NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5918, 13 February 1880, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

[Times’ Special Wibb.J AUCKLAND, Feb. 12. The case of Stephen Hughes, charged with an assault with intent to commit an offence, is proceeding in the police court. The case is exciting much interest, the accused being the son of respectable people here, and a married man with children. A new feature has been introduced in land settlement by Captain Colbeck, namely, a special settlement for Colonists exclusively. His first intention was to settle two adjoining blocks belonging to him with immigrants from England, but as inquiries were made for land here Captain Colbeck was persuaded to try the experiment of forming a special settlement locally. Already 5000 acres have been applied for. The Native Herewai, who was arrested at Helensville yesterday for robbery, made a desperate attempt to escape this morning. He watched his opportunity, knocked over the constable, and bolted. He was chased and captured by a railway official. W. and T. larquhar and Scott were bathing on Ponsonby beach when the latter took cramp. Walter Jones, of the Alert, put off in a dingy and rescued Scott in the last state of exhaustion. This is the fourth time Jones has rescued people from drowning. He saved four men at the regatta in 1870 whose boat had been swamped, and that at the risk of capsizing his own cr=ft. The success of Mr Blankon in obtaining heavy compensation in a recent arbitration case against the City Council for damage to his property through street improvements, has led eighteen ratepayers to prefer similar claims, amounting to £2561 15s 6d. At the annual meeting of the Ladies’ Benevolent Society, the reports showed donations to have amounted to £B7, but the regular subscriptions had fallen off. Cases that received aid during the year number 140, of which 50 were widows, 18 deserted by their husbands, and 19 women assisted in their confinement. Some of the inmates of the Home are very old and infirm. Another batch of Dempsey’s workmen got judgments to-day for wages. Mr Riecardi, the First Lord of the Admiralty in “ H.M.S. Pinafore ” did not get away from Auckland in peace, being sued in the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday for £3 under the following circumstance: —The plaintiff is a lodging-house keeper; defendant is a gentleman of distinction of the operatic etage. One Karl Eichley, a musician, applied to plaintiff for board and lodging, but plaintiff would not give it without a guarantee for payment. Mr Riecardi guaranteed that if Eichley did not pay he would. Nothing more was heard o? the matter until a bailiff presented himself on the outgoing steamer with a summons and warrant. Mr Riecardi paid £6 into Court as security for the debt and costs. Judgment was given for plaintiff with costs. GRAHAMSTOWN, Feb. 12. A man named Michael Sullivan was killed yesterday in the Kauri Bush. He, with three more were cross-cutting a log, when, without warning, a kauri pine growing on the steep hill-side soil, broken and rocky, fell down, killing Sullivan who was on top of the log instantaneously. His mates lay under the log and escaped. GISBORNE, Fbb, 12. Mr Clarke, who represents some Sydney capitalists, visited the oil spring in this district, and expressed himself much gratified at the splendid indication of oil. After some Gays difficult negotiations, satisfactory arrangements have been made with all parties, and a company will bo immediately formed with a large capital to work the spring. This is the best thing that has happened for the district for a long time. Raul Rote, an influential chief, died yesterday. A large tangi is being held. WANGANUI, Feb. 12. It has been reported in town that Mr Ruckley, Government surveyor engaged on the pnketotara block, has been turned off by a party of armed Natives. The land in question is up the Wanganui river. The “atives took possession of the survey camp, and insisted upon the surveyors leaving. ■Another report which reached town by the mad carrier between Fordell and Murimotu, states that shots have been exchanged beween hostile Natives at Murimotu. Pahs are been formed and shots exchanged, but 18 not known if anyone was injured. WELLINGTON, Fbb. 12. -Use shore end of the cable at Wanganui g( . B BUcceflsf “lly landed yesterday. The then commenced laying the cable to ** ex P ec * ie 4 will be comSeveral drapers have intimated their inten-

tion of keeping their shops open until 9 p.xn. The early closing association protest against the movement, and are taking measures to prevent it.

Tho Early Closing Association have come to a satisfactory arrangement with the drapers in reference to closiog their shops at six o’clock of an evening, Saturdays exoepted. Tho police have laid informations against the proprietors of tho following hotels Empire, Barrett’s, Star, Metropolitan, and Criterion fora breach of the provisions of the Employment of Females Act, by allowing barmaids to remain in the bar after 11 p.m. The Government have nominated the following members for the Harbour Board Mr W. H. Levin, M.H.R., Colonel Posrco, and Captain Williams. The Royal Commission was formally opened at Hawera yesterday, but no regular sitting will take place for about a week. Bennett, Second-Lieutenant of the Wellington Naval Brigade, has been appointed FirstLieutenant vies Lieutenant Inglis, resigned. The Naval Brigade intend sending 100 men to tho Faster encampment at Christchurch, exclusive of their band. NELSON, Feb. 12. A girl 16 years of ago named. Annie Scafer, who came out as au immigrant on board the Edwin Fox, attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the Government wharf last night. Her screams attracted the attention of Mr Percy, who succeeded in rescuing her. She was brought up at tho Police Court, and remanded for a week. A shark 13ft long has been caught off the Government wharf. It got entangled in some fishermen’s nets. At the District Court to-day, George Sayers, overseer in the Public Works Department, a bankrupt, applied for his discharge. His total liabilities were put down at £SB, and assets £42, his principal creditors being Mrs Sayers and Mrs George, his wife and daughter, both of Wellington, who had obtained an order for maintenance. It appeared that, just after filing, a cheque for £l6, the amount of his salary from Government, became payable to him, and the trustee eventually was given possession of this cheque. Mr Bunny, for Mrs George, opposed the bankrupt’s discharge on th<* ground that he was not insolvent, and he argued that the bankrupt had filed merely to avoid the maintenance of his wife and daughter. His Honor refused the order of discharge absolutely, allowing the opposing creditors costs. The Local Committee of the Rifle Association have accepted the tender of Mr B. Osborne, of the Custom House Hotel for catering.

DDNEDIN, Feb. 12. Mr Conyers and staff arrived by the express train from Christchurch this evening. The current session of the Freethought Association was opened in the lower hall of the Athcnroam la-t night, when Mr South, the President, deliver id au address on “ Inspiration.” Over 200 were present. The body of the man found floating in the water near Grant’s Braes yesterday afternoon has beeen identified as that of Walter Bice. He is believed to have been a recent arrival from Tasmania. There were several slight punctured wounds on the left side of his neck, and a handkerchief was tied round the neck, as though after attempting to cut his throat he had repented of the deed for a time and then determined to drown himself. He must have died by drowning, as the cuts on the neck were slight. At the Harbour Board meeting to-day the Bank book laid on the table showed a credit balance of £25,236 13s Bd. A cottage situated in the North East Valley was last night destroyed by fire. The Standard office loses £125 and the National £SO. A boy, aged ten years, has been immured in the gaol to ensure his attendance at the next criminal sessions. The Star calls on the Justices to inquire into the matter, and sec if some means cannot be devised for ensuring his presence ■Without keeping him a prisoner for a couple of months. ‘ Nearly £17,000 has been collected in Dunedin for racing sweeps. POET CHALMERS, Feb. 12. A lodge of mark masters under the English constitution is shortly to he opened, while application for the establishment of a district grand royal arch chapter for Otago has been sent home. BLUFF, Feb. 12, The New Zealand Shipping Company’s ship Red Gauntlet cleared to-day for London, with a cargo of 4245 bales wool, 236 bales rabbit skins, 5 bales hair, 54 casks shells, 35 bags horns, 2711 sacks oats, and 1 bale flax.