NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7485, 26 February 1885, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

[Per Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, Feb, 25. At the request of several local insurance companies, Sir Juliuß Vogel has promised to consider the advisability of effecting an alteration in the law, whereby local companies may be placed on a level footing with some of their foreign rivals by being, enabled to limit their liabilities instead of bein'g obliged to keep them unlimited as at "Hie present. In the course of the-inter-view with Sir Julius, it was represented that some companies from abroad were -doing considerable business with a very small basis of capital and very small -security to residents within the Colony. Mr F. W. Owen has been elected Chairman of the Harbour Board. A deputation waited on Sir J. Vogel, in reference to the South Sea Island trade, making inquiries as to whether, if a large -Company was formed to trade to the islands, Government would give it assistance. The Treasurer expressed an' opinion that if a Company were formed, and it was well .supported by Auckland members, the House would not be disinclined to give it a reasonable amount of aid. The meetings of the Congregational Union of New Zealand are to be held in future in October instead of February, and the office will be removed from Dunedin to Auckland.

The Tarawera, for Sydney, took 1785 caags of preserved meat, shipped by the Frozen Meat and Storage Company, consigned to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, Sydney. The shipment weighs 85,6801 b, and the meat is valued at ,£2142. It is made up in' equal quantities of boiled and rosist beef \ and compressed corned beef." The whole was prepared and tinned within the last two days. It goes to supply an older from the New South Wales Government for the Australian, tooops who embark for the Soudan. kThe single women by the Doric were all with situations by their friends. ■ Scores of applications for servanbs were refused. THAMES, Feb. 25. Ehrenfried's stables, outhouses, &c, at Puriri have been burned down. The fire is supposed to have been spontaneous, caused by the heating of some hay. The estimated loss is over .£SOO. The property was insured in the Victoria office. NEW PLYMOUTH, Feu. 25. Mr Binke, one of the warders in the gaol, died somewhat suddenly last night He had been in ill health for some time. WELLINGTON, Feb. 25. The Colonial Secretary is understood to he ; now engaged'in the preparation of a Bill for the management of hospitals and other charitable institutions. The. Governor, previous to his departure last night, granted leave of'absence for next session of the Assembly to the Hon G. M. Waterhouse, M.L.C., who is about to leave on a visit to England. The Becess Committee of Parliianient, ' composed of all the members of both Houses at present in Wellington, met yesterday to investigate certain irregularities alleged to have occurred recently in the Parliamentary Buildings. The affair is believed to be in connection with the library, but, after consideration, the Committee decided to take no action. The remains of Mrs Eade, who died from blood-poisoning at the Hospital on . Monday last, were interred this afternoon. The funeral was conducted under the auspices of the Salvation Army, of which body deceased had been a member. A man named Neilson, employed as a carpenter at Stewart and Co.'s sawmill, died, suddenly while at work on those premises this afternoon, it is believed from -heart disease. The Nautical Court found G. chief officer, guilty of an error of judgment' in connection with the steamer Wakatu striking a rock off Motunau Island, near Lyttelton. The Court, however, did not wish to deal heavily with him, and returned his certificate, but ordered him to pay the costs of the enquiry, .£4. Mr E. Pearce was unanimously re-elected Chairman of the Harbour Board. Up to the present applications have been received for 52,000 square feet of tipace at the Exhibition. It is expected that all the Ministers will be here by Sunday. BLENHEIM, Feb. 25. The Willmott Company met with a mishap in the final scene of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" last night. The stand containing "angels wafting Tom to Heaven," came down with a sudden crash just as the curtain was falling. Miss Lena Wyatt and a little girl sustained slight cuts on the head; Tom and the other angels escaped with a severe shaking and a fright. Miss Wyatt will not be prevented from performing to-day. There was great consternation in the crowded audience. KUMAEA, Feb. 25. With the exception of one slight shower, no rain has fallen the last three weeks, and many mines are consequently idle. DUNEDIN, Feb. 25. The Directors of the New Zealand Befrigerating Company, whose works are at Burnside, within three miles of the city, and who were the first Company in New Zealand to begin freezing operations, which they have carried on since August, 1882, have passed the following resolution: —" That in view of the small number of sheep guaranteed for shipment during the ensuing months of May, June, July, and August, the present high rates of freight, and the unsatisfactory position of the trade in London, this Company declines to commit itself to any further freight agreements." At the Police Court to-day Thomas Mackenzie was charged with having, on

Feb. 5, at Owake creek, of malice aforethought attempted to drown Richard Norman, master of the Janet Ramsay, with intent to murder him. The Janet Eanisay is a small craft of which Mackenzie is mate. He went ashore without permission on Feb. 1, just as the tide was making to enable-the vessel to go up the Owake, which is a branch of Catlin's river. When he returned on Feb. 5, the vessel was going down again, and Norman told him to lend a hand, whereupon he rushed at Norman, caught him by the leg- and threw him overboard. The boat manned by the cook and a seamen picked him up. After the hearing of lengthy evidence, the case was adjourned for a week. Mr Gillies, speaking at Milton last night, strongly condemned Mr Stout's attack on Christianity. He said Mr Stout should remember the responsibilities of his position ; if he did not, others would. He had no right to use his position to insult the feelings of the bulk of the people of the Colony. Mr Gillies received a vote of confidence.

INVERCARGILL, Feb. 25. The body of Mary Dun was found by the Haroour Master to-day near the Heads. All the bodies of those drowned oh Feb. 14 have now been recovered. Mr Conyers started yesterday on a survey of the country between the head of Bluff harbour and the mouth of the Mataura river to determine the possibility of cutting a canal by which the produce of the Toi-tois district could be carried for shipment at the Bluff. i