NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6627, 18 December 1886, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

r?BBB8 ABSOOIATiOH T3SAVBQBAMB. I AUCKLAND, December 17. A protest against the elections in the Waitemata constituency on the ground new names were added to a roll after the issue of the writ, will be made at the declaration of the poll, and will be forwarded to the Colonial Secretary at Wellington. The St. Epiphany Church difficulty about tbe boundaries has been amicably settled by the Trustees. The contractor for the new Ponsonby reservoir hss agreed to continue the same under amended plans for the original contract price, £12,140. As the embankment has settled vertically to some extent, remedial measures will be at once taken. As evidence of the depression in the timber trade, it may be mentioned that there are 17,000,000 ft of timber at Tairua booms awaiting a market. In the Divorce Court to-day, a rule absolute was granted in the case of Lawcett v Lawcett and Downing. Tffo boyp, Wilson and Sneers, were ordered to be whipped for stealing a parcel of socks from a draper's door, GISBOBNE, December 17. The Supreme Court was occupied all day yesterday and until 1 a m.-this morning in the case Gannon and another v Bead's Trustees and the New Zealand Native Lands Settlement Company. Plaintiffs claimed by purchase a valuable interest in the Matawheio No. 1 block, near Guboine. A special jury found on all issues in favor of plaintiffs. A motion to argue the question of the legality cf the constitution of the Barber Board came on before the Court, but the chief Justice, without hearing argument for the defence, declared the Board legally c.natituted. _ WELLINGTON. December 17. When the steamer Mawhera was wrecked at Westport last month the Nautical Court suspended Captain Hill's certificate for three months. Subsequently a petition was got np praying the Governor to restore the certificate, and the request has been acceded to. On Mondsy at Aopanga, a settlement between Cape Turnagain ani Castle Point, a Maori girl about ten years of age, daughter of rJori Tapi, waa burnt to death. The child was lifting potatoes off the fire when her clothes caught, and before they were extinguished she waa bo seriously burnt as to cause death. English Eewa by the lonic will be brought over by the Manapouri, which leaves Hobart to-day for the Bluff. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, Brtnnan, charged with indecent assault,was acquitted, the evidence being insufficier.t. WESTPOET, December 17. The Union Company have announced their intention to suspend operations at the end of the year at the Koranui mine. 1 his being of serious import here is regarded with great public anxiety. Captain Biley, of this town, has ordered a steel steam tug from England. She will be put together in Westport. Henry Walker, a fireman belonging to the steamer Wareatea, while going aboard fell off the gangway into the river and was drowned. The body hss not yet been recovered, i Tne steamer Tui has been lifted off the bottom with the exception of the fore foot. It is hoped to be atte to tow her into shallow w atex to-morrow. DUNEDIN, December 17. At the breaking up of one of the schools to-day Sir B. Stout quoted statistics to show that the charge brought against our system of education, that it had a tendency to produce criminals, was unfounded, if the statistics concerning children born in the colony were takes, they would find they stood far above any country in the world. A deputation waits on the Premier tomorrow to bring under his notice the hardship imposed on freeholders of small

township sect iocs in coins; debamd from j spo-ying urdcr th-» himet t -ad f yat^m. The vsptain of th* South D media Volunteers, being of opinion that many of the members of his com piny were not desirable members, has calUd upon about twenty men to res-go, and hand in their arm.

The Boslvn Borough C uncil hava resolved to impose •» special rate of 3d in the £ in order to comp'y wi*v 1! r- -iemsod of the Charitable Aid Board for tneir contribution. The papers demanding the rate are to be headed '• pocr rate."