TELEGRAMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5628, 10 March 1879, Page 5

TELEGRAMS.

NEW ZEALAND.

[TIMES’ SPECIAL WIBB.]

AUCKLAND, Mabch 8. The Auckland Steam Ship Company propose to expend £ISOO on the Pretty Jane, and run her between Onehunga and Wanganui, calling at intermediate points. They intend also to purchase a new steamer from England at a cost of £7OOO for east or west coast trade.

Mr Justice Johnston is holding a Court at the Thames to determine the claims of the natives to the Thames foreshore before handing it over as an endowment to the Harbour Board.

The Bay of Islands’ Electoral Commission proceeds to Wbangarei on Tuesday to take evidence. Little of importance was elicited at Bussell,

The Coroner’s inquiry into the cause of the late fire terminated last night in the following verdict: “ That the buildings known as Walls’ buildings were destroyed by fire, which arose at the back part of the premises occupied by Mr Eenton, hut how it originated there is no evidence to show.

Certain merchants and others have petitioned Government to infuse new blood into the Harbour Board by changing the Government nominees on the Board—Oapt. Daldy, and Messrs Bovlon and Eaton—for fresh men. Cant. Daldy and Mr Boylon have been in office since 1871, and Mr Eaton since 1875. The change is desired not on personal, but on public grounds. Government declined to accede to the request unless specific charges were made.

The tenders of the Insurance Companies for public school buildings were treated as confidential. The New Zealand and South British, the lowest, were accepted. The Star appeared in an enlarged form this evening. The Herald will appear in a few days the same size as the Sydney Herald. During the, month of February there were 17 deaths registered in the city of Auckland,

against 16 in the corresponding month of 1878.

A correspondent, writing from Kawakav a, Bay of Islands, on March' 5, states: —“ Tic news of the explosion at the Kaita igata mines has very naturally c&u» d some talk, and nob a few affirm th >t such a catastrophe may occur in tl e Bay of Islands coal-mine at any momer 1. It is rumoured that some flashesof fire-dan p have lately been witnessed, and in some-par s the ventilation is so defective, as to prevei t the miners working longer than one or ta 3 hours at a time.”

The Land Tax is likely to be a failure i i this part of the Colony, In ono district : t has been ascertained that the capital valu > of property is £190,540; the value (E improvements, £80 ; 981, and the numbe • of properties in the district over 300(, owned by some 600 people. Out c! this number only 43 ere liable to the tai, and the amount of tax leviable upon th i property is only £4112s 2 Jd. The individua. amounts payable range from 2Jd to £5 16( In some cases, where the tax would otherwis have been leviable, part ol the property ha been conveyed to a wife, thus largely reducini the basis upon which the tax can be levied. Much has been said and written for man' months upon the respective merits of what i" known as the coastal and inland line for th extension of the railway from Auckland U EiverheacL Many advocate the coastal line a passing over more level ground than th inland route, and for being more direc as part of the main line to the northern dial triots. The chief advocates of the inland line are settlers in the Waitekari district and they have urged the immense timber resources of (he Waitekari ranges as providing an immediate return for taking the line over the spurs of these mountains. The assessment valuation has thrown strange light upon the value of these timber resources. The principal block of bush in that district is owned by Mr Smith, and is 1800 acres in extent. The valuer has placed £4OOO as the value of the property, but the owner objects and says that it is valued in excess by £2OOO. Ihe Assessment Court for the district in which the bush is situated has not vet been held. EXTRAORDINARY DROWNING CASE. AUCKLAND, Maech 8. Another victim at northern Wairoa. Four men left Dargaville for Aratapu, but when half way, William Willis’ oar slipped from the rowlock, and floated away. Willis leaped after it, and swam with the oar back to the boat. He again leaped overboard, and against all remonstrances, refused to come in. At last getting alarmed, Latham jumped in after him, but Willis giving a shout, disappeared instantaneously, hath am dived unavailingly, and then, in his turn, most unaccountably refused to come into the boat, diving, shouting, and swimming about. Another man jumped after him, and pulled them in, but Latham again attempting to leap over, was held down by main force. Willis was a native of the north of Ireland, and has a brother in Auckland. An inquest will bring out the details. WANGANUI, Maech 9. The Regatta is fixed for March 18. The prizes amount to £BO. WELLINGTON, Maech 8. The Uncle Tom’s Company benefit for the Kaitangata Fund last night realised about £65. The Inspector of Nuisances seized a lot of decayed fruit exposed for sale, and a prosecution under the Public Health Act will he instituted. The arrears due to Government on June 30, 1878, on account of assisted nominated immigrants amounted to £41,908. Returns show that 144,478 tons of coal, valued at £244,413, were imported to New Zealand from Newcastle during the last financial year. GEEYMOUTH, Maech 8. In consequence of the financial muddle of the Westland Education Board, it is the intention of some of the best teachers to resign. No salaries have been paid since the beginning of the year, and in some cases money due to teachers as far back as November remains yet unpaid. A passenger named Powell, an hotelkeeper at Ross, died suddenly on board the steamer Kennedy last night. Devery’s farmhouse and store were burnt down this morning at one o’clock. The buildings were insured by the mortgagee for cause —The.. _ REEFTON, Maech 9. The Welcome mine had a partial cleaning up yesterday, and from the blankets alone obtained 25050 z of amalgam from 140 tons of stone, averaging over soz of gold per ton. The final cleaning up takes place on March 17, when a big dividend will be declared, DUNEDIN, Maech 8. Mr Hislop, Secretary for Education, is on an official visit to this district, and is likely to be here for ten days. At the City Police Court, Port Chalmers, on Wednesday, David Evans, master of the barque Easterhill, will be called upon to answer to a charge laid by the Crown Prosecutor “ for that he did on or about Jan. 9, while the said ship or barque was on the high seas and in the course of a voyage from London to Port Chalmers, wilfully omit and neglect to do any act or thing for saving the life of William Taylor, apprentice on board the said barque, who, on the said day, with the knowledge of the said D. Evans, fell overboard into the sea and was drowned; whereas had the said David Evans, as said master, hove his ship or barque to and lowered a boat, and with a crew on board endeavoured to save the said William Taylor, or recovered his body, as the said David Evans ought to and should have done, the said William Taylor might not have been lost and drowned, contrary to the terms of the said Act in such case made and provided.” INVERCARGILL, Maech 9. A Racing Club was formed last night. The opening meeting will be held on the two days following the Volunteer demonstration at Easter. The Kaitangata Fund is growing in proportions. The Glasgow Bank Fund has closed, and a good sum has been forwarded. Mr Conyers, Commissioner of Railways, arrived by the Express yesterday afternoon. He will probably proceed to the Lakes on Monday.