SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 7180, 6 April 1887, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

AUCKLAND, Aran. 6. Mrs Dudley Ward has convened a meeting of ladies for the purpose of taking steps to introduce the kindergarten system to Auckland. She has been struck by the large number of children under school age to be met with in the streets of Auckland, and has been impressed also by the deficiency of the means to promote their moral welfare. It is for the purpose of supplying this want, and therefore checking a source of the fertile growth of larrikinism, that she has been moved to establish a central kindergarten in Auckland, in the hope that this system will flourish and extend. The public will be invited to promise annual subscriptions, and when a sufficient sum is assured for the first year's maintenance, operations will be actively commenced. For some time past constant complaints have been received by the police regarding the way in which country and suburban houses are visited by tramps and others, who leave nothing which they can carryaway. Atlengthoneofthesefellowshas been secured, mainly through the instrumentality of the wife of a settler named Charles Warrell, and he proved to be a well-known character named Henry Atkins alias Dalton alias Millwood. He appeared at the Police Court this morning charged with vagrancy. Mrs Catherine Warrall stated that on March 28 she saw a man listening at her door. He subsequently entered the house, and she met him coming out of her bedroom. He refused to come with her to her husband, whereupon she caught hold of him and called for the assistance of some neighbors, who came and secured him. Prisoner was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for vagranoy, and committed for trial on four charges of larceny from dwellings.

WANGANUI, April 6. The following figures respecting the immigration and emigration for the twelve months ended February 28, 1887, have been supplied by Mr Ballance:—l6,62s persons arrived in the Colony, and 14,640 left; the increase for the year being 1,986. The natural increase for the year 1886 was 13,194; the births being 19,299, and the deaths 6,135. The total number of nominations sent Home during the year ended 31st March was 1,315, of whom 642 were English, 382 Scotch, and 78 foreigners. Of the 853 who actually arrived, 415 were English, 210 Irish, 182 Scotch, and 46 foreigners. Irish nominations are greatest for the single men and single women, and the nominees in these departments seem to come to the Colony in greater proportions than English and Scotch. The total amount paid by the nominators last year was L 11.250 17s 6d. The Waimarino, one of the most important blocks of land ever put through the Native Land Court, and one which by reason of its size has attracted considerable attention both in and outside of Parliament, was finally before the Native Lands Court this morning. A short account of the proceeding in Court may be interesting. Chief Judge

Macdonald and Judge Pukey occupied the Bench, and Mr Butler represented the Government, who were making an application to have the shares they had bought allocated. Mr Butler stated that out of 1,006 names on the original order of the Court only 100 had not Bold. He read out the names of those who were non-sellere, and asked the Court to award to the Crown the interests of persons who had sold. Major Topia got an adjournment to try and come to terms, but nothing was done, and evidence was then taken for the non-sellers. Mr Butler next called witnesses to prove where interests belonged to the various hapus. All Crown witnesses except one were found to be very reluctant to give evidence, and the Court considered that there was a widespread conspiracy to I defeat the Crown, and in which the sellers (both chiefs and people) were implicated. As it appeared impossible to get reliable evidence in the face of the strong opposition manifested by Topia, who had himself sold, a statutory declaration made by Rangihoutou as to the various kapu boundaries waß produced in Court and received as evidence. The Court, having considered various questions submitted to it this morning, came to the conclusion that the interest of the non-sellers amounted to 41,000 acres, and that the residue of 417,500 acres belongs to the Crown. The allocation of the interests in various parts of the block proceeds to-morrow. A public meeting last night decided to endeavor to retain and repair the old blockhouse built by the Imperial Government in the time of the war. The building has done duty as a gaol for some years, but was lately vacated, and is bow falling into a bad condition.