Telegraphic News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 421, 6 March 1880, Page 7

Telegraphic News.

(FROM our own correspondent.) Patsla, February 29.

Mr. Thomas Adams, aged about 24 or 25, brother of Mr. R. Adams, draper, of this town, was accidentally drowned in the Patea river this morning, about 8 o’clock, whilst bathing. His body was recovered about four hours afterwards, just as the men employed by Sergeant McGrath were abont to give up the search. Deceased was a fine strong-looking man, and could swim a little. Sir Dillon Bell, Mr. Parris, and the staff connected with the Royal Commission, left Hawera yesterday afternoon by special coach for New Plymouth, and Sir W. Fox went to Wanganui the day previously, and will shortly join Sir D. Bell at New Plymouth, when the Commissioners will resume their enquiries, returning to Hawera in about a fortnight, to complete work unfinished. Taikomaku, an influential chief, and half brother of Te Whiti, was before the Commissioners at Oeo, and has declared his intention of severing himself from the prophet and adhering to the Government. I hear Titokowaru went to Parihaka yesterday. He has not visited that place for some time past. Everything is going on quietly, and as far as I can learn, likely to do so.

March 1.

An inquest was held to-day on the body of Mr. Thomas Adams, and a verdict of “ Accidentally drowned ” returned. The deceased, who it appears could not swim, jumped from a bathing house lately erected on the banks of the Patea river into deep water, the result being as above. I was wrongly informed that Titokowaru had gone to Parihaka. I learn to-day on undoubted authority that he ha 3 not gone. I mention this, as considerable importance has been attached to his movements by some correspondents. The men lately sent from Wellington to Opunake, to work on the road at the Waimate Plains, were sent there to-day, escorted by 20 men from the Opunake camp.

(united press association.) Auckland, February 26.

In reply to a telegram forwarded by the Mayor, containing a resolution passed by the City Council deprecating the importation of Communists, his Worship has received the following reply from Mr. G. S. Cooper, Undersecretary :—“ In reply to your Worship’s message, expressing indignation at the action of the French authorities at New Caledonia in sending a vessel with released convicts to New Zealand, Mr. Hall directs me to say that the question is engaging the carefnl attention of the Government. If it should be established that the action of the New Caledonian Government has been such as to justify a remonstrance on the part of the Government, the necessary steps will be taken for that purpose.—G. S. Cooper.” Sydney Baliham has been committed at Hamilton for burglary. An action for assault, brought by Mr. Peltzer, a French resident, against Mr. Bishop, owner of the schooner Griffin, and arising out of the landing of the Communists, was dismissed.

The Port Albert Agricultural Show took place to-day, but it has been raining hard. There were 290 entries, and a good show of produce. The Irish Relief Fund amounts up to date to L 979 10s.

The legal expenses of W. H. BindeD, head master of the Newton East School, incurred in defending an action in the Police Court for whipping a boy for truancy, have been defrayed by public subscription. Mr. Maxwell, C.E., of the Public Works Office, Auckland, denies that the harbor is being silted up through the reclamation works. The steamer Luna, trading between Melbourne and Fiji, will in future coal at the Bay of Islands, calling at Auckland on her way to Fiji for cargo and passengers.

February 27.

Messrs. T. and S. Morrin had the carcase of an animal supposed to be infected with pleuropneumonia sent to their yards to-day, from the neighborhood of Ellerslie. It was examined by Drs. Goldsboro and Haines, and veterinary surgeons Naden, Halsted, and Kinloch, in the presence of a number of gentlemen interested, and their reports will be sent in to the Attorney-General. Mr. J. McKilvie, an old Auckland colonist, has sent to the Auckland Museum by the Loch Urr, from London, a collection of Maori curiosities, which had been in England for. more than thirty years. Also a large collection of silver and copper coins, and twenty curious medals.

A meeting of the Pastoral Association passed a resolution yesterday requesting the Government to trace out and purchase the cattle recently imported from Australia, in order to destroy them, and thus stamp out the disease. The cost will be about £suo. Mr. JBuckland in event of this being done, offers to furnish » list of purchasers and prices given when sold at his yards. The Government are urged to quarantine the cattle expected by the Hero from Sydney, and also others expected shortly from Queensland.

February 28.

The work of converting the old -Wesleyau Chapel into a District and Resident Magistrate’s Court House is about to be commenced. An Auckland “ Punch,” by Mr. Wallis, of the Wellington “ Punch,” comes out next week* At the annual meeting of the Scripture Gift Association in connection with the public schools, the report showed the number of schools visited, 85 ; prises awarded, 3569, of which 100 were New Testaments. The number of Scripture exercises worked by scholars was over 600. The yearly receipts of the society were £267.

Mrs. Gleray delivered an interesting lecture fco a large audience, in the school-room at Upper Waiwera, on the “ Lost tribes of Israel.” She was listened to attentively throughout,, and several questions were afterwards asked, and replied to. A young man named Michael Macnamara has been kicked by his horse on the skull. He was taken to the hospital, but is .not expected to recover. A packet was found in the harbor to-day, and comprised a Btrip of bamboo about a foot long, with corks at each end. Wrapped round it was a slip of paper, upon which was written the following, in a schoolboy’s handwriting :—The ship Earl Granville was wrecked on the Crozet Islands on December 22, 1879. All saved. The survivors of the ohip Knowsley Hall are also here. Three have died since we were wrecked. Captain Anderson and part of crew of Knowsley Hall were drowned. Be quick and send a vessel with provisions, a 3 we are nearly out. —Crozet Islands, February 2, 1880. —To Captain

Burgess, Auckland Harbor Board.” On the « trip of bamboo was written the following : ‘ The Earl Granville has been wrecked at the

Crozet Islands ; the survivors of the Knowslev Hall are also at the Crozet Islands, December 22, 1879.—February 2,1880.” It is evidently a stupid hoax

March 1.

The Customs duties to-day amounted to £2540, and for the month ending February 29th, £19,594 Os. lid., being a slight increase on corresponding month in 1879. The cargo of cattle by the Mary Mildred, amounting to 200, are for the Piako Swamp Company. Mr. Rust proceeded down to the vessel and inspected the cattle, and he was quite satisfied with their appearance, and found no symptoms of pleura-pheumonia. He expressed the opinion that there was no disease amongst the consignment. The landing of the cattle will commence to-morrow. The remainder of the British Empire's passengers were brought up from the quarantine station by the Customs’ launch this afternoon. The Mormon Elders baptised two converts at the graving dock ; one is a man who occupies a position in connection with the management of the harbor, the other a widow with three children.

Advices, via Sydney, from New Caledonia, state that the schooner John S. Lane is laid on for Auckland, owing to the number of passengers offering,

March 2.

Miss Rosa Temple, a Woman’s Rights advocate applied to have her name enrolled on the list, as she meant to vote at the nest election. After some amusing badinage, Mr. Barstow, R.M., acceded to her request. Elder Pearce, of the Mormon mission, had arranged for a passage to the Salt Rake city of the wife of a fisherman whom he had induced to accompany him thither. Nothing loth, the woman with three children was safely ensconced on board when the fact became known to her husband, who promptly got out a warrant, and had the woman and children arrested and conveyed ashore. She was taken home in a cab.

At a meeting of city ratepayers a resolution was carried in favor of consolidating the Auckland city loans. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Providential Assurance Society the balancesheet and auditors’ report showed a very unsatisfactory state of affairs, and a resolution was carried to institute proceedings against a former secretary and member of the society in regard to certain alleged defalcations.

Grahamstown, February 27.

It is said that some of the Ngatihako natives who were concerned in the late attack on the surveyors, have joined Te Whiti’s followers,

Tauranga, February 27.

•7. C. Young, late Government Rand Purchase Agent, of this district, was arrested yesterday on three informations for feloniously stealing money entrusted to him in his capacity as Rand Purchase Agent, the amounts being £sl, £7, and £lO. Bail was accepted, himself in £IOOO, and two sureties of £SOO each. The case will be heard to-morrow.

Napier, March 1.

Major Scully has suoceeded in arranging matters amicably between Mr. McMasters and the Taharaite natives.

Racing Club acceptances :—Cup—Otupai, Balmoral, Ribeller, Grand Ihichess, Rittle Wonder, Templeton, Vampire, Rara, Numa, and Raertes. Handicap Hurdles —Grey Momus, Roch Romond, Tamatea, and Te Whetu,

New Plymouth, March 1.

The members of the Royal Commission on Native Affairs on the West Coast arrived in New Plymouth on Saturday evening, with their staff. There will be no sitting in New Plymouth, as the Commission consider that Waitara will be the most central spot. From all accounts a large number of natives will visit the Commissioners.

Mr. McMurdo, the travelling agent for the Mutual Rife of Australia, whilst ccming to New Plymouth from Hawera on horseback on Saturday, was thrown from his horse, and broke his arm.

The New Plymouth gas works being completed the town will be lit with gas for the first time on Saturday night.

Patea, February 29. Over £4O was collected at the Catholic Ohurch to day in aid of the Irish Famine Helief Fund.

, Hawera, March 1. The detachment of unemployed have just arrived at the camp.

Nelson, February 26

About twelve days' ago a man named Edward .Green went into the bush in the neighborhood of the Ryell, and did not return. His friends hare been searching diligently for him

till yesterday, when they found the dead body of the unfortunate man, which they buried where they found it. At Messrs. Sharp and Pickering’s stock sale at Richmond yesterday, merino wethers, from Waiau, fetched 735., and Romney rams, from Nelson, brought R 3 ; other stock realised satisfactory prices. The total proceeds of the sale were RIOSO.

Greymouth, February 27.

In the last match between the Greymouth Rangers and Westland Rifles, the former made 673. This is believed to be the highest score.

Kcmaea, March 2.

The chess handicap tournament is completed—29 competitors. Odds pawn and move to queen and move. Arpetrie, first prize ; won 24, lost 4. Balls, second prize ; won 22?,-, lost sb. Rev. Scott, third prize ; won 22 lost 6. All three were in the second class. Janion, of the first class, came next, winning 2?, losing 8. It was the most successful and largest chess tournament ever held in the colony.

Hokitika, March 2.

The harbor works are proceeding rapidly. The work already completed has had the effect of permanently doing the channel good. The depth of water on the bar last week was 18 ft., and has not been less than 12ft. for the last six weeks. This proves the success of Sir John Coode’s plans.

Christchurch, February 26. The reports from the quarantine station are satisfactory. There are no fresh cases of sickness.

A four-oared boat race, between Otago and Canterbury clubs, takes place on the Avon tomorrow.

A bicycle race takes place on Saturday, in which Dunedin will compete. The tonnage loading in port for the United Kingdom is 9065 tons. The stewards of vessels in harbor are prohibited from selling liq uor to visitors. February 27. It is proposed to postpone the North Canterbury races till 2nd April, to avoid clashing with the Easter Review.

The grain market during the week has been moderately active. The Tararua brought from Hobarton yesterday, 37 rams and 35 ewes from the fleck of Mr. James Gibson, and purchased at a very high figure by Mr. Bullen, of Kaikoura. March 1.

At the afternoon sitting of the University Senate the Rev. C. Fraser gave notice of the following motion :—“ That a regulation be framed empowering the Chancellor to call a special meeting of tb« Senate, and, consequent upon that being agreed to, that in the event of legislative measures being brought forward, based upon the report of the Royal Commission on Higher Education, the Chancellor to call a special meeting of the Senate to consider the same.”

The Resident Magistrate decided to-day that under section 2 of “ The Stamp Act Amendment Act, 1876,” no stamp is needed on any receipt for wages. The ships Westland and Waimate were admitted to pratique to-day. March 2.

The University Senate sat all the morning, and most of the business was of a purely executive character. Mr. Percy B. Adams was admitted to ad eundem M.A. degree. The following statute, to meet in the event of legislation being proposed, based upon the report of the Royal Commission on Higher Education, was agreed to :—That the Chancellor, or in his absence from the colony, the Vice-Chancellor, may, of his own proper motion, convene a special meeting of the S.nate. With reference to maintenance in the University of New Zealand of the sole power of conferring degrees in the colony, a reply to resolutions passed by the Senate last year was read from the Imperial Government stating that her Majesty had not been advised to grant letters patent empowering the University of Otago to confer degrees; The estimate of income and expenditure for the current year was submitted by the Finance Committee. This showed an income of £3200 (including £3 00 Government grant), and an expenditure of £3315. The excessive expenditure was attributed to the cost of examinations, which last year amounted to £1340, an increase of nearly £7OO over that of the previous year. Several recommendations from the committee, intended to reduce the expenditure were adopted by the Senate.

Temabu, February 26.

J. B. Witt, confectioner, was aroused at 2 this morning by the noise of a supposed burglar in his heuse, and, arming himself with a poker, he prooeeded to his back door, when he met a tall, stout-built man. A ferocious struggle ensued, ending in the trespasser escaping, and with Mr. Witt securing his hat as a means of identification. With the aid of this a man named John Bushley, a straDger, was arrested thie morning, and brought before the Bench. He pleaded drunkenness, but was sentenced to a fortnight's imprisonment.

Balclutha, February 27.

At a meeting of the Clutha County Council to day, John Watson’s tender to erect Balclutha bridge for £10,593, was accepted, the Council giving bank securities for the indent of the iron in England.

Donedin, February 26.

The Chinaman arrested at Cromwell charged with selling spurious gold was discharged,- the police failing to prove the sale by him. A lad named D. Wilkie was drowned off Rattray Wharf to-day. Li 511 passed through the totalisator in the paddock at the races to-day. February 27.

In Abraham’s sweep, the first money goes to Telford, of Alexandra ; second, to a workman at Port Chalmers ; third, to Paterson, of the Octagon Hotel. In Dodson's sweep, the first prize went to Vallance : second, to three

work girls in a local factory ; third, to Timaru. In the Press Consultation, H. Ryon gets first prize ; Grant and Co., of the steamer Wellington, second ; a resident of Napier, third. In Cameron’s Consultation, the first prize goes to Clutha ; second, to G. Spooner, of Dunedin, third, to Captain Palmer, of Nelson. A quartz reef, carrying silver in considerable quantities, has been discovered on the main Cardrona Ranges. Samples of ore will be sent to Dunedin for assay. The Native Rand Purchase Commission sat again at Waikouaiti, and adjourned till Monday. March 1. Vincent County has subscribed £3OO to the Irish fund, and the Rakes £149. The Times says in connection with .the statement that the Union Steamship Company intended laying up some of their boats during the winter, that the following are the proposed new arrangements :—Hawea, Wanaka, and Penguin to be withdrawn from the East Coast trade, and the first two named to be placed on the West Coast service, in room of the Taiaroa and Waitaki. The Melbourne steamers to continue to run up the East Coast as far as Russell. The Penguin and Radybird to be laid up. The Taiaroa will probably be placed in the Dunedin and Timaru trade during the grain season. The Waitaki is to be placed between Tauranga, Auckland, Wangarei, and Russell, making weekly trips. The running of the steamers will be so regulated that the present service between Ryttelton and Wellington will be maintained. Rady Robinson laid the foundation stone of the Episcopalian Church at Roslyn before leaving. Over £SOOO was put through the totalisator on Saturday, completely paralysing the betting. A fire has occurred in the upper rooms m Hoffman’s stores, King-street. Ross trifling. Property insured in South British for £IOO. and National, £I4OO. The Governor left to-day for the North. Goodman has purchased Titania, and C. Turnbull has purchased Rone Hand. Prices reserved. Ray purchased the Revoke colt for 250 guineas. All the horses engaged at the meeting were sent North to-day, except Tera, Titania, Chancellor, and York, engaged for Southland. They leave to-morrow. During the month just passed the births here were 126, deaths 59, and marriages 14. The month’s Customs revenue amounted to £27,902 10s. March 2.

William Goldsmith, alias James, arrested on several charges of burglary at Dacre, Southland, was remanded to Invercargill. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Friday, John Hewton, councillor for West Harbor, appears in answer to a summons charging him with being disqualified through entering into a contract with the Council. Fifty pounds penalty is sued for. A prominent member of the Australian team, writing to a friend here, says : —“ As we leave for England on March 19, visiting you is now out of the question ; but the team is very desirous of visiting New Zealand, and are considering now if we can do so on our return. If a lump sum is offered for a tour of the colony our visit will be assured, but to come on our own account requires consideration.” The inquest on the body of Ann Ward, a child found in a closet, resulted in a verdict of accidental death.