NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5953, 25 March 1880, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

■ [The Peess Association.! AUCKLAND, Maech 24. Afire at the Khyber Pass road destroyed a dwelling-house occupied by a man named Webhj the family escaped in their nightdresses. The furniture and famfly clothing •were burned. The place was insured in the New Zealand Company for £IOO, whilst the ■ loss is said to be £l5O. The Harbour Board, yesterday, instructed •their engineer to select a situation and prepare plans for a large graving dock,notices than :25ft deep on the sill. The Board have imsposed increased port dues, with the object of irealising a revenue or endowment, in order to be enabled to borrow further sums on their •security. The Board will also proceed to ask the Imperial Government to guarantee a loan, •on condition of the construction of a dock • suitable for ships of the Eoyal Navy. A meeting of Kingites, Ngatimaniopoto, .and the Taupo tribes is proceeding at Otorohaki, near Te KnitL Judge Bichmond decided yesterday that -where a bailiff enters on land to levy in ex•edition, and takes all necessary steps to realise, but the parties settle before the sale, -the bailiff is entitled to poundage. Dr Skao la expected here shortly to inspect the Asylum. . Tremendous numbers of schnapper, mullet, /kabawai, and other fish are lying dead up the Waiwera river. , A report from William Haines at the ‘Quarantine Station, which has been received by the Immigration Officer, gives the, particulars of the death of two immigrants by the .Earl Granville—Margaret M'Meanoy, widow, aged 46, died of sunstroke on Saturday, and Bridget Naims, aged 23, single, died of low fever yesterday. The other immigrants on ;Motuihi are doing welL Messrs Napper and tamboume announce the publication of a weekly journal, to he • called the Commercial Gazette, and devoted to commercial interest,!. The new journal will bo neutral in politics. At the Presbyterian Assembly the Bev Truce announced that Mr Henry Somerville has promised a donation of £IOOO towards the church. A portion of the amount is to go to the Assembly scholarships fund. At the Orakei Parliament a resolution was • unanimously passed, condemning the Government for detaining the Maori prisoners, instead of bringing them to trial at •once. The bookmakers met last evening, when three showed bats unpaid amounting to £BOO, and it was agreed to take legal advice. _l£ the money is not paid in a fortnight the defaulters will ho posted.

GEAHAMSTOWN, Mahch 24, The Hon W. Eolleston, after visiting the Te Aroha lands, accompanied by Messrs Percy Smith, chief surveyor, and Magmnity, of the Telegraph department, left for Kati■kati, the Bast Coast settlement Deputations waited upon him at Ohinemuri re telegraph and postal communication. He stated that both were dependont upon whether Tnkutino granted a right of road through the Komata -settlement. Another had an interview with TukuMno, but no promise was made towards obtailing the right to continue country roads. Tukukino demanded 1000 acres, which ho said had been promised to him by Mr Sheehan. Mr Eolleston questioned the truthfulness of Bach a promise, when the old man walked away. He had previously sent some melons as a present to Mr Eolleston, The Minister intends offering “Some sections of bush lands for the use of

Krsona taking np lands now offered on denied payments. ■ It is all fern land. WELLINGTON, Mabch 24. . Two sharp ebooks of earthquake wore felt hero at 5 o'clock this morning. The Wellington tramway was sold to-day to Mr. E. W. Mills, ironmonger, for £19,250. Government has received telegrams from the Waimate Plains stating that the Natives had seized soine horses belonging to one of the contractors for road work, ana refused to give them up except on payment of £2._ | It is expected that railway communication ■With Featherstoh will be resumed to-morrow. The Hinemoa left for Nelson this morning to bring on the Nelson Volunteers, who a,re about to take part in the review at Christchurch. She returns to-morrow afternoon and leaves, again daring the evening with the Wellington men, who number about 800. It has been raining steadily for six days, but no damage in town has yet been reported.

GKEYMODXH, Mabch 24. • Further news was received to-day from the Golden Fleeee claim, Beefton, stating that 804 tons of quartz had been crushed, giving the handsome return of 6130zs retorted gold; OAMAHtr, March 24. The Oamaru Stone Company held its annual meeting to-night and declared a dividend of 10 per cent. The Company has only beenin existence • two year®, but it has already established business connections with all the Australian Colonies; For a r parcel of SO,OCK) bushels of wheat a J&ndowaer in this district was to-day offered 4s per bushel cash, but he declined the offer. i DUNEDIN, Mabch 24. , The Aconcagua left Plymouth on March 20 yith fiSOpasseneejs. i Henry M’Leoa. nged 14i, was • drowned in the Water of. Leith yesterday whilst bathing. Be bad got otet of his depth. ~,, i Oat ofJho £50,000 votaforsohool buildings £7OOO has been apportioned to Otago. The prisoner Butler,- charged'With murder and burglary, ha® been formally remanded to Monday. 11.". li'. /UU-vX'r~! r