NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8043, 11 December 1891, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

AUCKLAND, December 10.

The Knights of Labour have passed a resolution wishing Mr McLean -success in the contest for the Wellington eeat.

HUNTERVILLE, December 10.

The Hon. Mr Cadman and Mr Lawrie, M.H.rVs, arrived by the midday train from Wanganui yesterday, and were met by Mr Hursthouae, Government Engineer, from Keikei, at the Auckland end of the main trunk line, who will point out to the Native Minister the land along the railway route. The party left at seven o'clock thia morning on tour. WANGANUI, December 10.

William Gordon, aged seven years, was drowned in the river this morning. His body has not been recovered. The bazaar opened by the Premier yesterday in aid of the Library and Museum fund was exceptionally successful. The Premier leaves for the North tomorrow, and will address the Auckland electors on Thursday next; WELLINGTON, December 10.

Messrs Percy Smith (Surveyor-General), Gray (Secretary of the Post-office), and Crombie (Property Tax Commissioner), the Board appointed to inquire into the charges against the Rev. Mr DeCastro, formerly of the Public Trust Office, met this morning, when only Mr DeCastro's evidence was taken, and the Board then adjourned sine die. BLENHEIM, December 10. In consequence of the statements made by the " Pelorue Guardian," alluding to the recent libel case, Mr Bax, the previous plaintiff, has given instructions to sue them again for libel.

DUNEDIN, December 10.

Mr Alexander Cairns, a very old Dunedin resident, died early this morning. The deceased was aged seventy-nine, and came to Otago from Victoria, and was for many years inspector of works under the Provincial Government.

At the Police Court for promoting sweeps and laying totalisator cads in the outer enclosure on the race days, Henry and James Golland, Peter Grant, and Maurice Barton were each fined £5 and costs, and Henry Smith £10 and costs. An action, in which £600 damages was claimed, was commenced to-day at the Supreme Court by Catherine Robertson, mother of Donald Robertson, who died from injuries received by the fall of scaffolding at Montpelier, from Henry Abbott, centractor. In the statement of defence it was contended that it was no part of defendant's duty to provide scaffolding for painters, and that the painting contractor and his servants used it at their own risk. The case was not concluded.

The matter of the proceedings taken against Mr J. R. Scott, who wae arrested under auction 9 of the Crown Suite Act, will come before Mr Justice Williams in Chambers to-morrow on a summons to set the proceedings aside. INVERCABGILL, December 10.

At a meeting of the unemployed, held at noon, to-day, and presided over by Mr Henry Feldwick, resolutions were passed and forwarded to the Hon. Mr Seddon protesting against the delay in starting the Seaward Buah railway. Over fifty were present, and it was stated that tome were in severe straits. The Government had led men to understand that operations would commence at the end of November, but, owing, it is said, to the pressure of work, the department decided not to start till after the holidays.