NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5483, 13 June 1879, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

(PER " HERALD" SPECIAL WIRE.)

[from our own correspondents.] THAMES, Thursday. Tbo financial difficulty into which the Water Supply Committee have drifted is likely to be settled by the Borough Council taking over the whole management. A subcommittee have been arranging the terms on which the Borough were to obtain possession, and at a special meeting of the County Council, held yesterday, the terms were agreed to. A ll that now remains is for the Borough Council to adopt the report of the eub-committee. When the Borough obtains possession, it will have the power to levy a rate, and thereby raise means for meeting the deficiencies. '■ CAMBRIDGE, Thursday. The opinion of natives from the West Coast districts is, that there will be no fightinp, and that it was never intended. The town is very orderly, and the severe weather of the past week is giving way, and heavy rain is not far distant. [press association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday. The Harbour Board met to-day, when j". R. Rees, resident engineer here, was chosen as engineer for the Board, at a salary of £1000 a-year. WELLINGTON, Thursday. Sir Wm. Fitzherbert has accepted the Speakership of the Legislative Council. Air. H. Jaekson, late Chief Surveyor, will probably be a candidate for the Hutt. The shipowners of this port have resolved to make a general reduction of all classes receiving wages, from the captains downwards. The reduction will be from 10 to 20 per cent. Tenders are invited for the erection of large Post and Telegraph offices in brick.

Mrs. Phillips, recently discharged on the evideace of an alibi, was re-arrested to-day on the charge of wilfully setting fire to her house at Kaiwarra. Her brother, Alphonso Rush, one of the witnesses, on whose evidence she was discharged, was also arrested for perjury. The father, mother, and sister all swore to her being at Taita when the fire occurred at Kaiwarra. The police think they have now sufficient evidence to disprove this. It is stated semi-officially that Government will propose an increased scale of the Land-_ tax npon properties valued at over £1500.

A writ is gazetted for the election of members of the House of Representatives-for* the Eastern Maori District and the Southern Maori District. Mr. F. E. Hamlin is appointed Returning Officer for the former, and the nomination is to take place at Napier, on the 26th of June, and the polling on the 7th of July. Mr. Alexander Mackay is the Returning Officer for the Southern District. The nomination 13 to take place at Kaiapoi on the 26th June, and the polling on the 7th July. The following polling-places are gazetted : —Eastern Maori Electoral District: Greyton, Forester's Hall; Masterton, Court-house ; Porangahau, Paora Uopihi's house; Takapau, Booking-office, Railway Station; Waiparua, Court-hou,e ; Hastings, Goodwin's Long Shed; West Clive, the School-house; Taradale, the .School-house; Napier, Provincial Council Ghambers ; Petone, the School-house; Tarawera, the Block-house; Tapuaeharuru, the Court-house; Mohaka, the Schoolhouse ; Wairoa, the Court-house; Mahia, Bendall's Iron Boat-shed ; Gisborne, the Court-house; Whakaato, the School-house ; Ormond, the Court-house; Tolaga Bay (Mawa), the School-ho'use; Tokomaru, the School-house; Akuku, the School-house ; Waiapu (Te Hatepe), the School-house ; Kawakawa, the School-houso; Te Kaha, the School-house; Opotiki, the Court-house; Whakatane, the School-house; Mata, the Court-house ; Maketu, the Court-house ; Te Takeke, Te Waata Tawanui's house ; Ohine-' mutu (Rotorua), the School-house; Puhirua (or Awahou), thb School-house ; Wairoa (or Tarawera), the School-house. Southern Maori Electoral District: Wakapuaka, the School-house; Wairau, the School-house; Havelock, the Court-house ; Waikawa, the School-house ; Motueka, the Courthouse ; Arahura, the School-house; Kaikoura, the Court-house; Kaiapoi, the School house; Rapaki, the School-house; Little Kiver, the School-house; Moreki-rauri, Mamarei's hou-o; Otago Heads, the School-house; Waikouaiti, the School-house; Arowhenua, the Court-house; Campbelton, the Schoolhouse ; Riverton, the School-house.

An inquiry was held last week at Kaikoura, relative to the circumstances connected with tho wreck oE the schooner Shepherdess. The result was that the captain and crew were not to blame. The sole cause of the accident is attributed to the Government mooring being old and much worn. The wreck has been sold £16, and an attempt will be made to rc.lauuch her. CHRISTCHUECH, Thursday.

The meeting of the Canterbury Cricket Association was held last night. Mr. Condell w.i 9 re-eleoted secretary and treasurer. Match Committee: Stevens, Aehby, Ollivier. It was decided to ask the Commissioners of Railways if free passes would be granted to the Australian or Tasraanian team, should either visit the Middle Island next season.

Yesterday a meeting of' the Hospital Board resolved to engage a matron from England for twelve monthe at a salary of £100 a-year, the engagement to be afters wards terminable at three months' notice, £40 to be allowed for the passage money. At present there are 72 patients in the Cbristcharch Hospital.

A fire broke ont last night in the front shop of Mr. Foster's furniture warehouse, Sydenham. It was at once discovered, and put out by the assistance of the bystanders before much damage was done. The Harbour Board have decided to extend the time for receiving tenders for the graving dock to October. Their tus? they sent to Wellington to put on the slip to-day. The Board accepted the tender of Hawkins and Co. for the reclamation works on the east side of the basin at £8400 6< Sd.

A selection has been made of the views of Christcburch and Canterbury scenery to be sent to the Sydney Exhibition. The pictures embrace a wide scope, and will give an idea, not only of the town, but of the appearance and natural conformation of a large part of the country.

TJMARTJ, Thursday. At the Supreme Court, to-day, W. Rogers, for false pretences, was sentenced to twelve monthe' imprisonment; John Henry James, for beastiality, to 4 years' imprisonment; Sarah Steeals, for forgery and uttering, three days'. This concludes the criminal calendar. A civil case, Jonathan Dupriss i>. J. D. Rogers, claim £1000, is now going on* In the Supreme Court, to-night, Jonathan Allpresa obtained £100 damages out of £1000 claimed against J. D. Hogers for malicious prosecution for embezzlement. OAMARU, Thursday., At the County Council meeting to-day, the conduct of the Government, in not paying the share of the cost of the Upper Waitaki bridge as the work proceeded, w«8 eeverely commented on. It was pointed out that in their compelling the Waimate and Waitaki County Councils to carry on the work alone, those bodies were deprived of interest on part of their funds. Alfred Hoskins, bailiff, who stole some property of a man whose house he was in possession of at the time, was brought up today, and sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour. Last night a special session of the Grand Lodge N.Z., 1.0. G.T., was hold in Lee-street Hall, for the purpose of confirming the Grand Lodge degrees on the qualified members oE the order. The Gr*nd Lodge was presented to the G.W.C.T. Bro. John W. Jago, G.W. Chairman Rev. l>. Roseby, and G.W.S. Bro. D. C. Cameron. Bro. Wallace officiat d as G. V.T., Bro. Weir as Grand Marshall, Sister Hamilton aa Grand Deputy-Marshall, Bro. Cadogan as Graritl Guard, Bro. Oliver 'as Grand Counsellor, Hamilton.aa Grand Treasnrer, — thJjSBSjJEr: C. T. presiding. 28 candidates and their credentials being examined and found correct, were duly initiated into the grand degree. After the close of the interesting ceremony, the noviciates were appropriately addressed by the G.W.C.T. The doors of the lodge were then opened for the admission of members of the subordinate degrees, when a considerable addition was made to the members present. Interesting addresses on the good ol the order were delivered by the G.W.C.T., Bro. Dr. Roseby, Bro. Rer. Messrs. Stevens and Barle, Bro. Wallace, and others.

A supposed case of death by drowning was reported to the police yesterday. Two men, Sydney Hodge and Robert Workman, went out fishing at Moeraki, at the reefs. The sea was very rough, and towards dusk the boat was seen to disappear. A search wa3 made along the beach, and discovered wreckage, from which it is concluded the poor fellows were drowned. DUNEDIN", Thursday. The total contributions to the Kaitangata Relief Fund is upwards of £15,000. Of this £10,000 was collected in Ofcago alone, while fully half of the total contributed is represented by sums of £1 and under.

Brother John Hyde Harris, Right Worshipful District Grand for the province of Otago and Southland, 8.C., has intimated to the various Lodges under Hl3 jurisdiction his desire that the members should wear Masonic mourning for three months, out of respect to the memory of the late Brother Lazar, G.M. for the province of Weatland, and late Deputy G.M. for this province.

The Harbour Board have resolved to appeal against taxing its reserves, nnder the Land-tax, on the following ground:—l. That the foreshore reserves proposed to be taxed do not come within the definition of " land" (see Interpretation clause). 2. That foreshore reserves are " pnblio reserves," and pot endowments for the general purposes of the Board, but public reserves set aside for specific purposes set forth in the Crown grant, the Board only being appointed trustees to see that the trust is executed. 3. That the public reserves were exempted, except such an area as is occupied by tenants. INVERCARGILL, Thursday. The sitting of tha Supreme Court was resumed this morning. Allen Charles young was yesterday convicted on three charges of larceny, and sentenced to five years' imprisonment for each offence, the terms to be concurrent. There were a couple of previous convictions against the prisoner, and Judge Williams remarked that he must treat him as an old hand. Patrick Kenny, 22 years of age, pleaded to attempted rape on a girl, Minnie Atkinson, at Oreti. In passing Court said, with regard to the prisoner's!excuse that he was drunk, it mattered little whether he was drunk or sober. It was essential for the well-being of the community that women and children should be protected from ruffianly attacks of this nature. The sentence of the Court was, that he be kept to hard labour for two yeare, and receive, on July 7, 25 lashes from the cat-o'-nine-tails. A boy named Lachlan Reynolds wa3 acquitted on a charge of stealing a letter from the mail-bags. The evidence as to felonious intent was wauting. J. T. Elliott was acquitted on a charge of horse-stealing. A rule nisi was granted in the case of May v. Mclntosh for a breach of the Railway Bylaws. The facts in this case are that a few weeks ago, Mr. Mclntosh, a wealthy squatter in the Ohautau district, was fined £10 for using indecent language at the railway station. May is the constable who brought the action. The rule was made returnable within ten days after date of service. There is one civil case set down for hearing at this session, Tappar and Brotvn (as trustees) v. M. L. Bennet. This will be taken tomorrow. Mrs. Britten, the inspirational speaker, lectures here next week.