(PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 121, 11 June 1881, Page 2

(PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Conference delegates from the local bodies resumed their sittings today. Only ten members were present. The following resolutions, moved by Mr. McArthur, were carried : — 1. That the Conference is of opinion that the position of the local bodies throughout New Zealand is such that they cannot satisfactorily fulfil the object for which they were established, unless some legislation takes place which will put them in a better financial position. 2. That by the withdrawal of subsidies and the land fund, without any substitute for' assistance so withdrawn from local bodies, the effective settlement of the conntry districts of New Zealond, and thereby the whole colony, has been retarded. 3. That there is imperative necessity t o provide out of tho proceeds of*~the Bale of any blocks of Crown lands a fund sufficient to complete the roads within such block within a reasonable time.

CHEISTCHUBCH, Last Night.

A bottle of brandy, concealed behind a grate in the Palace Hotel, exploded with great force when the fire was lighted. It narrowly escaped doing serious damage. A legal opinion has been given that the

County Council has no power to expend money on the purchase of recreation grounds.

DUNEDIN; Last Night. County Commissioners BaJhgkterßmcl, Bastings, and Clark have reported on the Central Otago raih-oad s Bohemef'" They consider the line one of colonial importance, and strongly urge its construction, as likely to open np a great extentjof good country, and prove a profitable under* takiug.

The Directors af the Permanent Building Society complain of such extensive competition on the part of the monetary institutions, that the .Building, Society is no longer useful, and recommend its conversion into a loan company. v f

AUCKLAND.-Last Night. Mr. Game's body has been' found floating in the harbor. . _ . Garrard, the agitator, is preparing a list of unemployed. Eighty-four names Were got this morning. When the list is completed, he intends sending itito Dr. Walhs, who promises to present it to the House. James Walker has been arrested on a charge of rape, on Ellen Peters; on the 19th February. The girl! explained the delay in the oharge. She had no mother or female Mend. Her father married reoently, and she told her step-mother,. Walker partially admitted the oharge. The arson ease against- Bindon JBros.has been proceeding all day. There are a large number of -witnesses yet to be examined.