NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2637, 19 September 1882, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[PKS FRBSS AMOOIAXIO*.] AUCKLAND, September 18, A meeting of the Lidies of Auckland took place at the Young Men's Christian Allocation's rooms in reference to the operations of the Auckland Contagious Diseases Prevention Aot. A petition was adopted against its working, and the clergy are to be asked to get their congregations to sign the petition. Major Sinclair's residence at Cambridge was bnrned. It was insured in the New Zealand Company for £2OO. The plaoe was unoccupied. NAPIEB, September 18. A largely attended meeting was held here to-night. It was resolved to inaugurate a Frozen Meat Company, and a strong provisional directory was formed. It is propoied.to make the capital £45,000, and to bay up the extensive tinning and soup making works of Messrs Nelson Bros, and Williams, which are the most complete in the oalany. The Australian Circus opened to a orowded house to-night. WELLINGTON, September 18. The Government have telegraphed for information respecting the burning of the mails on board the Alaska, and it is expeoted that a reply will ba received to-morrow. The chairman of the Wellington Harbor Board has reoeived an answer to the letter sent to the Colonial Suga.- Refining Company, Sydney, offering tba lattur inducements to start their works here. The company state that they have purchased a siie for works in Auckland, and hence it is impossible for them to oome to Wellington. They add that they were led to the selection of the northern oity by many considerations, but mainly by the facilities offered by the ample supply of fresh water and the oheapneis of ooal. TIMABT7, September 18. At the Criminal Session District Court today there were only two oases for trial. Denis Heffernan was found not guilty of obtaining an insurance policy by fraud from the New Zealand Company. William McGinn was fined 20s for making a false declaration under the Registration of Births, &c, Act, by stating that one Ann Elizabeth Johnston was his wife, whereas she was not. DTJNEDIN, September 18. By fire at Castle Bock station the Hon, Mr Holmes lost a valuable polled Angus bull, worth from £l6O to £2OO. The brokers of Dunedin met to-day and agreed to form a brokers' association. The following gentlemen have been secured as a provisional directory in Oamaru for the Equitable Insurance Association:—Messrs John Allen, Thomas Meek (J. and T. Meek), A. G. S. Headland, John Hood (Hood and Shennan), 8. Gibbs (Mayor), George Dalgleish, John Craig, W. H. C. Boberts. It is expeoted to be added to. [FBOM THE "PBBSB."] WELLINGTON, September 18. The scattering of Ministers has begun today with the departure of the Hon. Mr Oliver for the South. Mr Bryce goes North tomorrow, 'and so does JMr Diok, the latter journeying overland to Napier. The question of the vacant seat in the Cabinet still remains unsettled, and as it has not been arranged to-day there is a possibility it may be deferred for a short time, unless a certain course should prove practicable, whioh is still open to doubt. Whatever Ministers' intentions may be, they, of oourse, preserve the strictest retioenoe on the subject, as it would be obviously irregular for anything to transpire until the affair is definitely settled. Sir William Fox has been in town sinse Saturday on business connected with his West Coast Boyal Oommisiionersbip, particularly about those surveys on which be laid so much stress in his last report presented to Parliament daring the late session. He held lengthened conferences with Mr Bryce arid othor Ministers, and has made satisfactory arrangements in regard to these matters, f ir William tells me his work on the West Coast Srogresses most satisfactorily, and to the evient gratification of the Natives, whose long uncertain titles are at laßt being definitely

determined, and tapir land distinctly marled out. Ha believes it will take most of the coming Summer to finish the work, but when it is done, so also is the Native difficulty in ' that part of the island, and probably for the whole colony too. Sir William Fux starts tomorrow afternoon for Pahautatmi, on bis way baok to resume his labors in TaranakL Much anxiety is felt as to the fate of the August San Franoiaco mails from New Zjv land, whioh we are so curtly, but alarmingly, told by cable were burned on board the steamer Alaska. I enquired to-day whether any report of the occurrence had been received by the Government, but learned that not a syllable of information had aa yet reached the authorities, on whioh absenca of intelligence is founded a hope that the N<w Zealand mail may have oome out of the fire unscathed, and the Hew South Wales mail alone fallen a victim. The matter would not in any case be very serious so far as it concerned the Government correspondence, as duplicates are alw-ys transmitted via Naples or Brindisi, and this is done by most of the Banks and large meroantile firms, but the worry and annoyance caused to private correspondence by destruction of a mail would be 10 enormous, and the matter is one of suah general and widespread interest that the Government have deemed it advisable to cable direot to the Agent-General, asking for full particulars, and this was dona to-day. A reply is expeoted to-morrow from Sir F. D. Bell.