NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7214, 27 November 1888, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

. c [press association telegrams.] AUCKLAND, November 26. A thunderstorm passed over the Waikato district on Saturday afternoon. A violent south wind blew, accompanied by a fall of snow, which whitened the streets of Hamilton. Snow also fell at Kawaha. There was a hailstorm at the Thames. It was fine at Auckland. WANGANUI, November 26. The Eev. T. Spurgeon, of Auckland, gave an interesting lecture on "Dr. Judson, the Apostle of Burmah," to a crowded audience this evening. The proceeds go to the Baptist Church Building Fund. Mr Spurgeon leaves for Auckland to-morrow. The candidates for the mayoralty address the ratepayers to-morrow evening, and there will probably be a keen contest for the chair Mr Laird, the present mayor, will probably be elected for a third term, though Mr Parsons' supporters are very sanguine of success. The weather here is very stormy and cold. The District Court opens here on Wednesday. There are only three criminal cases on the list. WESTPOET, November 28. The sum of £63 has been subscribed here towards the Parnell defence fund, also £20 to the Irish National League. BLENHEIM, November 26. The bones found at Grovetown are those of a Maori, not of Beeves, as supposed. A flint tomahawk was found with them. To-day C. Qoulter, a candidate, and three electors, petitioned the E.M. to declare void the recent election* of the Awatere Babbit Board, on the ground of misdirection by the Returning Officer, who, it appears, announced that he would treat as informal all papers on which fewer names than the number of vacancies were left uncancelled. The petitioners urged they were coerced into voting for more than they desired. The Magistrate dismissed the petition without costs, holding no irregularity was really disclosed, that by voting , as misdirected the petitioners had acquiesced, and that it was not shown the election would have been affected by the petitioners voting otherwise than as they did. DUNEDIN, November 26. Six out of eleven officers of the Public Works Department in Dunedin have received notice that their services will be dispensed with. Some leave in December, others in January and March. Geo. White, lumper on the wharf, was struck on the temple while loading the Penguin at the wharf Do-day, and hia skull was fractured. He has not yet recovered consciousness, and little hopes are entertained of his recovery. At the adjourned meeting of those interested in charitable aid reform, the Committee were thanked for their report, and requested to take stepe to ascertain if such a system of organisation as is suggested in their report to prevent over-lapping with the Central Board and to act as advised to other bodies, can be brought into operation. The Committee were also requested to inquire into the causes of poverty in Dunedin and suburbs and report. The following students of the Otago University passed final examinations for the degree of Bachelor of Medicine:— Barclay, Copland, Dermer. The show entries number 1309. There is a large falling off in merinos and colonial manufactures, but an increase in all other- departments.

Playing against the Phoenix the Albions only totalled 68; the Phoanir six for 72. The Grange defeated the Taieti by 38 runs-