NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1842, 17 January 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PEH3B ASSOCIATION.] TI MARTI, January 17. Robbery with ViolenceWilliam Riley and Robert Robertson, two strangers from Dunedin, were arrested at the Washdyko for robbery with violence. There are three charges against them of bailing up drunken men in Timaru and taking money and valuables from them. The prisoners were remanded till Wednesday. Fraudulent Bankruptcy. John Coll, for fraudulent insolvency, was also remanded. Bail was allowed, himself in £2OO, and two sureties in £IOO each. Yesterday’s StormThe violence of the thunder storm yesterday was so great that two telegraph poles at Otaio were broken and one splintered. Two vivid flashes passed through the lightning guards in the Timaru Telegraph Office, with reports like pistols, but without doing any damage. The Crops. The heavy rain of the last day or two has done scarcely any perceptible damage to the crops in this district. The wheat and oats on the plains are looking splendid, and the harvest will be general in five to ton days. The barley crop is rather patchy. It is anticipated that the Albury Railway line will be taxed to its utmost to convey the grain to the sea port. The country for forty miles from Timaru to the foot of Bourke’s Pass is one vast sea of rapidly ripening grain. WELLINGTON, January 17. The Wellington RacesGaneral entries for the Wellington races close on Monday night. Meares v BestAt the District Court, in the case of Meares v Best, for £3OO, alleged to have been fraudulently appropriated, His Honor said no doubt the defendant was guilty of fraud, and the whole transaction, as far as the defendant was concerned, was anything but straightforward, and would not.redound to his credit. J udgment was given for £lO5. GRAHAMS TOWN, January 17. Pastor Chiniquy. Mr Chiniquy lectured on “ Why he and 25,000 others left the Catholic Church,” at the Theatre Royal, last night, to a good audience. The meeting was orderly, but a feeling of disappointment was felt in the lecture. The desire to sell his books and receive money apparently supersedes the lecturer’s advocacy of that which, in his opinion, is true Christianity. Gold Mining NewsA great advance has taken place in gold shares. Whau shares, which were sold weeks ago for 30s, now fetch 100 s. A Pantomimist in Trouble. Frank Hook, lately of a Pantomime Company, and formerly of Christchurch, was arrested to-day on a charge of obtaining £SO from Thomas John Glew by means of false pretences. DUNEDIN, January 17. A Peculiar CaseRather a peculiar case happened at Ravensbourne last night. Alexander Shand was brought up to the North Dunedin Police Station by a resident of Ravensbourne on a charge of breaking into his dwelling. It was then found that the man had taken poison, being, as he said, tired of life. He does not apptar to have vouchsafed any expalnation regarding his alleged housebreaking. The man was taken to the Hospital, whore ha was tioated, and is now believed to be out of danger. Irish Relief FundOver £IOO was subscribed at the meeting this morning of the Irish famine committee.

OAMARU, January 17. N-Z. Rifle Association MeetingNo entries have yet been received for the New Zealand Kifla Association Meeting. It is probable that about half a dozen competitors will so from Oamaru. INVERCARGILL, January 17. Scaffolding AccidentYesterday a portion of the scaffolding at the new Supreme Court building, Tay street, gave way, precipitating five workmen to the ground, a distance of 30ft. A. Da Largie and Jas. Farrell were not much hurt, and able to walk home. The others were conveyed to the Hospital, where it was found that Geo. Smith (unmarried) had sustained an injury to the spine, causing paralysis to the lower extremities, and had dislocated Lis hip joint, John McNamara (married, one child) had sustained severe cuts and bruises on the ho id and left leg. James Dewe (married, two children) had received injuries in the abdomen. It is feared that Smith’s injuries will be feCal. The accident was caused through the ledger piece of brittle wood breaking eff short. The fact of (he scaffolding being weak was pointed out by the inspector of the work only that morning, AUCKLAND, January 1(5. A Diabolical Attempt. A double attempt was made to upset Waikato trains to-day by placing large blocks of scoria on the rails near the mouth of the Domain tunnel. The vigilance of the drivers prevented the success of the attempt. The police are investigating the matter. The late Rains. About two chains of the railway embankment was washed away on the Kaipara line by late rains. The Grahamstown-Waikato Railway. At the Thames a deputation waited on Mr Whitaker to urge the continuation of work on the Grahamstown-Waikato railway. Mr Whitaker said his only influence with (ho Government was that of an ordinary Minister, and e.s he was personally interested in the line he had abstained from interference in tho matter. The deputation should lay their case before the Minister of Works, who was expected to visit Auckland shortly. The first step to be taken would be to settle claims to compensation. It would ba also necessary to overcome the obstinacy of Tukukino, and come to some definite arrangement with that chief before the line could be proceeded with. Mr Brodie said a sum of £IO9O would be amply sufficient to settle all such claims. The Mayor said the people of the Thames would be satisfied if the construction of the line to Puriri, eight miles, were commenced. The Mayor promised that a statement in writing should be drawn up, and handed to Mr Whitaker for transmission to the Minister of Public Works. NAPIER, January 16, The CropsRecent rains have done very little if any damage to the crops. Racing. The Jockey Club have decided to adopt the revised Victorian weights-for-age. FireA fire at Kopna sawmill to-day did damage to the extent of £IOO before it was extinguished. The mill is insured in tho New Zealand Company. The cause of the fire is unknown. The White Fish OvaThe white fish ova arrived in very healthy condition, and were at once taken by J. W. Williams to the Acclimatisation Society’s pond. Na'ive MattersThe Natives at Awaniu, East Coast,, have stopped Haig, the surveyor, in surveying a block of land at Waipu. One man warned tho party off the ground and went away threatening to return with an armed party. Under the circumstances Major Ropata has written to Mr Haig, saying he had better not survey for the present. WELLINGTON, January 16. Action against a Commission AgentAt the District Court to-day, Henry Bast, commission agent, was summoned by Mrs Meares for £2OO, moneys alleged to have been received by the defendant as agent for the plaintiff and fraudulently appropriated to his own use. His Honor reserved judgment until to-morrow. Colonel ScratchleyColonel Scratchley inspected tho whole of the Wellington Volunteers this evening. There was a large muster, numbering at least 400. The Distress in Ireland. Owing to the dullness of the coastal trade, the Union Steamship Company have decided on laying up three of their steamers. The Distress in IrelandThe fund in aid of Irish dis'.ress is steadily increasing. ASHBURTON, January 16. The Mayor has convened a meeting for Monday next, to taka steps towards raising subscriptions for the relief of the distress in Ireland. It is expected that a good sum will be raised here. TIMARU, January' 16. Robbery with ViolenceTwo men, named William Reilly and Robert Robertson, were arrested to day, charged with robbery with violence. They were identified by a man named McNulty as the two men who had robbed him on the road near the town on the previous night. Subsequently one of them was identified by another man, who was robbed a week ago about the same place. HailstormA hailstorm passed over this district this afternoon. Subsequently very heavy rain fell and it is feared it will injure crops. The HarvestHarvesting has just commenced. DUNEDIN, January 16. Presbyterian Sabbath Schools. There are 7050 scholars on the rolls of the Presbyterian Sabbath schools in Otago, comprising 3362 and 36SS girls. AccidentYesterday afternoon Daniel Bell, sailmaker of the ship Auckland, missed his footing and fell down the main hold, a distance of fifteen feet, striking an iron tank in the fall and breaking his right leg. Davidson v. DavidsonThe hearing of the divorce case, Davidson v Davidson, was continued to day before Mr Justice Williams, but was not concluded. INVERCARGILL, January 16. Serious AccidentThe scaffolding at the new Law Court, now in course of erection in Tay street, gave way this afternoon, precipitating five men to the ground, a distance cf 30 feet. One of the men, George Smith, is believed to be fatally injured, while two others have sustained serious injuries. The other two escaped with a shaking and a few bruises. Tho three severely injured are now in the Hospital.