NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6288, 12 January 1882, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

[rims-? ASSOCIATION'. I NEW PLYM.OUTII, Wednesday. Tahanaki has been proclaimed free of scab by the Sheep Inspector. "The wheat crops are looking in good coudition. 1 , ,. Rickards was to-day committed for trial for stealing a maru belonging to Mr. Edward Stockman. The Grand Lodge of Good Templars commenced the ciulitU annual session last evening, Mr. Johnson presiding. The representatives present are from \Vaii?,anai, Wellington, Christehurch, Timarn, Napier, and Taranaki. The Auckland representatives are expected to-day. The steamer has been -detained through bad weather at the bar at Mauukau. PUNGAREHU, Wednesday. No. 4 company have been transferred to Ngakumikumi, and No. 1 to Apu, about four miles on this side of Opuuakc. The band has also gone to Apu. Work on the road is progressing favourably. A road is to be commenced at Ngakumikumi through to Stratford. The constabulary are leaving a force at Patea of fifteen or twenty per month. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. An inquiry was held to-day into the eir■cumstances connected with the Wakatu striking a rook on the 6th instant. The Court found that no blame was attached to the captain, tho accident being attributed to the negligence of the second officer, George Saunders, whose certificate was suspended for six months. At the Macistrate's Court, Robert Hicking was committed for trial on a charge of indecently assaulting a child named Bassett. The following resolution was passed at the meeting of the provisional directors of the New Zealand Woollen Faotory Company, held yesterday :—" Owing to the lack of interest displayed by the public, and a want of response to application for shares, the project to form a woollen faotory company in Wellington, on the basis suggested, is to be for the time abandoned."

REEFTON, Wednesday. A fire broke out at 5 o'clock this morning in an occupied building adjoining Kater's Exchange Hotel, Broadway. The fire got a good hold of the building, ( and extended to the Exchange Hotel. The latter was burnt to the ground, together with all the contents, the occupants of the Exchange losing everything. Kater's hotel was insured in the New Zealand Office for £025, but £500 of the amount is beliored to be re-insured in the [ Victoria.

CHEJSTCHURCH, Wednesday. The Supreme Court was occupied all day with the case Bailey v. Wilkin and Co in which the plaintiff sought to compel" the bouth British Insurance Company to pay the balance due upon a policy for £400 covering the crops on his farm at Balcairn. The defendants had a lica on the crops of £200 on the land held by plaintiff. On the policy on the crops wheu file stacks were burned the insurance refused to pay more than £244 17s 6d, which they alleged to be the total ! value of the crops. This sum the defendants had accepted In full of all demands. After hearing the evidence of a number of witnesses, the jury gave a verdict for plaintiff for £55 11s 4d. At a meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to-day a resolution was moved that the Orphanage Committee should be empowered to make inquiry witli the view to obtaining a training ship for Lyttelton, to be used in connection with the orphanage. An inquest was held yesterday at Coalgate on the, body of Charles Rhodes, who com- ■ mitted suicide the previous day by taking a dose of strychnine. After hearing the evidence, which tended to show that witness had not been in good health of late, and had i become despondent, the jury returned a ver- { diet as follows :—" The cause of death is poison, administered by himself. The state of deceased's miud is uneertaiu." DUNEDIN, Wednesday. The "Patience" Opera Company open at Dunedin at the end of February. The English cricketers arrived to-day by steamer, except Shrewsbury and Lillywhite, who came on by train. The weather promises to be line for the match, which begins to-morrow. The New Zealand Fruit Preserving Company opened their works to-day. A quantity of j:im was turned out in the presence of a number of visitors. The session of the Congregational Church Union, now established over the South Island, was opened here to - day. The Rev. Mr. Rosoby, as chairman for the year, delivered an address. At the City Court, Arthur Tains has been committed for trial for personating. Ae the Supreme Court, John Strain was sentenced to '.i years for robbery, and John 13. Meliitosh, late manager of the Walton Park Company, to 4 years for embezzlement. It was stated that prisoner had made reparation to the company for his defalcations. John Flett, for alleged larceny at Oaniarii. wasauquitted. The cz'imiual sessions then closed. The six-roomed house, Manor Place, belonging to Mr." J. M. Jamiesou, was totally destroyed by the lire last night. The building was insured in the Union for £350, and tils furniturn in the same office for £200. The loss is £200 above the insurance. INVERCARGILL, Wednesday. , Miss Purnell, of New South Wales, has been appointed mistress of the Southland Girls' High .School, and Mr. McLean, of Melbourne, third assistant in the Boys' High School. Mr. Hirst has lodged a petition against the return of -Mr. Daniel, for Wallace.