NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 8385, 21 January 1888, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

[Pbb Press Association,] AUCKLAND, Jan. 20. Mr R. J. O’Sullivan, sen.. Inspector of Schools in the Auckland Provincial District, forwarded a letter to the Board of Education to-day, intimating that on July 31 next he would resign that position. Mr O’Sullivan has been connected with educational matters in this district since 1869, and is esteemed as a high educational authority. The City Council has referred the question of the electric lighting of the city to the Streets Committee, along with a letter from Mr J. C. Firth relative to the conclusion of the lighting experiment. The property valuation of suburban Boroughs is as follows: —Parnell, .£26,860, a decrease of .£1640; Newton, £20,035, an increase of £602. WELLINGTON, Jan. 20. Some excitement was caused in town this evening, by an outbreak of fire in a restaurant kept by a Chinaman, which adjoined the Bank of New Zealand. At one time it appeared as if the fire had a firm hold, but the brigade, with a strong pressure of water, soon beat it out. The Government have cancelled the regulation prohibiting the public from admittance to the Government Buildings before two o’clock in the afternoon. The Native Minister will shortly leave for the North in order to be present at a meeting of the Waikato Natives. The Hon Mr Mitchelson has promised Mr E. Bilbrough, the representative of Cook and Sons, the well-known English tourist agents, that the same concessions will be made to the firm upon railway coupons as are extended by the Australian Colonies. After the annual inspection of the forces Major-General Whitmore will resign his position as Commander of the New Zealand Forces. Sir G. Whitmore, some time ago, offered to perform the duties without salary, but the Government thought there were serious objections to this. It is understood that Major Bodham, of the Permanent Militia, has resigned his position. It is stated that one of the forts at Halswell will be dismantled and rebnilt. The ketch Amateur, while being towed out of the Foxton river yesterday, got ashore on the South Spit, and is likely to become a total wreck. The crew landed safely. GREYMOUTH, Jan. 20. James Ward, a miner at Nelson Creek, was killed yesterday by the falling in of the face at which he was working.