NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6371, 19 February 1886, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[EBB FBBSB ASSOCIIATIOK.J i AUCKLAND, February 13. A. L&ybourne and Co., a firm of produce merchants, are arranging with their creditors. Their liabilities are £16,000,; a&d are likely to pay 12b in the Jβ. A ion of McNaughton, butcher, Victoria street, was thrown from his horse when racing with other boya on Shelly Beach road. Injuries to spine and concussion of brain have been sustained. WANGANUI, February 18. George Fish, a little boy, six years old, waa drowned while bathing in the Wanganni Biver. His body was dragged for, but has not yet been recovered. The local Volunteer corps provides a marker for the convenience of competitors from other parts who may wish to practice on the raage oa Thursday, Friday, and Saturday next. : The locally-built stern-wheel steamer,: Tuhoa, succesaf ollyreached Baas (London), sixty miles «p the WangaauUiiver, yesterday, returning to-day,. Her pauengere were greatly pleased with their trip. HEW PLYMOUTH, February 18. The licensing meeting for Taranakv Comity cannot be held this year owing to the usual notices not having been adver-

taeedin time? The Governor will, therefore, be catted uponto"nomin«te ttemembers. .. .„.., ■~ .. ..... ~...«» ; The delegates from New Plymouth and Hawera for the Bosh. Fire Belief Committee, nave completed their labors, aag given orders to the sufferers for material, , and in some eases money. The whole fund is now disbursed. Ithms also been arranged that the Hawera fond should be banked with the New Plymouth fund, and orders issued on the New Plymouth Treasurers. Another handsome donation las been re* eeived, being .£SO from Messrs Sargood, of Melbourne.

WELLINGTON, February 18. At the Waste Lands Board to-day Mr H. Bunny stated that the impression was abroad in Wairarapa that Mr Climie, the surveyor, who was engaged on the ranges at the back of Feathereton, bad been commissioned to survey a branch railway line frcm Kaitoke which would do away with the necessity of crossing the Binrataka, summit. Mr Merchant, Crown Lands' Commissioner, replied that Mr Clime had received no order to survey any line for a branch railway, but he had been instructed to explore the country, and if daring the course of his ordinary surveys, he had reason to believe that the line branching from Kaitoie could be constructed so that the present steep gradient over the Bimutaka might be avoided, he was to reserve such land as might be required for thai; purpose from sale, in order that the Publio Works Department might at any future time take action. !

MASTBBTON, February 18. A settler named Hoffnan, while clearing land near Masterton this morning, borrowed a keg cf powder to burst a stump. Hβ was told it was wet, and incautiously set a fire to it to test it. He is now minus whisker 8, beard, eyebrows, and lathes, and nearly scalped. His clothes were bnrned off, but it is believed bis injuries will not prove serious. ■■ s*^^.. ■ ■■:<,'■■ ■ NELSON, February 18. William Hollyman died at the Hospital this evening of tetanus, the result of in-' juries at Nile street bridge accident on the 6th met. In the action Black v the National Bank, in which the plaintiff claims damages for alleged wrongful dismissal, Mr Jellicoe, of; Wellington, nes been retained, with Mc Pitt, for the plaintiff. I A walking tournament took place this evening between T. Morshead and four local peds in the theatre, Morshead taking to walk for two hours, taking a fre-h men each half-hour. When time was called Ucrshead had covered fourteen and three-quarter miles, the aggregate distance covered by the local men being half a mile less.

At a meeting of the Nelson Cricket Association to-night a challenge was accepted to play the Wellington interprovincial team in March. DUNEDIN, February 18. Williamson, Garner and Muegrove's Company opened this, evening to an immense hence in "The Private Secretary'? for a short season. The piece was a great success, and the audience waa delighted. INYEBCABQiLL, February 18. An outrageous assault was made to-day at the Invercargill railway station on an invalid gentleman recently from Melbourne on a tour for the benefit of his health. He was sitting is the station waiting fir the train, when suddenly and without the slightest cause a man named MoKinnon, mad drunk, seized him by the throat, threw him down, and tore at Mm till blood came. It took four men to pull McKinnoa off and to secure him. Dissatisfaction is expressed that no police supervision is given to.the station except on SaturdaysA man named Dan Sogers, a shearer, waa drowned while crossing the Mararoa riverj fifty miles from Lumsden on Wednesday.' His body has been recovered.