunners Brownlow, Hennessy, Weir, Thorbura, Flojd and Gill. AUCKLAND, February 16 The Police Court has been occupied two to heating » caw against Mary Ann Smith and Kobert Kenny, an expressman and boardingaouee-keeper, for robbing Fred- Sm&llwood, a settler at Hokianga, of £65. The case is peculiar, as the mate prisoner endeavored first to marry his niece - to Smallwood and then the female prisoner, it is alleged, committed the robbery on the morning the nuptials were to be performed. A cottage in Napier street was burned down this morning. It was owned «H occupied by W.H. Fort. The house and wtMiantred for 4Sofrin tlw

Colonial Office* pa Wioss is £150 above| the insurance. .-» *• '■■ In the Synod on Monday a Standing. Commission was nppointed, consist of the Bishop of Auckland, Sir F. Mr Besketh, Col. Haultain, and Judge Seth Smith. A petition :for "tog" e ££? cation in schools was •*°P 6e *»*?*^ T K: payment by results. The right of the Sfchop to reduce the age of the paeans m epecial cases was recognised. •* he Synod! declared itself unable to au 'boweft*.-, transfer of All 6aiate, Dunedin. A Com-j mission was appointed toradearor to uiflnence opinion da .education. .The tenth Synod was fiukhed coon after midnight. The adjourned annual meeting of tne Union Sash andDoor Company was a very animated oneindeed. A-spedal Committee, of shareholderaL in their repart, found that an excessive valuation of certain properties had been made. In the discussion toe Directors were severely several shareholders. FinaUy a specfel report, the Directors' report and - bale sS: sheet were adopted. The meeting then adjourneifora month,.when oe™*"* *"S: poiala of the Investigating Committee will be considered. » The Cricket Association considered a letter from the Melbourne Cricket Club re avieifcof the English eleven next **&*%> and decided to play them a two or three dajß , match, the visiting team taking the gross receipts, leae expenses, £100, for the ground J^loe^wag.gg-g^ A shepherd named Parier fellixto the boiling spring at Tokana on Saturday night, and'was scalded up to toe neck. Every means were taken to reUevette pain of the sufferer, bat he died in four hours, so great were the injuries received. Farier had to walk some distance before he received assistance, the flesh being nearly all boiled off his feet, he having been a considerable time in the boiling geyser before he-^ed^ramWeout^^ Patrick O'SuUivan, landlord of the Springelands Hotel.has been committed for trial on a charge of stabbing in a quarrel John O'Sullwan, landlord of the South Star Hotel. Bail was allowed, accrued in £200 and two sureties in £100 each. WELLINGTON, February 16. For the pact few weeks the death rate among infante has been large, and from enquiries made medical gentlemen all agree that the sicknessisaumnier diarrhoea, and that the drainage of the city was the prime cause of the spread of the disorder. A system of carrying on sweeps on horse racing has been devised by a resident here, but winners in the sweeps on the recent Wellington races have had some difficulty in getting even a portion of their winnings, and when, demands were made to the promoter he threatened to pocket the whole of the money. Tie report and balance sheet of the Wellington Meat Preserving and Refrigerating Company for the year do not chow encouraging prospects. The balance-sheet shows a loss of £8921 on the year's workin?, and in the report the Directors attribute this unfavorable state of things chiefly to the low prices ruling for tallow and wool, and the excessive competition in the retail butchering business. It is understood that the Property Tax Department has issued notice* to various Friendly Societies for the purpose of taxing their property, the bulk of which ia invested for sick and charitable purposes. The Act exempt! the property of local bodies and any Society registered" under the Building Society Act, 1888, and all property of, or vested in, any body for public charitable or pnblic educational purposes; but it does not specify Benefit; Societies in the list of exemptions, and therefore the property of these Societies is to be taxed. The Friendly Societies are very indignant at receiving notice that their properties are to be assessed for taxation purposes, because the tax falls upon funds obtained specially for the purpose of relieving: distress and destitution. It is 1 probable that some united action will be taken in the matter. : The Executive Council of the New Zealand Exhibition intend holding a meeting to consider the c jmplaints which have been received in connection with the damaged condition of returned exhibits. I A case relating to copyright will occupy the attention of the Bejddent Magistrate's Court shortly. The purchasers of the right to sell correct cards at the leland Bay races are churning £50 damages from one Kiohard Shannon, whom they allege cut the ground from under their feet, by | publishing a similar programme at a price considerably lower than they were able to sell theirs. . i At Mr Glover's temperance lecture tonight it waa announced that if the temper ance candidates were returned for the licensing elections, two or three public houses would be closed in each ward. ■ To-morrow being the last day for sending, in the property-tax returns, persons neglecting to do so render themselves liable to a penalty not exceeding £100, and pay four times the rate taxed. PALMEBSTON JNOETH, February Iβ. ; Mr McArthur addressed his constituents last night, atd received a unanimous vote of co dence. tiMJIEU> Februar - ie . Cardinal Moran and suite arrived here to-day, and was met at the railway station by about 500 people. He leaves for Christ* church to-morrow. _ DUNEDIN. February Iβ. Mr Gore addressed the electors of Dunedin South last night. He give* Ml unqualified support to the Ministry; , Hβ declared for modified protection, and received a unanimous vote of confidence. John Heenan, a farmer at MaugwM, was-committed for trial on a charge of sheep stealing from a neighboring farmer. : A heavy shower of rain fell this afternoon, and more is threatening. % . . The Eegistrar heard counsel in support lof petition by G. W. Elliot, to have I Colman Burke declared a bankrupt. There is an equity suit which has been before the Court lor two years, brought by Burke against Elliot, and it was attempted to chow the petition had been filed to quash the suit. Elliot in his evidence, characterised the equity suit as a conspiracy between Burke and lawyer. Judgment rein view of the early election contests, the Bible-in-Schools Association is beginning an agitation in favor of Bible reading. IN VEECAEGILL, February 16. The Acclimatisation Society are making arrangements to receive A-share of tne salmon ova now on the way to the colony in the lonic. :.. ' Matthew Burnett, Temperance Lecturer, arrived by the Botomanana' to-day, and paid a short visit to the town. He goes on by the steamer to Lyttelton. . • ■ The "Private Secretary" was performed here to-night by Messrs Williamson, Garner and Musgrove's Company and Mr Frank Thornton drew an enormous attendance, many being unable to obtain admittance, the performance being a marked success.