NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5490, 21 June 1879, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

« (PER "HERALD" SPECIAL WIRE.) [FROM OCR. OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] NGARUAWAHIA, Friday. Constable Hob3on, who left here to-day for town duty, was entertained by a number of the townspeople at the Royal Mail Hotel last niuht, as a testimony of their appreciation of his long and faithful services here. CAMBRIDGE, Friday. A sfoung Men's Christian Association was formed here at a meeting last evening. The Revds. W. N. De L. Wills, H. Bull, and W. Evans, and Messrs. Houghton, Brooks, Macintosh, and Ashwell were appointed a provisional committee to draw up rales for the new association. TE AWAMUTU, Friday. A lad, named Burns, 13 years old, was charged with stealing a gold watch and chain from the house of Mr. C. Innes, while the family were out. lie was sentenced by the Resident Magistrate yesterday to three years at the Naval Training School. He went down in yesterday's train. [PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, Friday. Full powers have been delegated to" the Tauranga Domain Board, under the Public Domains Act, 1860. One acre in Whakatane, being lot 43, has been temporarily reserved from sale. Mr. Statham Lowe has been appointed traffic manager, and Mr. John Potter Clarke accountant, at the Aucklaud section o£ the New Zealand railways. The man recently convicted for stealing a pie from Dr. Lemon's house, is identified as Frederick Plummer, a notorious Auckland criminal. Several other offences are laid to his charge. A report was current that Mr. Barton had resigned his seat for the city, but it is incorrect. He is expected back by the next San Francisco mail. Mr. 0. B. Barrand is sending a number of water-colour paintings to the Sydney Exhibition. It is probable that the first section of the West Coast railway will be commenced in a few days. A tender has been accepted for the new Supreme Court building here. The writ for the Hutt election has been issued, and the nomination fixed for the 30th of June, and the poll on July 2. The International Commission write to the | New Zealand Commission for the Sydney Exhibition, under date of the 4th inat., that there will be shewn in operation at the Exhibition, the machinery and a method, on working scale, for the extraction of the precious metals, not only from untreated tailings, but also from those in treatment by the ordinary process, and in which a notable per-centage ef gold or silver has been left. This method, it is believed, will save 50 or 60 per cent, of the gold left in the tailings which have gone through the grinding operations of the machines, such as wheelers or berdan?, pans, or of arresters. The process is cheap, and ought greatly to increase the production of gold in New Zealand. It is requested that samples may be forwarded for treatment at the Exhibition, and operations will be conducted under the supervision of the officers of the Commission.

NELSON, Friday. A man named Davidson, of Foxhill, whilst shooting cattle on Lyndon's run, Amuri, accidentally shot himself. The ball passed through the fleshy part of the body. Hopes are entertained of his recovery. The body of Mr. Shalders, telegraphist, Cable Bay, has not yet been recovered. CHRISTCHURCff, Friday. A largely-attended soiree was held last evening, preceded by the half-yearly conference of teachers connected with the Sun-day-school Union. The Rev. A. Reid presided. At the close of a discussion a resolution was passed, requesting the committee to consider the question of the Sundayschool centenary and the formation of an Evangelistioal Sunday-school Alliance for the world. Seven cases of diphtheria have occurred at Kaiapoi. Every precaution is taken to prevent the disease spreading. The houEe sparrows have so blocked the vontilators of St. Alban's Church, that it cost the committee £17 to clear them out. Professor Baldwin gives a private seance this afternoon. During the past two days an enquiry has been going on before the Collector of Customs, into a collision between the barque Realto and the hopper barges. The evidence was taken at length, and judgment was reserved. The Harbour Board have appointed a committee to inquire into the same matter, and taken what evidence they deemed necessary. The model of the Lyttelton harbour to he exhibited at Sydney and Melbourne is making progress. All the wharves will be shown, as well as models of every description of craft completely rigged. Everything is to be according to scale. A prisoner named Brown, was found dead in bed in the Aldington gaol this morning. He had been drinking heavily previous to admission. So far as is definitely known, there are lodged about 2800 objections to the land tax in the Canterbury district. A vaat quantity of rain has fallen lately, and to-day it is pouring. News has already come here of serious floods in the northern rivers, and tidings from the south are anxiously awaited. The Ashley is higher than any flood last year. A meeting of clergymen and laymen was held this afternoon, to consider what course should be taken to deal with the existing distress. His Lordship the Bishop presided. It was resolved to form a Bociety, to include all denominations, to be called the Benevolent Aid Society, to be subsidised by the Government, the society undertakes to provide for all cases of distress in and around Christchurch. A sub-committee was appointed to confer with the clergy of all denominations, for the purpose of preparing a scheme to be submitted to a publio meeting. The men who have been sent to work on the railway extension are in a rather nnplea-

Isant predicament, as, owing to the swollen state of the Waipara, no provisions could bo . cot across to them to-day. It is thought they have sufficient to last till tomorrow, when an effort will be made to relieve them, but' tho heavy rain which is now falling will render it rather difficult. "H. M.S. Pinafore "and "Ernam" were, produced by Towle'a amateurs at the Theatre for the last time this evening, and, in consequence of the drenching rain, there was a small attendance. The weather has been veiy unfavourable all the week for amusements of any kind. A man was summoned at the Police Court for impounding a horse, and then buying it himself when put up to auction. He pleaded ignorance of the law, and the Magistrate, after pointing out the Cattle Tresspass Ordinance, 1572, which dealt with such cases, he dismissed the charge; the defendant paying the costs, and restoring the horao to the poundkeeper. An express train for Duaedin broke down at 10.50 this morning, near Asiiburton, and was detained an hour. At the Supreme Court to-day, Judge Johnston took exception to the paragraph which had appeared in the Timarii Herald, to tho effect that the case of the Court v. Studholme was "still dragging its weary length along." His Honor said such expressions of opinion on a case was likely to seriously press on the minds of the jury, and added that the people had rendered themselves liable for contempt of Court for such remarks. Tie case now before the Court is not to be concluded this week.

_~ . OAMARU Friday. lne inquest on tho bedy of John Macgregor, who was found drowned yesterday, r-sulted in an open ver lict. The body was recognised by Mr. A. Maclean, late manager of tho Waikakahi station, [n answer to a telegram sent to Cromwell by Inspector Thompson, it was stated that Macgregor had recently been employed as shepherd ia the Clyde district. There were notes, cheques, and deposit receipts on the body representing abont £600. The deceased intimated his intention of proceeding to the old country, and was probably on the way to Dunedin on tho night of the 29th of last month, when he stumbled off the wharf, and was drowned. Neal Dougherty, boardins-house keeper, was fined £15 for sly grog-selling. . . DUNEDIN, Friday. An inquiry, touching the origin of the fire at the Athenaeum, will be held at the Octagon Hotel at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon. An information for a criminal offence today was laid, and a warrant issued for the arrest of the late acting-librarian at the Athenaeum.

At the meeting o£ the Clutha Presbytery, on Wednesday, leave was granted to the Balclutha congregation to moderate in a call to the Rev. J. Morice, of Hokitika. The adjourned meeting of the legal profession, for the purpose of electing officebearers connected with the proposed Law Society, was held this afternoon. About a dozen were present. Mr. W. T. Stewart occupied the chair. The Attorney-General was appointed president; Mr. B. C. Haggetfc was elected vice-president. Seven other members were elected a committee. The County Council, appointed to hold a meeting in Dunedin in the Chamber of Commerce. It took place today. The at tendance was very small. The secretary drew special attention to the report, which suggested that a portion of tne railway line, from Dunedin to Port Chalmers at least, it not to Mosgiel, 3hould have a double line of rails laid down. He moved the adoption of the report. Mr. Lowe seconded the motion. It waa decided to adjourn the meeting till Friday evening, owing to the small attendance. Several expressed disgust at the apathy displayed by the members. This evening's Star says :-"We have good authority for stating that within the pasttwo weeks hundreds of marbles havebeen privately bought in Dunedin and shipped to the .North. The inference is that they are intended to be sold by the consignees amsngst the dissatisfied natives, and used as bullets in the event of hostilities breaking out." ™

INVERCARGILL, Friday. Bennett, a bankrupt, whoso application for an order of discharge has recently been before the District Court, to-day had hia certificate suspended for three years, at the request of the opposing creditors. An °^ er , was e ranted for the prosecution of the bankrupt for the concealment of the state of his affairs. Mr. Matthew who appeared for the bankrupt, depra' catad the prosecution, stating that the bankrupt was sufficiently punished by having his certificate suspended for the longest period the law allowed. The Judge, however, was of a different opinion, and said that the public duty to Bennett should be his prosecution. A gale has been blowing all day, and much, rain is falling. Mrs. Britten's last lecture took place laafc night, on " The Amusement of the People." It was greatly appreciated, but the attendance was meagre.