NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5473, 2 June 1879, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

(PER " BERALD" SrECIAL WIRE.) [from our own correspondents.] THAMES, Saturday. The sum of £93 10s 3d has been raised in aid of the Ladies' Benevolont Society here. This is the result of a house-to-house canvass. CAMBRIDGE, Saturday. The Court proceeded all day in a satisfactory manner. The Taranaki business is being freely discussed, but all I have conversed with are very cautious not to commit themselves with decided opinions either way. Quite a gloom is cast over Cambridge this evening by the sudden death of Mrs. W. Walker, of the National Hotel, from an attack of rheumatic fever. The deceased lady had won for herself universal respect by her kindness and gentleness. HOKIANGA, Saturday. Mr. Spencer Von Sturmer, who has been Resident Magistrate and. Native Officer in the Hokianga District for many years, is about being transferred to another portion of the Provincial district. His successor's name has not yet transpired, but in all probability it will be a shift for one of the resident magistrates not far from your metropolis. Judicious changing of magistrates from time to time is, in my opinion, a very desirable thing, and one which might be more largely extended in the interests of the public generally. A local resident is believed to be the lowest tenderer for a quantity of totara piles for the Auckland Harbour Board. Splendid spars of this class abound in nearly every portion of this district. Owing to the frequent postponement of the County Council meetings, a large accumulation of arrears has to be got through at the next circularised meeting.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER, Saturday. Prisoner McLennan was to-day committed for trial on the charge of poisoning his wife. The case has occupied the Resident Magistrate Court all through the week, and has excited great public interest. The moßt important additional evidence given was that of a woman named Macdonald, who knew the prisoner in Geraldine. He told her before hia wife's death, that he was over head and ears 'in debt, and had passed forged chcques, but that he had managed to keep his wife in ignoranoe of his troubles. After her death, he again appeared at witness's house at Pataugata, and remarked that it was a good job that his wife was ont of the way, as he was now free to go to Africa. She afterwards found that there was suspicion of wife murder, and told him so. He said with some curiosity, " Could they detect poison so long after death ? I loved her too much to poison her." He also said, that if an attempt were made to arrest him, he would Bhoot the police, and shewed her a revolver. WELLINGTON, Saturday. Gleich has been released from gaol. A, Lindsay, boot importer, has assigned his estate to J. W. Young, merchant. The liabilities are about £14,000, and the assets about £17,000. The Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington for the month ending to-day amounted to £12,563 Ss 9d, and for the corresponding month of last year it was £16,793. During the month of May 85 births and 31 deaths were registered in Wellington, and 24 marriage certificates issued. Captains Hewitt, Hose, and Cross, who formed the Koyal Commission touching the wreck of the Taupo, returned from Tauranga yesterday. It is understood they have not yot concluded their labours. A supplementary Gazette authorises the shooting of hares within the Counties of Maniatoto, Vincent, Waikouaiti, Lake, Peninsula, Taieri, Bruce, Clutha, and Tuapeka, between the Ist of June and the 31st of July. The middle line of railway from Clutha to Catlin's River is defined, A (pau on whose word we can rely (says the Neio Zealander) informed us late last night that he had brought to town several ounces of alluvial gold found in one of the country districts. At present we are not at liberty to mention the locality, as the party has not yet seenred its own interests, and wishes to make further investigations, but we have every reason to put faith in the statement of our informant.

Mr. Ballard, Cadet Instructor to the Telegraph Department, was presented with

an address and gold pin this afternoon by the cadets of the department, prior to hiß departure for the South. The perjniy caße against Mr. Kinross; of Napier, has occupied the R.M. Court all day. The examination of native witnesses is very slow, all they say having to be taken down in both Maori .and English. Very little progress is therefore made, and nothing very important has been elicited. The chief witness was Parawona Oneono, who deposed tliat Mr. Kinross now claimed certain lands of his known as Raukawa, in payment for spirits supplied to witness. The land had been mortgaged to Mr. Kinross, but only for four years. Witness had got goods and money from Mr. Kinross. On various occasions he had transacted business with Mr. Kinross through Mr. George Worgan, who acted as interpreter. Goods of various kinds had been debited by Mr. Kinross to him, and charged against his interest in the Raukawa estate. He always got what he asked for in connection with the Raukawa estate from Mr. Kinross's store, whether goods, money, or spirits. He cauld no say how much spirits he got, but he used to get two cases at a time. The spirits were al! charged against a mortgage on the Raukawa estate. He always signed a document when he got goods, spirits, or money. He did not understand the contents of these doouments. Mr. Kinross used to tell him the amounts of the cheques. He could not read himself. The case was further adjourned to Jnne 10.

Mayene Flinderß, a married woman, attempted suicide to day, by throwing herself from the wharf into the harbour. When rescued she wag nearly dead, and was taken to the hospital. CHRrSICHURCH, Saturday. _ The Selwyn Council, yesterday, at their meeting, made a grant to the Cemetery Trustees for fencing, levelling, and planting, and to the Avon Road Board to clear the creeks, —the object being to give work to the unemployed, and also v«ted £5500 for further extension of the Malvern Waterrace.

The Diocesan Synod, last night, at their sitting, voted an additional £6000 for enlarging churches, parsonages, and schools, and adjourned to Hat July. Barnard, the sheep-stealer, is still elading the police, who are out in all directions. The births in Christchurch and surrounding districts during May were 158 in number, against 162 for the same month in last year. Marriages were 36 against 33, and deaths 61 against 49. The Pioneer Bicycle Club, Christchurch, arranged at a committee meeting last night the following runs for the month of June:— June 7, Summer; 14th, Fendalton and Harewood; 21sfc, Kaiapoi; 28th, Heathcots Valley. A box of surgical instruments, quite new, was found thß nigbt before last in a stall of the old Provincial stables, Durham-street. The police, so far, have been unable to find an owner. At a meeting of the Christchurch Chess Club last night 12 entries were received for the chess tournament to take place on Monday and following days. Dr. Ellis was appointed vice-president, and Mr. Hallwood, of Wellington, secretary. DUNEDIN, Saturday. On Thursday it was reported to the police that an elderly man, named Stevens, work, ing at the Steam Foundry in Cumberlandstreet, was missing from his home. Yesterday afternoon a resident of South Danedin, whilst walking upon the beach near Dwyer'a Head, found the body of a man who subsequently proved to be that of Stevens. A bottle, half-full of brandy, waa found at his side. The body was at once removed to tho morgue by a cabman named Burman, who came on the scene shortly afterward, and an inquest will be held on Monday. The vital statistics for the Dunedin district for the month ending to-day are as follow :—Births, 149 ; deaths, 55, including two from typhoid fever; marriages, 39. For the month of May last year the returns were Deaths, 33 ; births, 155 ; marriages, 38. " Zealandia" is to be exhibited in Dunedin and Timaru next week. INVERCARGILL, Sunday. Mr. A. Henderson has been appointed Sheriff and Supreme Court Registrar, re Mr. D. Stuart, resigned.