TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume VIII, Issue 1355, 10 July 1886, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION.)

WELLINGTON, July 9. The report of the District Railways Purchasing Bill Committee was laid on table of the House this afternoon. It acenses Major Steward of using his position as member of the House to dispose of debentures of the Dunfcroon-Kakatera-mea Railway Company, and also reflects on Sir J. Vogel. The report also accuses Mr. Peacock, M.H.R., of somewhat similar conduct to that of Major Steward in connection with the Eotorua railway. AUCKLAND, July 9. An inmate of tbe Lock Hospital was sentenced to a month's imprisonment for escaping. Two escapees are still at large.

July 10. Two of the Portugese belonging to the whaler Petrel, at Russell, recently deserted, but were captured by the police and returned to the vessel. With the exception of the accused officers and the witnesses now attending court in Auckland, the Petrel's crew are now on board of their vessel, and are expected to retnrn home in her.

George McCaulin has been found guilty of arson, his wife, Ann McCaulin, being acquitted ; sentence was deferred.

Wm. Slater, a settler at Okaihau, was killed yesterday by a tree falling on him, The evidence in the Petrel case was concluded to-day. Mr. Cooper addresses the court for the defence on Wednesday, Mr. Justice Gillies sentenced George McCaslin, convicted ot arson, to 7 years' penal servitude.

NAPIER, July 10. The Supreme Court sitting was resumed yesterday, when judgment was delivered in the case of Sawkins v. Evening News Company, a claim for three months' salary in lien of notice, plaintiff being gammftrily dismissed from the editorship of the de. fendant company's newspaper. His Honor gave judgment for one week's salary only. In the criminal libel action, Thomson v. Sawkins, plaintiff did not proceed, and the case lapsed.

DUNEDIN, July 10. The half-yearly balance-sheet of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand shows that tbe net profit for the year, after making the usual allowances, amounts to £18,966! Adding to this the balance from last half year, and deducting the tax on note circulation and iSOO donation to the Guarantee Association, there is a balance of £20,419. Out of this it is proposed to pay a dividend of seven per cent, per annum on paid-up capital, to add £190Q to the reserve fund, and to carry forward £5419.

_„ TT . ROSS, July 9. The United Company have Washed up the first set, equal to about nine cubic yards, for four ounces two penny- weights. The cost of getting this is estimated, at 30s, and the gold is worth £3 16s per ounce.