NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXX, Issue 8557, 10 August 1888, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

[Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 9, The settlers of Pukekohe and the surrounding districts held a public meeting at Pukekohe on Saturday last, when a resolution was adopted urging on Government the necessity of making considerable reductions in the public expenditure, aa the increasing taxation had become unbearable. John Murphy, a bush cook, employed at Tamakihite, near Dargaville, drowned himself in the Northern Wairoa river on Monday. He had been drinking heavily. A man named Thomas Weatherill, a farmer at Rangiahia, shot himself through the heart this morning. Deceased was one of Major Jackson’s Company of Forest Rangers in the Waikato war. A Native woman, who was employed with others in clearing bush at Rotorua yesterday, tripped whilst running from a falling tree and fell on a sharp stump, which pinned her through the breast. Death resulted shortly afterwards. WELLINGTON, August 9. The work of launching the stranded barque Weatbersfield will be commenced at once, and a portion of the necessary gear has already been sent up. BLENHEIM, August 9. At tbe Marlborough Racing Club’s annual meeting lastq night, Mr W. G. Riley was elected President, and the Hon W Clifford, Vice-President. The report was satisfactory. The balance-sheet showed receipts, £38012s sd; expenditure, £1046 19s 8d; assets, £3591 13s sd; liabilities £3052 13s 9d. Mr Rush was re-elected handicapper; MrL. Redwood, starter; and Mr James Ward, sen., judge. The Spring Meeting is fixed for Nov. 1. It was resolved, by ten to six, that the annual subscription should be two guineas instead of one as heretofore. DUNEDIN, August 9. Andrew Houston Wilson, seventy-three years of age, was found dead in bis chair in front of the fire in his hut at Kaikorai yesterday morning. The Jury returned a verdict of “ Died of syncope.’ INVERCARGILL, August 9. A man named George Bailey was killed in the Hokomii coal mine yesterday afternoon, by a fall of coal.