NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9993, 23 March 1893, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

[Per Pesos association.] AUCKLAND. March 22. Last Friday, a girl, sixte?en years old, named Margaret Reece, of Onehunga, mixed forty-two matches in a cup of water and drank the solution. She died this morning. The cause is said to be religious melancholia. NAPIER, March 23. The Countess of Glasgow addressed a crowded meeting ia St John’s schoolroom this afternoon on the aims and objects of the New Zealand Mothers’ Union,and it was decided to establish a branch of tho Union here. The Earl and Countess of Glasgow visited the public schools and hospital. His Excellency also visited the Working Men’s Club, and spent the rest of the afternoon on the Bowliug Club’s green. The Harbour Board has determined to make an effort to get a remission of the duty on the new steam tug and dredge. If it had steamed out no duty would be payable, out it was brought out in sections to be put together here, and something like J 3.1000 is claimed as duty. WELLINGTON, March 22. The biennial session of the American Order of Oddfellows was resumed this morning. A deputation was appointed to wait on the Government on general matters of interest to the Order. The question of centralisation of tho sick fund was further adjourned until the 1893 session. The following officers were elected;— Grand Master, Bro J. Burchell (Auckland); Deputy Grand Master, Bro F. Wills (Wellington) ; Grand Secretary, Bro Reid (Dunedin), Grand Treasurer, Bro Alexander ( Dunedin). The election of Grand Worden was held over until to-morrow. At a meeting of flockowners a resolution was carried affirming the desirableness of establishing a flock afeud-book for stud sheep of different breeds in the Colony. The Pastoral Associations throughout New Zealand are to be asked to take the matter into consideration.

Mr Mestayer, of Sydney, who was appointed the engineer to carry out tho drainage scheme in Wellington, has arrived. Directly the plan of operations is decided upon the work will be commenced, both with the necessary survey and the laying of pices, the funds being provided out of a provisional advance of J 540,000 secured Jaj the Corporation, and which will probably be expended before the end of the year. The United District Charitable Aid Board reconsidered yesterday’s decision to cut down the vote for the Wellington Benevolent Society, it being alleged that the action was ultra vires under Sections 59 and 60 of tho Act of 1885. BLENHEIM, March 22. Colonel Fox inspected the several corps here to-day, there being about 200 men present, besides a large number of onlookers. The Colonel expressed himself as only partly satisfied with the appearance and drill of the men, but in some cases made complimentary remarks. The meu were kept on parade until seven o’clock. DUNEDIN, March 23. At tho Land Board, to-day, Mr Maitland said the Minister for Lands had fcesn advised that it is not considered that Section 16 of the Act of 1887 affects the provision requiring the holder of. a perpetual lease to take advantage of his purchasing right before twelve years after the commencement of the lease, but that all that the section does is to allow the holder to complete the improvements, and otherwise comply with tho license or losee within a shorter period than that fixed by the 1885 Act.