NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5582, 6 October 1879, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESFOSDENTS.] THAMES, PaturcUy. T.IE tunnel!! the Waio-Karaka spur, in connection with th 3 extension of the county water-race, ha? just been completed. The tunnel is abotr; a third of a mile long, and is a really fir&t-c'.nss piece of engineering skill. It has been driven fr.nn both end*, and so true aud correct were the levels that both diives met exactly, it not being necessary to cat down an inch either way. The tunel has driven by Trainor, Seaulan, aud parly, under thii supervision of Mr. Aitkcn, the county enj;iueer, and reflects great credit on all tie parties concerned.

A tVirce-roomud cottage, at Farawai, was destroyed by lire at an early hour this morning. Xho cottage was the property of Mr. Savage, of S'.iortland, aud was occupied by a Mr. Dividson, a bußhmati. At the time of tho fire Mr. Davidson wis absent from home, his two daughters being tho only occupauts. Tho tire was discovered by Mr. John Probcrfc, who at once roused the in.uitee, who had just time to escape with a few articles of clottiing and a sewing machine. The fire is supposed to have originated in tho chimney, which was of iron with wooden frame. The cottage was uninsured.

[PKKSS ASSOCJATJON.] WELLINGTON, Saturday. Tho Maori prisoners arrest )d for trespassiug on set'-lere' laud at Taranaki, are down in the caleudar for trial at the criminal aittings oE the court commencing Oα Monday. It is understood that the counsel for the prisoners will for a special sitting of tho couit to hear the charges, and it is belie Ted that the Crown Prosecutor will consent to ths proceeding. The court sits before the end of the year. The following tenders were received for the wayeide «tation contract, llos. 1 aud 2, at Riverton :—Ohautuu Railway Contract, No. 1 : K. Burns (accepted), Invercargill, £318. Declined: D. Bounon, Inverwrjill, £339; F. lales, Invercargill, t:«S ; SV. Burr, Invercargill, £493. (Jjuiiaot No. 1 : Aocopted : K. Burns, luvercargill, £630. Declined : D. Bourton, Invorcars>ill, £649. Twenty-two are seli down for hearing at the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, aud six civil caaes. CHKISTCHUROH, Saturday. Yesterday was an extremely cold day, aud a south-west gale, accompanied by heavy ehowere of hail, was blowing until daylight this morning. Some of the hailstones were of very large size. During the night it was bitterly cold, but to-riay the storm has cleared aud the eun is uhiiiing. No damage is yot reported to thi t^legrj>ph. In compliance with a requisition presented to him to-day, Councillor Ayore consents to be a candidate at the coming iniyor.tl election. Mr. Maddison, architect, consents to hia ■elected deeign for tha new town hall aud the municipal buildings being referred to the ratepayers. In the event of tho nonaciept ance by them ho will have no claim on the Council. A Gei man named Ekoff, living in a lane off Uitohriiild-etrect Eaet, dragged his wife out of the house by ber hair to-day, and etruck her twice on the head with a bottle. The woman was picked up, her head bleeding profusely, aud was conveyed to th» hospitat. It was found that the wound was an inch in length and a quarter of an inch in depth, severing a small, superficial artery. So far, t'-ie woman seems likely to do well, but it cannot positively be known for a day or two. likotf cleared out after the assault, and had not been arreatdi np to thi3 evening. Mr. Kirby, the agent of Frost and Davies, proprietors of tho Victoria.-Loftus Troupe, claims £160 7s, for salary all £10 a-week and mouey paid out of pocket on behalf of the troupe. It was decided in the R.M. Court, with judgment for tho defendants. Plaintiff admitted having filed his echedule in Auckland on the 16th of July last, and had not obtained a certificate oi discharge. Mr. Joynt, irbo appeared for the defendants, argued, under th»t circumstance, the plaintiff had no locus slandi, and coc.ld only su« with tho consent of his trustee. The magistrate, in giving judgment, agreed with Mr. Joynt'e oonfcntioii, and said that under the 30th

section of tho Bmkruptey Act all the property of the bankrupt bcforo he obtained hie discharge was absolutely vested in the trustee.

The police authorities here believe that the gems recently offered for sale in Aucklaud are a portion of tho3e stolen from the Christohureh Museum, as they be»r the description of those missing from the lot found on the man who was arrested at LytteltoD. The young man, Albert Pillow, who stuckup Mr. May last night, on the Ricearton Road, has admitted that the Japanese dagger fonnd on him wa? stolen from the museum by him. The cup to be presented by the Loin and Mercantile Agency to the highest priz:-takir in merino wool next Chriatchurch Noveinbar show arrived last mail. It is a sp'endid cup, with a beautifully- executed Ni;w Zsaland subject engraved on it A moetiug of Volunteer officers was held laat night, at which it was resolved that the next review of the Middle Island Volunteers should be held at Christchurch, from Friday, December 26 till Tuesday 30th, inclusive. A sub-committee was appointed to wait on the president of the Licensed Victuallers' Association to obtain the cost oE billeting a thousaudvisitors. Iftheanswerissatisfactory collecting subscriptions at once will be commenced. The general opinion of the meeting was in favour of the review being held on the racecourse A deputation appointed waited on the Jockey Ciub re terms. Mnjor L2an, who is going to Wellington to attend tho meeting of the Jiifle Association of New Zealand, will ask an interview with the Defence Minister respecting granting free passes to the Volunteers attending the review. OAMARU, Sunday. The furn.turo in Dr. Hodgson's houS3, which was burned down on Friday, was inBured for £100 in the South British.