TELEGRAMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5609, 15 February 1879, Page 5

TELEGRAMS.

new ZEALAND. [TIMES* SPECIAL WIRE.] AUCKLAND, Fib. 14 A block of the City Endowments land near the General Poet office has been re-leased at £IBO4 The original lessees paid £572, the to the Corporation is therefore £1232. There have been exported by the Aus-

tralia 26000z5. of gold, tho produce of tho Thames goldfield, ’ 1 - r - " M - v -y * The anniversary and ball of the Auckland Bricklayers’United MutnolProtection Society passed off very successfully last night. The Rev James Buffer's now work, entitled “ Forty Years in New Zealand,” had boon published just as the mail left. The correct insurances on the Gisborne fire are as follows!—Hawkos’ Bay, £I4OO, £SOO of which is ro-insured in tho Union j Standard, £1400; New Zealand, £6550, half of which is said to be re-insured j National, £lsoo} Union, £IOOO, including £SOO reinsurances from Hawkes’Bay s South British, £BOO, partly re-insured j Victoria, £900; Norwich Union, £9OO j Transatlantic, £looo} North British, £2OO, Total, £15,850. The Chinese question was vigorously debated on Wednesday evening by the members of the St, Thomas Mutual Improvement Class. Mr C. E. Matthews opened in affirmation and Mr F. F. Cornish in the negative. Tho majority of the members were in favour of Chinese immigration. The Maori Chief Paul and a number of Otaki Natives are at present engaged in catching fish for a feast to fake place at Otaki on Feb. 24. A number of northern chiefs are expected to be present at tho gathering at Paul’s settlement, after which they will proceed to Waikato to take part in the great Maori meeting between Maoris aad the Premier and Mr Sheehan.

The remains of Major William Gordon, late commander of Volunteer forces of Auckland district, were consigned to the grave in the Presbyterian cemetery. The funeral started from the late residence of the deceased at 2.30 p.m., followed by his near relatives and some of the leading inhabitants of the village. Everything in connection with the solemn scene was free from display, and this simplicity was strictly in acccordance with the wish of Major Gordon, who though a soldier, was utterly averse to (anything like ostentatious show at the burial of dead Volunteers. About 260 of all ranks mustered at the drillshed, representing the artillery, engineers, infantry, and cadets. Owing to tho wish of relatives, bands were not to attend, and corps mustered with side arms only. The columns under the command of Major Derron, were formed into fours, marched to the Presbyterian cemetery, [received the corpse in open order, and followed it to the grave, four officers bearing the coffin.

NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 14,

The Taiaroa sailed at 5 p.m. for Nelson with the largest cargo that ever left here in one steamer, principally grass seed. TAIJRANGA, Feb. 14. The J Bay of Plenty Times' Taupo reporter wires : “ Save seen Scannell re his interview with Rewi. ; He says my report of the particulars is correct, but does not think any insult was intended. It is purely a matter of opinion. The others here think differently.” NAPIER, Feb. 14. A meeting of merchants and others interested in the welfare of Napier was held at the Masonic Hall, for the purpose of arranging preliminaries for the formation of a Company to carry out the breakwater scheme at Port Ahuriri, Bluff. It was decided to collect all the information procurable, and draw up a prospectus, to be laid before the public as speedily as possible. . One of the earliest settlers of Hawkes’ Bay (Mr Wm, Cooper) expired yesterday at Havelock, after a painful illness. Mr Cooper arrived in Wellington about the year, 1840, and after remaining there a number of years, came to Hawkes’ Bay while the district was in its infancy, and remained here up to the time of his death.

GISBORNE, Feb, 14, The inquest on the fire resulted in an open verdict, the jury expressing an opinion that the balance of evidence showed it tj have originated in Nasmith’s. It is generally con-sidered-to have been purely accidental. WELLINGTON, Feb, 14, The Working Men’s Club will present a farewell address to the Governor at the levee to-morrow. Government have received advice of the departure of the steamer Stad Haarlem for New Zealand, from Plymouth, on Feb. 12, with 600 immigrants. The preliminary enquiries into the Qo-a-Forest Queen, have been cemmenced, but are adjourned. The following is a summary of the revenue, expenditure, assets, liabilities, and loans of Counties, Borough, and Koad Districts, and River Boards for the financial year, ending March 31 last. The totals stand thus: — Revenue, Counties, £469,239 8s 5d ; Boroughs, £241,894 5s Id; Road Districts, £804,727 lls lid; River Boards, £6017 17s. Expenditure—Counties, £274,231 7s; Boroughs, £514,30712s lOd; Road Districts, £387,53414s 10d;|River Boards, £989812s Id, The outstanding loans are set down as,—Counties, nil; Boroughs, £1,056,119 6s 7d ; Road Boards, £Bll7 15s lid; River Boards, £SIOO. The total expenditure on Public Works, £965,919 13s 4s; salaries, £79,319 Is Bd.

TIMARU, Feb. 14.

Harvest operations are now well forward, and, on the whole, the crops will be well up to the average. At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-day, the letters forwarded to the Underwriters’ Associations in London regarding the nature of the Timaru and Oamaru Ports, were brought before the attention of members by Mr Granger, local manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company, on whose motion a resolution was carried, ‘ ‘ That a statement showing the number of vessels lost during the last 10 years, with tonnage and other particulars, should be prepared for transmission to the New Zealand and Sydney Underwriters’ Associations and to Lloyds’.” The mover said that such information would astonish the Associations, as it would give them an idea of the class of vessels lost and the strength of their cables. A Committee was appointed to receive articles for the Sydney Exhibition. The South Canterbury Board of Education returns for the December quarter, 1878, show 2666 children on the roll, as against 2415 at the end of the previous quarter. Seventeen schools employing 56 teachers, were open. Over 70 concrete blocks are now ready to be laid by the steam crane for the harbour works. The shingle is collecting at a wonderful rate on the south side of the breakwater, and already the Harbour Board can say that two acres of land, worth fully £15,000, have been reclaimed for them by the action of the Bea ’ OAMARU, Ebb. 14.

The Hon J. Ballance arrived in town tom%'rom a report read at the Council last night satisfactory progress is being made with the Water Works under the new regime.

DUNEDIN’, Feb. 14 Mr Conyers, accompanied by Messrs Grant and Armstrong, of the railway department, passed through Dunedin for his home in Christchurch in a special train at 11 o dock this morning. The contractor is making rapid progress with the street tramways. The laying of the roils is being prosecuted in the centre of the ° l she second information for perjury which was laid by Beid, the sly grog seller, against Marion Johnson, the wife of a coal miner, who gave evidence against him, was withdrawn by Denniston, the attorney for the prosecution. BaUanoe r ©turned to WeillDJ^nold> the railway guard, died in the Hospital to-day. The competition for the District Prise Firing begins to-morrow. The Carbine matches are first. The following men have consented < to remain at Christchurch to take Part in the Association matches: —Southland District: Lieut. Miller, Serat. Mills, Vole. Dempster and Kennedy i North Dunedin : Bergt. Eobertson, Vols. J. Hutchinson, Miller, and Johnston j City Guards: Capt. Wilson, Yol. I. E. Smith { Waikari: Capt. Eeid, Lieut. Gardiner; Clutha: Sub-Lieut. Willocks, Vol. J. 0. Anderson. ■ . , A gentleman, says the .Star, has received a letter from Lord Harris, to the effect that he

and four qf hii companion* will visit New • Z ®? l ? n S on . e,r wa ? Home. At the date of Lord Harm purposed paying only burned visits to Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland ; but he promises that he and his friends will give the Christchurch cricketers a taste of their quality. INVBEOABGILL, Feb. 14, Mr T. Daniel has been elected Mayor of Biverton. The Bey T. E. Ash has resigned the incumbency of the Episcopalian Church at Biverton. He goes to Queenstown and Clyde.