NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6685, 25 February 1887, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[press association telegrams.] AUCKLAND, February 24. Dr Stockwell, Health Officer, reports that two additional cases of scarlet fever have broken out in the Carlton Gore road, in which the two previons cases resulting from negligence in quarantining arrivals in the South had taken place. At the annual meeting of shareholders in the Thames Valley and Botorua Bailway Comp my, the report and balancesheet were adopted unanimously. The Directors express regret that the final payment to shareholders will be under one shilling per share. At the quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, the following resolution was carried re the Island trade That, in view of giving facilities for the Island trade we would recommend that a charter of incorporation be granted to a Company to be formed for the purpose of tradiog with the South Sea Islands, and that Government be asked for a guarantee, and with due provision being made for purchasing the interests of those now engaged in the trade.” The following resolution was also carried :— *• That the Auckland members be asked to urge the Government to take into consideration the report of the »Fiji Commissioners relative to a reciprocity treaty and endeavor to give effect to the same.” NEW PLYMOUTH, February 24.

Judge Wilson has received a large number of claims from Parihaka Natives to individualise their titles to land. This is a blow at l’e Whitismaathe Natives are acting in defimee of Te Whiti’s order*. Each Native will be able to do with his land as he pleases, instead of being under the prophet’s sole control as hitherto. WELLINGTON, February 24.

The idea that Parliament did not expire till December next is unfounded, and turns out to be based upon a confusion of Gazettes.

Information has been received that the consignment of salmm ova in the Kaikoura, which left Hobart for Wellington yes'.erday, is in good condition. There are about 200 009 The Bill to b i introduced by Mr Tole for abolishing Coroners’ juries p ovules that where possible Magistrates shall do the work now done by Coroners and juries, and in cases were Coroners are necessary they shall ait without juries. The fees of Coroners are to be reduced one-half. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, one of four suspicious characters arrested and charged with vagrancy was sentenced to fourteen days’ hard labor, "as a Btimulant to more regular habits.” The other three were remanded.

At a meeting of the College Governors it was stated that the arrears in fees due to the Wellington College amounted to £SCO, and to the Girls’ High school £2ll. The Board intend to take steps to recover the amounts.

Several serious crackß have been discovered in the reservoir at Wainui-o-mats, from which tremendous quantities of water escape daily, thus reducing the pressure in town and causing numerous complaints. Temporary repairs are to be undertaken immediately, but the damage cannot be permanently repaired until pipes arrive from England to connect the Kami stone basin witn the town mains. BLENHEIM, February 24. In reply to a petition from the sheep farmers, the Colonial Secretary states thas he is prepared to declare the Blenheim and Awatere districts clean as soon as it is safe to do so, and if matters progress satisfactorily it can be done with safety at the end of June. HOKITIKI, February 24. The perjury cases arising out of the Kokatahi affiliation case were brought before the District Court to-day, but the Crown Prosecutor offered no evidence. The judge directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty. INVERCARGILL. February 24.

The inquest on the body of the man found in the Mataura River resulted in an open verdict, Hall’s relatives being unable to identify the remains as his. The position of matters is most unsatisfactory. No one but Hall is known to be missing in the district. e°d it seems scarcely possible that every vestige ot clothing but boots and so ks should have been removed from the body by the action of water, especially as there was a belt round the waist. The Borough Council broke up to-night without coming to a decision re the water tower, 90ft high, in connection with the new supply, some members being in favor of building a brick tower instead of importing an iron structure.