NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LII, Issue 5805, 3 October 1879, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

[Times’ Special Wibb.] AUCKLAND, Oci. 2; At a meeting held last night of persons interested in relieving the depressed state of the labour market, a Working Men’s Society was formed to promote the interests of the labouring classes. Mr Stork, the defeated candidate at the City West election, was chosen as, President. ; Though there is an unemployed agitation at Hamilton, a contractor there is offering 8s per day, and cannot get men. A Maori troupe is going to the Sydney Exhibition. It will consist of 20 males, and 10 females. They will give a performance in Auckland prior to leaving. Eighteen persons are awaiting trial at the Supreme Court session on Monday, principally for larceny, inflicting bodily harm, forgery, and rape. , ! At the Besident Magistrate’s Court, Thomas Maohitte, Chairman of Dr Wallis’ Central Committee, was charged by Joseph Newman with giving or having caused to hare been given on the day of polling for the City Weetrefreshmontsto the electors, whereby the said Joseph Newman sought to recover the B im of 40s. Messrs Hesketh 'and Tyler appeared for plaintiff, and Mr Cooper for the defendant, and gave a denial of everything that the plaintiff alleged. Mr Tyler opened the case, and called Bichard Salter, librarian of the Young Men’s Christian Association Booms, who disposed that the refreshments consisted of ham and bread, cheese, coffee, and lemonade. Machitto said they must have some beer, and a lad obtained it. The beer bill amounted to £2 Us. No beer went into Mr , Hurst’s room, only sandwiches And coffee, The Oom-

xaittM of! the Young UenVDhristian Association disapproved of beer, and would not let thd to oaddidate* in'fiitUro.’ 1 ' The beer provided disappeared with' wonderful rapidity; Newman’s refreehment room was conducted OD temperance prindiplee of sandwiches and coffee only.; Maohitte deposed that he helped i to -return Dr Wallis.!' He objected to say whether he was an agent, and<alio declined to convict himself.' 'Ho had no authority to aot as agtnt for him, but noted as agent at the election. He ordered beer, but did'not consult Dr Wallis. He had some'beer paid for by Dr Wallis; but could not say whether, the beer was on the bill. He did not ask ;Mr Hurst to pey half the account. He hinted to Brookingj Mr Hurst's agent, that Mr Hurst might pay his share of the expenses, including the beer on the day previous to the election. Those who took refreshments did so without authority.. James Campbell, the porter, ! deposed that he went into Mews. Wallis and Hurst’s Committee, rftoma after voting, |He tried the can .and got one glass, but no more. He helped himself.., The case was adjourned till to-morrow. ; ORAHAMBTOWN, Ocx.2. Mr Bagnall, of the saw mills near the route of communication between the Natives of . Piako, and those of the pah being constructed; applied to-day to the Major commanding the, district for arms,for the protootiqn andenrolment of their employees, as a contingent of the;Thames Scottish Bides. ’A special ,to the Stor says that the Ngatihakoes are beginning to fear that the action of the Government bodes something serious for the. tribe; probably in the direction of; the confiscation of their land. They have endeavoured to entice some, members of the . police to a settlement on various pretexts, but the jConstables-were not to: be Lad. It is stated | they wish to ; get Europeans ;as hostages, and then, surrender the aggressors. At the Harbour ; Board last night great .dissatisfaction was expressed at r nir John .Coode's report. : , ■ Information has been, received.-that Sir George Grey cannot legally resign the Thames seat until 30days after; the opening of Parliament. ■ I , ~ , r WELLINGTON, ■ Oct! 2. An Association has. been; formed: at -.Tairatarahi (Waira,rspa district) for the purpose of prospecting, the Tararua raqges for.: gold : and c0a1.., . , ■ : .. Owing, to Nh.3wire of the Cook- Strait, cable giving out, provision baa been made in the new, estimates: for a how cable to;be laid across Cook Strait, adjacent to the present route,-froxn. a point a Uttle to the northward of the mouth of the Wanganui river, to Wakp. The Na,tal,Brigade are raising funds for .the purpose of purchasing a vessel for their use. . a ... ’ f , NEW PLYMOUTH, Got. 2; ■ The Armed Constabulary were all called in barracks last .night, and a large, number of them inarched out to Oakura this morning. There is some strategic movement afloat, hub what it is is unknown, as the authorities are very close about it. , oamaru, ocr. 2. The vital statistics for September, are-r-Births 37, deaths 18, marriages 5. The Customs’ revenue for September, amounted to £1147 13s 3d, and for the September. quarter £3554 8s lid. For the corresponding quarter of last year the revenue was £s?67 8s 2d. , : A number of the residents of Kakanui- are about to, send, a petition to the Governor praying to be formed into a Volunteer Corps. , , ; ; The sheep dog trial at Duntroon yesterday was a very successful affair. A large number of people attended. DUNEDIN, Oct. 2. At the ' inquest on Ann Smith yesterday, the.jiiry returned an open verdict to the effect' that the, deceased Ann Smith met her death byconvulsions induced by the fracture of her rightleg, but there was not sufficient evidence to showhowthe said fracture was caused; ThO following rider waV added to the verdict V —“The jury whilst not considering that the fracture of the deceased’s leg’ was caused directly, or indirectly, by, act of! James Smith, her husband; yet consider, that be conducted hhpself towards her with great inhumanity; when he must have known that she was in great pain.” , , , The inquest’ on the Octagon Jire is not yet concluded.