NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6000, 9 February 1881, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

[from our own correspondents.] THAMES, Tuesday. The Government are offering the diamond rock drill, purchased by Dr. Hector at the Sydney Exhibition, to the Thames Borough Council. The price paid for the machine was £400, but this is not the selling price which has been put on it, the Government merely asking the Council to make an offer for it. A fire occurred at Mr. Walmsley's farm, on the Waihi Plains, on Saturday last, which destroyed the stable and a fine stack of hay. The house, which was standing near the stable, narrowly escaped being burned down. A number of men, prospecting near the place, rendered good assistance. Mr. Bayldon proceeded to Te Aroha today, for the purpose of surveying about 1000 acres of the Higli School endowment. The block will be cut up into sections varying from 25 acres to 100 acres. HAMILTON, Tuesday. At a meeting of the Waikato branch of the Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society last night it was determined to hold sports on St. Patriek's Day at Frankton. ALEXANDRA, Tuesday. Yesterday Detective Doolau created great excitement by arresting on warrant on a charge of uttering a valueless cheque Mr. Munro, blacksmith, of this place. Mr. Munro was taken to Cambridge, but it is believed from his well known good character that the accusation will not be borne out. RUSSELL, Tuesday. Great interest is taken by the boating people in the coming regatta. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. In the list of players picked for practice for the malch with Otago, OllivierandSecretan are not chosen. The Times urges that among social measures at the next session of Parliament should be one reforming the lav/ of libel in accordance with the improvements suggested by the committee of the House of Commons last year. Mr. T. H. Hodge, the railway tally clerk, recovered £25 damages against the Union S.S. Co.. for injuries received from the stearrwinch on board the Arawata. The sling struck him and knocked him out of the truck, causing severe injuries. Defendants I

pleaded that the accident -was caused by Mr. Hodge's negligence. The claim v.-as for £200. . . , A man was committed for trial to-day £ur wilfully damaging a reaping machine at lincolns, with the owners of which he had quarrelled. A meeting of those interested in tonniug a company to manufacture ee;nei:t from material found at Oxford, was held to-dny. It was resolved, •• That it was desirous that experiments on a larger scale than hitherto should be made, with the view to the forma- ■ tionof a company, and that the committee already formed bo requested to take the necessary steps." It was decided to ask the promoters to guarantee a small sum to defray the expenseof the experiments, the same sum to be treated at call on account of shares, a bonus to be added for the risk incurred. DUNEDUST, Tuesday. , It is stated that Mr. Graham Berry expressed himself at the Intercolonial Conference as willing to negotiate with Ncw Zealand as to reciprocity for the admission of certain articles on either side free, or at a low rate of duty. On the side of New Zealand, beer and cereals were mentioned, and on the side of Victoria wines and some other articles of local production. It is understood that the New Zealand Government will open negotiations with Victoria with the view to £;ive effect to an arrangement for the benefit of both colonies. The Hon. T. Dick arrived from Melbourne by the s.s. Rotomahana this morning. He was in attendance with the Hon. Mr. Oliver at the Ministerial office to-day, and proceeds to Wellington to-morrow. He will be followed by the Minister for Public Works in a few days. [united press association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday. A demonstration was made yesterday, on the occasion of the laying of the first stone of the harbour, which was a great success. Nearly 5000 people assembled. The stone was laid by Mr. Carriugton, late M.H.R., and the founder of the settlement. There was a long procession, and in the evening .1 torchlight procession through the town and bonfires, concluding with a display of fireworks. AVELLINGTON, Tuesday. At the conclusion of the Hasehnaycr entertainment, Mr. Carey presented Slight (Australian) and Blaeklock (Wellington) with a cup each, these being the highest individual scores. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. At the District Court to-day, Mr. C. I£. Dudley, of Kaiapoi, sued Mr. Briggs, manager of the Press newspaper, for £100 damages caused by defendant driving over plaintiff when the latter was ridiny on a bycicle. The occurrence took place on the Papanui road some months ago. A b.rge quantity of evidence was taken, and the decision was reserved till to-morrow. The foundation stone of a new Jewish Synagogue was laid to-day. Tiiere waa a large attendance to witness to ceremony. Yesterday Mr. H. Vallance broke his leg while training Huntingdon.. Miss Fidler has commenced a series of Cookery lectures at the Oddfellows' Hall. The City Council last night endorsed tile action of the Mayor in refusing permission to the Simonsen Opera Company to give sacred concerts in the Theatre Royal on -Sunday evenings. TIMARU, Tuesday. The weather continues splendid for liar, vesting, which is going on rapidly. The quality of the grain promises to be superior to any previous year. The Timaru School Committee resolved last night to bring- the compulsory clauses of the Education Act into force at once. The thermometer to-day registered over 90 degrees in the shade. DUNEDIN, Tuesday. The cabmen's union met this morning, and decided to adopt the Christchurch rules, subject to revision. At the City Council to-day, the Mayor stated the current year's expenditure would exceed the revenue by £15,000. At the University Council to-day, Sir. Jas. Macandrew suggested that a school of agriculture be established. It was resolved to make inquiries as to what the Canterbury school cost. Moritzson has been committed for trial on three charges of embezzlement from the Standard Insurance Company. Members of the Port Chalmers branch of the Seaman's Friends Union recently came into collision with the Union Company. The result is that some difficulty is experienced hi running the Tararua prior to her departure for Melbourne. The Uniou wish to come under the same regulations as to hours as their fellow members in Victoria, that is eight hours in "safe port, , and to have or give twenty-four hoars notice of dismissal on either side, making Port Chalmers and Melbourne the final ports of discharge, instead of (as at present) ten hours work a-day, and discharge in DunedLn. A deputation waited on Mr. Mills, Manag ing Director of the company, and laid their grievances before him, and that gentleman, although he declined to entertain their proposal, stated he would issue a circular letter to commanders of the company's vessels, instructing them in the event of discharging men at any port away from head-quarters to grant such men passages to their homes at the company's expense, but was not prepared to entertain the suggestion of the eight-hour system. The deputation requested Mr. Mills to insert in the articles of agreement clauses setting forth that a discharged man should be granted a passage to his home. To this Mr. Mills demurred, stating that the men should be satisfied he would act in good faith. He also mentioned it had been the intention of the company to have a sick and accident fund for the men, and to have banked £1000 towards that end, and while it was in force he would subsidise the fund to the extent of £100 per annum ; but as the men had placed themselves in direct opposition to the company, that could not be carried out, since it was decided that none of the Union members shall join the company's vessels unless on the above conditions. It is stated by them that so useless were hands employed at Port Chalmers that the engineers of the Tararua were obliged to act as stokers on the run from Port Chalmers to the Bluff.