NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5996, 4 February 1881, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] THAMES, Thursday. At the meeting of the City Council, held yesterday, councillors spoke in strong terms of disapproval of the action of certain goldfields' officials here who have reported adversely to the application of the Council to have a portion of the vote for goldfields' roads expended in impi-oving and extending several roads in this district. The Government have declined to furnish the Council with copies of the reports referred to, and consequently further action is being taken. The Council are strongly of opinion that the officials in question are acting contrary to the best interests of the district. The directors of Te Aroha Battery Company have decided to erect a battery, and have accepted Messrs. Price Brothers'tender for one of ten-head. I ■ RUSSELL, Thursday.' The Russell regatta takes place on February 6th, and promises to be a success. The Union Co.'s Rotomahana and s.s. lona, are expected to run excursion trips from Auckland at cheap rates, and to remain till, after the regatta. ;

-,--... ..,. , .. .. DUNE DIN", Thursday. Hon. Mr. Oliver will return to "Wellington .in about a fortnight's time, ilajbr Atkinson left for ' Wellington yesterday morning. "---■ [UNITKD PRESS ASSOCIATION".] WELLINGTON, Thursday. The seamen arrested last night • were charged this morning with refusing dutv, and remanded until Saturday. t CHBISTCHURGH. Thursday.' At a public meeting last niaht :t "w.is resolved to establish.a. home for destitute dogs. ;■■.-. At a meeting of settlers iu the Waikarc district yesterday, a memorial was adopted praying the Government to continue the construction of the Northern Railway to Kurunui. The Customs revenue for Christehiirch in 1579 was £204,691 ; last .year, .-ea05,2-t7. Imports : Lyttelton, 1579, £1,579,061 • last year, £1,2-W.965. Exports : 1579.£1,279,6°2last year, £1,525,416. The fire in Oxford bush is still raging. A public presentation was made to J. L. Coster, late manager of the Bank of New Zealand, at the Oddfellows' Hall,, this afternoon. The Customs collected at Lyttelton during the month of January amounted to £18,579 Ss 2d. TIMARU, Thursday. At the annual meeting of the Harbour Board to-day the balance-sheet showed r. credit and cash balance in hand of £;">7,St>o, and other assets£67,ooo. Expenditure lor the year was £37,521. . DUNEDIN, Thursday. In the Supreme Court to-day Judge Johnston and Judge Wilsiams ruled that a trustee in a bankrupt estate was personally responsible for the cost in suing or being sued a-j trustee. .

The Governor is to be asked to become the patron of the Dunedin Jockey Club. At the inquest on Jeffries, killed at Guthrio and Larnach's yesterday, a verdict :>f accidental death was returned, with a rider that when any belt requires any alteration or removal it should not be done single-handed whilst the machinery is in motion, but two persons should be employed. The correspondent of the Times reports the discovery of a reef at Long Valley, Serpentine district. The stone is thickly impregnated with'gold. Barney Callan, of Galloway station, was drowned while crossing the Manuhekiki;:. He had been drinking heavily. At a meeting of the marine engineers helii last night, it was decided that the proposed sliding. scale, of the Union Company was unfair to men. They will leave the vessels as soon as they can do so legally, rather thau submit to proposed classification. . INYERCARGILL, Thursday. A meeting of St. Paul's Presbytcriaa Church last night decided that instrumental music be introduced. The instrument was not named, but it is understood to be'an organ. One speaker, opposed to the change, moved that the cornet be employed, which led to a suggestion of bagpipes, also. One advocate of music said instruments such as the harp and the trumpet were associated with Heaven, but there is no mention of any in the Bible as connected with the "other place," and only one instrument in .profane, writing—the bagpipes.