NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6370, 18 February 1886, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

Int ——SB ASSOC—— OH.]

AUCKLAND, February 17. The drapers' Thursday half-holiday movement has been carried to a successful issue here. . The Natives have withdrawn their obstruction to prospecting in the King country. After occupying the Police Ceurt two and a half days the case against Keenan and the woman Smith, for robbing a Hokianga settler of J665, resulted in therr committal. A Fancy Fair on a grand .scale wasopened in the Drill _led to-day, in aid of St. Benedict's Church. The opening ceremonial was very elaborate. NAP—SB, February 17. A Native named Moti te Kato, alias Werepu, was arrested atdayhght in Petane pah. In August, 1884, this Native was committed for trial at Tauranga, and while being conveyed to Auckland, escaped, and has suwe eluded the vigilance of the ponce.

The- prisoner was-— eeov ered lug —agnamebtstooed on his breast: He was brought before the Resident Magistrate 1 , to-day, > and, remanded till, Satur- , |7 ' WELLINGTON, February 17. 1 The i notices - issued to the Friendly Societies by the Property Tax Department are for rating purposes only, and there is ho intention on the pa>t of the Department to enforce payment of the tax from these Societies.

Cardinal Moran will meet with a hearty welcome here. A Committee will proceed to the Heads to meet him. The opening of St. Patrick's College takes place on Sunday and a conversazione on Tuesday night. J if NELSON, February 17. \ At the inquest on Mrs John Sharp, a verdict of ."Accidental death" was returned. The accident has cast a gloom over the community. . William Holryman, who was injured at the collapse of a brick bridge in Nile street a few days since, is not now expected to recover, tetanus having set in. ASHBmr ON, February 17. , Heavy rain fell here this morning. ! DUNEDJN, February 17. ; The Begistrar to-day adjudicated Colman Burke a bankrupt, and declined to proceed further with the taking of accounte in the equity suit. : The Weßtport Coal Company's meeting wss rather lively. Mr G. Joachim was in the chair, and moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, to which an amendment was proposed that the meeting adjourn, on the ground that the report and balance-sheet did not disclose the true state of affair s. Mr Pope, who represented several Adelaide shareholders, aeked several questions which the Chairman refused to answer. In answer to other ques- ■■ tions, he said the cost of the coal alongside the ship was 10a 9d, and the selling price 10b lid. The report waa eventually adopted. The Premier and Mr Ballanoe will probably leave for Wellington on Monday, while Mr Larnach will visit Marewhenua goldfield. Mr Ballanoe speaks at Lawrence to-morrow.

Great interest was taken in the Licensing election for the city to-day, which resulted in the return of the moderate ticket, the licensed victuallers and the bottle license holders thus return—g the whole of their candidates. The Mayor, (Mr Barnes) was among the defeated. ___