TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 870, 2 November 1888, Page 26

TELEGRAPHIC.

:;r ’ . ■ (FEU PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ’ Y, '■ - New Plymouth, October 25. ;A,The;Supreme Court criminal sessions were bpendivoy Judge Gillies this morning. •There are seven prisoners charged with Y&rious. crimes. Robert Jackson, alias Patrick Loughran, an old offender, pleaded gnilty.to breaking and entering houses and vrobbing them, and was sentenced to Beven ;years. :;Joßeph James, saddler, for larceny, was sentenced to nine months. ■ TTiTfT— Dunedin, October 25. -•■ ;The Mftraroa takes nearly 600 passengers Tor'Melbourne, while many are shut out. ."The-project for holding an exhibition here is meeting withmuch favour. It is expeoted thatA£r Roberts, the President of the Commerce, will head the profond with £SOO. Several promise £IOO each. .'At a meeting held to consider the advisableness of-holding an exhibition in Dunedin in December, 1889, a strong executive com. wna appointed, with power to add to their number. It was resolved to leave the //question open .as. to whether the exhibition should be colonial, intercolonial, or interRepresentatives of four firms in. timate.d that they would subsoribe £IOO each to a guarantee fund, and several other pro. /misespf-ismaller amounts were received. ? A case".'was commenced in the Supreme l Court; to-day in which A. H. Logan, pro. prietor of the Fernhill Coalmine, sought to yirecbvef'dElOOO'damages from the Corporation of the City of Dunedin for negligently and /improperly' constructing the Silverstream water-raoe,- from which a portion of the mater supply is taken. The case is expected to'' last over;Monday, as a great deal of expert evidcnee .has to be taken.

;; fJanet,-Oliver,, a.boardinghouse-keeper, was fined £lO and costs to-day for sly.grog sell-Tngiv.-'i:v ■■ Marton, October 25. The annual meeting of the Foresters’ •Court of the Wellington district is beiDg ; held ; ;26 delegates are present. 1 s \ - * Blenheim, October 25. i r v.Constable -Franklin, stationed at Mahikapawa,. just come into town, having .effected'a/very clever arrest at the Waikakahoe diggings. This morning three men 'Btiadkftrp.a butcher in a dray while he was ,on. ; his way from Cullensville (Mahikapawa 'diggings) to the Mahikapawa Creek, and robbed him of £4odd. The matter was reported to tho.-police, and Constable Franklin sue* ceeded in ' arresting one of the trio at Wai'kakahoe this morning and to-night lodged him safely t in .Blenheim Gaol. The other two men are still at large. ■’ ;> ' Christchurch, October 25. ■/ To-day, James Buckley was sentenced to thrae years' probation, and to pay £lO expanses on April 9th, for larceny of a ' cheque.. J He was brought before Mr Justice /Ward -in .Banco, charged with not having reported^himself to the police, or paid any i.of tbe.money. He pleaded he had been look. ing for work. Mr Martin, the Crown soliciftor, offered to give him work for a few days. -The Judge "ordered him to begin his probation ; from date. . This is the first case of the kind •which has'happened in the Colony. • At an influential meeting of citizens held to-day under the presidency of the Mayor,it was decided to invite the Governor to a farewell banquet in November. ' ' /Gaoler O’Brien, of Lyttelton, having been disrated And ordered to Hokitika in conse/quence'of the. escape of'Jonathan Roberts, and'Ghibf Warder Bell, who was in charge /at'Ripa Island,, having been reduced to the rank of warder,.considerable indignation has '.been aroused in Lyttelton. A petition Asking for Mr O’Brien’s retention is being signed, And indignation meetings are spoken jof.v -:-MA< O’Brien suggested that Roberts should/not be sent to Ripa Island, but kept at . work, in tho gaol, but the suggestion was not adopted. v s An. : inquiry into the fire at Hobday’s buildings; was held to.day, before Mr R. Beetliam and 'a coroner’s jury. Nothing was adduced to Bhow the cause of the fire, and an open verdict was returned. . . Invercargill, October 25. v ;A lamentable accident occurred this morning at Mataura Island, on the river of that name?" Al man named Andrew McFarlane, a ploughing contractor, residing at Edendaie, having gbt employment at the Otaira Dairy ■ Factory, near Fortrose, started with a twohorse.team for his new location yesterday, taking /with him hia household effects, his wife and/child and wife's brother and Bister, •together /with, a boy who bad been living with him.: They reached the island in the "afternoon;. crossing the main coarse of the fiver, which in ordinary circumstanoea is shallow, and no bridge is provided, but-heavy rains had made it dangerous to crosa,. and McFarlane after taking the ford remained on his land all night. Air Spratt, a'farmer, then advised him not to attempt to pursue his journey that way, but return and oross. the river at Wynham Bridge. MoFariane demurred to make this detour of 20 miles, “and' early this morning entered the fiver fat the lord. The team had only advanced a few yards when a wheel dropped 'into/a hole.. - The dray swung round and its occupants seated among the furniture, which was not:; scoured, were swept into the river. Theff- lad. fslipped out of the dray to t the / box, on which he safely •floated to ». point about a quarter of a mile . below, where he got ashore. The ..occurrence was not seen by anyone from the banks, but as none of the other five oceu. ipante -offt/ho: dray have been seen sinoe, it is almost certain that all are drowned. The dray did not capsize, and the leader dragged it and tbeVdrowned shatter out of the river. None of- the bodies are yet recovered. M. and H. Mair, of Invercargill, are the successful'’- tenderers for the brick watertower—9oft high, sft[square at base —labour only, At £1497. ; . ; -V? Reefton, October 26. Mr Allan Scott, general manager of the Midland Railway Company, is at present in Reef ton," and is arranging matters with the Government Sarvey Department that bon! fide, occupiers of land within the railway reservation may purchase their holdings. .-/ ii’ . /. Wanganui, October 26. - At a meeting of the Regatta Association to-night, a letter was read from the New Zealand Amateur Association, asking If a regatta'will be bold here this year. It was

resolved that a regatta be held, but the date to be left open pendittjr'ihf! meetdng of the New Zealand Rifle \\ ellington, on Tuesday next, at which'the P{ a c© for holding the championship events will be decided. Delegateafrom the two local clubs will attend the meeting. ’ Invercargill; October 2b. _ None of the bodies of the,persons drowned in the Mataura have Late news shows that MoFarlfene made a gallant effort to save bis wife and her sister, lie was swimming strongly ‘elope to the shore, when he saw them struggling in the water, and tamed back ' to helpythetn• . j They before "he reached the spot, however, Jand he soon after disappeared..^-This heartrending scene was witnessed by the only survivor, a lad of 18, who seized hold of » box and part of a,bedstead and kept himself afloat till he landed some distance, down the river. Hokitika, Ootober 26. Father Walsh, parish; priest of Kumara, sustained a severe bruise /, by a fall from his buggy while going to Wairaea. Be was unconscious for three-quarters of an hour, and was subsequently conveyed in the buggy to Kumara. His injuries are believed not to be serious. The Bank of New Zealand shipped 22000 z of gold, valued at £BBOO. \ ~ : ' Marxon; October 26. At the annual meeting of. Foresters of the Wellington District yesterday, the following officers were elected D.C.R., Bro. Gillespie ; D.S.G.R., Bro. Grey j D.T., Bro. Whitefoord ; D.S., Bro. Bovis ; D.M., Bro. Birch. The next meeting will be held in Wellington. ' ' . ... John Hunter was to-day committed for trial oa a charge of larcerjyas a bailee of a horse.-- •" f - , Manaia, October 26. Another heavy was felt here at 12.45 a.m. --A' -' " Hawera, October 26. Another prolonged-shock.-, of . earthquake was felt last night at - The direction was south to north. The■■ vibrations lasted 44seo, and rumblings were-yheard for threequarters of an hour afterward. 1 ; *■- New Plymouth,- October 26. An earthquake shock, lasting about 20sec, was felt at a quarter to 1 this morning. George Victor Bate.. Jan ex-Mayor of Hawera, a late J.P., and ejerk to the Hawera County Council, who waafound guilty of embezzlement last night, was this morning to one year and eight months imprisonment with hard labouf-,-The Supreme Court was', occupied all day with a charge of arson against L. A. Langley, of Hawera, a storekeeper, -There are thirty witnesses in the ease. It is not expected to conclude till to-morrow night. This is the last case on the Criminal calendar. The civil business is heavy) including a case against the Victoria; Insurance Company brought by M. S. Breach-tto-recover £3OO insurance on the Scotch Church burned here four years ago; Christchurch, October 26.

To-day three lads, John-FJetcher, Herbert Fletcher, and Henry' Holmes, ranging from 14 to 17, were commiSted;for trial for killing a number of young- pigs, belonging to Hancock Bros., at Middleton; _ They went to the piggery on two oonseeutive Sundays, 30th September and *.Ootober, and wantonly kicked and stoned .the animals to death. They had no grudge against Hancock, their action beipg prompted by Bheer brutality. f-i. ~ . The Cyclists'Alliance decided to allocate the championship events rf or the. ensuing season as follows Oxie f: mile Pioneer, Christchurch ; five miles, Dimedin; 10 miles, Christchurch ; 25 miles, Avtcklahd. : A. committee was appointed to report on the advisableness of issuing an Alliance Annual at the close of each season." 5-■ The Amateur Athletic Club’s spring meet-ing-was open-.d to-day at'Lancaster Park. The weather was fine and ’the attendance fair- -The'mile champion hip walk.was won by B. N. Thomas .(Canterbury), beating T. Kerr (Dunedin) by 20yds.; Time, 7mm 40sec. The mile flat raoejwas. won by D. Morrison (South Canterbury).' Ward, 50yds behind, was second. ’ Time r Mmin 45sec. Blenheim, October. 26. Simon Miller was charged.at the Resident Magistrate’s Court with obtaining goods on false pretences " from Mr Fisk, of Picton ; also with sticking up a inan at Mahakipawa, and robbing him of £4 l‘3a. He was remanded to Picton. b ''i - ' . ' Masterton, October 2b. A statement having appeared recently in a Wellington paper that * there were IbO empty houses in Masterton, they have been counted, and it turns out that there are only 4© unoccupied in the whole borough. Dunedin, October 26. Elizabeth Menzies,|boardjhgbouse. keeper, died suddenly last nightgfrom heart disease while bathing her niece. . . At a meeting of the Exhibition Committee it was decided to float a company with a capital of £IO,OOO jn £1 shiriea. A strong directorate was formed, Mr'.D. Horace Hastings being appointed secretary. ’ Over 1500 'shares were subscribed for.ih the-room. It was decided that the question of making the Exhibition colonial or intercolonial should be left to the majority of the shareholders, bat if it is to be- intercolonial another .-6700 was promised. SJohn Roberts (Murray, Roberts and Co.),- president of the Chamber of, Commerce, was appointed chairman. Those present" included the city M.H.R.’s and representatives of tho leading houses in town, The opinion is that, now the matfer has been taken np, the exhibition - will take

place, and, as a good many promises have been received from other provincial disfcriafcs, its success, so far as exhibits ate concerned, is an assured fact. As showing the improved demand for property, it may be mentioned that some sections in St. Clair were to-day sold at the rate of £I2OO per acre for those fronting the Esplanade, and those in rear of these at £IOOO per acre. L- , , ' , At the inquest to-day on the body ot Jessie Menzies, who died suddenly last night, a medioal man said that death resulted from syncope, caused by stooping with her garments fastened rather tightly round her waist. There might or might not have been heart disease. A post mortem was suggested by Dr Stenhouse for the satisfaction of her friends and medical men. He said the public ought to know that tightlacing while stooping was sufficient to cause death. A verdict was returned of death from natural causes, . The Daily Times has reoeived a telegram announcing that T. McKenzie, M.H.R., Pillans, O. McKinnon, and Fred. Muir arrived at Lumsden, having performed the overland journey from Milford Sound to LakeTe Anau. The overland route to the Sounds and the Sutherland Falls will be practicable In summer, when the track is out. The falls have been measured, but the result is not announced by the exploring party. Mr McKenzie says they look 1500 ft high. The scenery between Milford Sound and Lake Te Anau is simply grand. A very good skeleton has been discovered at Green Island, near Dunedin. It has been presented to the Museum. It appears to belong to a species at present unrepresented there. Westport, October 27. A man named Sykes died to-day in the Hospital. He accidentally injured his foot on a locomotive a week ago, and erysipelas set in. Deceased was formerly a contractor in Nelson and elsewhere. Christchurch, Ootober 27.

Thomas Farrell, a fireman on the Arawa, died in Lyttelton casual ward this morning from injuries caused by accidentally falling down the hold before leaving Wellington. The weather was dull for the second day of the Amateur Athletio Sports, but the attendance was better than on the first day. The Two Mile Walking Handicap was won by J. Way, 250yds, A. L. Smith, 100yds, second. Time, 15min 50 l-53ec. 250yds Amateur Championship —H.. M. Reeves, C.A.A.C., 1 ; A. B. Williams, C. A. A.C., 2 ; P. Wood, C.A.A.C., 3. Reeves led from the Btart, beatiug Williams, who ran very gamely, by one and a half yards. Time, 27sec (Standard). Three Mile Bicycle Handicap— C. M. Suckling, Pioneer, 300yds, 1; W. T. McKay, Christchurch, 400yds, 2. 120yds Hurdle'Handicap was won by G. Shaw, 20yds behind. Time, 19 3-sseo. Reeves and Shaw have equal points for the Ladies' Challenge Cup. New Plymouth, October 27.

In the Supreme Court the case of Langley, charged with arson at Hawea which was commenced yesterday, was resumed this morning, a large number of witnesses being examined. Dunedin, October 28. On Saturday! afternoon, Wm. McLauchlan, a resident at St. John’s Wood, North* east Valley, committed suicide'by hanging himself while his wife was absent. He appears to have thrown a rope over the parlour door, and making a nocse on the other side, hanged himself. He was in very well-to-do circumstances, owning a good deal of property at Port Chalmers, but he had suffered some losses, and these have worried him greatly. He leaves a wife and three children. Mr Adams, Chief Surveyor, and party returned from Milford Sound this morning, the expedition having been a great snccess. The Sutherland Falls are 1904 feet high, and are a grand sight. The overland route from-Te Anau to the Sound was discovered by Mr McKinnon, surveyor, and Mr Mitchell, of the Manapouri Station, who suffered great privations and hardships. - '■ Greymouth, October 28. The export of' coal last week was 4712 fc Reef ton mining returns for the past week: — Keep-ifc-Dark, 9020 z of amalgam from 185 tons, with 5-230 z of gold for the month ; Globe, 4040 z of amalgam from 190 tons, with 3210 zof gold for,the month; Fiery Cross, 1440 z of amalgam from SO tons ; Nil Desperandum, 2270 z of amalgam for the week ; Venus, 1630 z of amalgam for five days. Gisborne, October 27. There was a singular occurrence at the election for a seat in the Municipal Council to-day. There were three candidates, and the number of votes recorded for each was the same. The Returning Officer had to exercise his vote. , . Thames, October 29.

A destructive fire occurred this moruing at 2.30 in a butcher s shop, occupied by a man named Peady, and a private dwelling adjoining was totally destroyed. A young woman 18°years old, servant of Peady, sleeping m the upper story, was stupefied by the dense smoke. She was unable to make her escape, and was burned to death. The other occupants had a narrow escape. At the inquest held on the woman a verdict of accidentally burned to death was returned. Peady was uninsured. , ■ , , , , A fire broke out inPeady’a butcher s shop, in Brown-street, at 2 o’clock this morning, and spread to the livery and bait stables of John O’Connell, which were also .totally destroyed. A young woman named Emily Jenkins, employed as servant by Peady, was

burned to death, while Peady and his wife and child had a narrow escape. The loss is estimated at £4OO. No insurances. Incendiarism is suspected. Auckland, October 29. It is probably that one of the Aucklahd yachts will be sent to compete in the large yacht race at Wellington in January next. According to Mr Reston, Governor of Mount Eden Gaol, there is no truth in the statement that the prisoner was dangerously injured id the quarrel recently. It is stated that the purchase of the business of the Adelaide Fire and Marine Assurance Company by the South British Insurance Company has been practically completed. The Auckland Industrial Association held their annual meeting this evening. It was announced that the Society had been affiliated to the Industrial P otection League. The balance-sheet showed a profit for the year of £33 19s 4d, there being an outstanding liability of £23 3a 6d. Mr A. Bell was elected President for the ensuing .year. A fire at Newton to-night broke out in the residence of Laurence Burke, a contractor, while the family were absent at the Opera House. The house was destroyed, but the furniture was partly saved. The insurance is unknown. The house adjoining, occupied by Henry Newton, was burned down. The furniture was partly saved. Insuranoe, £IOO in the Northern Company. The house waß owned by Perock, of the Great Omaha Special Settlement. The insurance is unknown.

Napier, October 29. The Rev Father Reignier died last night, aged 77 years. He arrived in the Colony in 1842, and was highly esteemed by Protestants and Roman Catholics alike. Christchurch, October 29., A difficulty has arisen with regard to the Senior Cup cricket matches. ( On Saturday the Addington team to play against the United turned up in force, whereas the United men, being under the impression that the match had been declared off for the day on account of the sports, did not appear. The Addington men claim tho match. ■ The Amateur Athletic sports’ Ladies’ Challenge Cup has been awarded to H. M. Reeves. A large public meeting at Lyttelton passed a resolution protesting against the disrating of Gaoler O’Brien, and asking for further investigation into the case. Mr J. O. Shephard, formerly manager of the City Hotel, was committed for trial today on the charge of misappropriating a promissory note for £93, given by R. N. Newberry. - A young man named Albert Goodvilj. was committed for trial on a charge of stealing a horse belonging to George Johnston, of Methven, on October 10, and another belonging to George T* Baker, at Lake Coleridge, on October 12. There are two charges of horsestealing at Kaiapoi pending against him. Bail was refused. ■ An Austrian stevedore named Charles de Mioheli was found lying unconscious in the hold of the Arawa at 11.30 a.m. to-day. He had been sent to put some sheep into the reserve chamber of the ship, and.had evidently slipped down, falling 20£t. His skull was fractured, and he died during the afternoon. Ho leaves a wife and three children. . . Later.

At the inquest on the man killed on the Arawa to-day a verdict of accidental death was returned, with a rider calling attention to the need of life-lines around (or netting over the hatches in ’tween decks when men are working there, The evidence showed that the deceased fprobably fell down the hatchway through not seeing it in the dim light. Nelson, October 29. A child two years old, daughter of Mr K. Sadd, surveyor, while at a picnic at Takaka, was missed, and on a search being made was found drowned on a snag a quarter of a mile down the river. Mr Browning, superintendent of the Cable Company at Wakapuaka, has just telegraphed. as follows :—“ Port Darwin - wires at 4 p.m. that the repairing steamer Sherard Osborn has just got.up to the buoy on the Banjoewangie end, and reports that the Company’s repairing steamer from Singapore was just coming alongside. If the cable between the buoy aud Banjoewangie is found to be perfect, communication will be restored immediately.” Masterton, October 29. William Spackman, a youth, aged 16, was committed for trial for perjury. Bail was allowed in £SO, As the Masterton cricketers were returning from the match at Carterton on Saturday night in a brake, when nearing Taratahi a large stone was thrown in their midst, striking Mr Pownnll, solicitor, full in the face, seriously damaging his nose and eyes, and stunning him. The perpetrators of the outrage escaped in the darkness. Hokitika, October 29. A fire broke Qut at the farmhouse of Mr Kelly, at Kokaiti, on Saturday evening. Everything was destroyed except a little furniture, which was saved. The insurance on the building is £2OO in the Victoria Company, and £SO on the furniture in the Norwich Union office. The family were away at Hokitika at the time, and Mr Kelly was working at a farm a few fields away. Tho weather is very tempestuous with heavy squalls. The sea is very rough, preventing shipping entering. Greymouth, October 29. The meeting to-night to eleot a school committee in place of the last one, which was not legally elected, was very thinly attended. After a good deal of discussion and recrimination the meeting broke up without electing a committee. Only two or three proposed agreed to stand, consequently no election could take place. : 7 O-iMARU, October 29.

An accident happened to the ship Opawa i as she was slewing round after entering the harbour to-day. The wind changed when the vessel had entered the harbour, and her anchor was dropped. In slewing round she passed over her anchor, and as a small hole was made in her bottom she began to leak ; but it was some time before this was discovered. As soon as it was found a gang of men were put on to pump, and in about an hour- they had reduced the water in the vessel Sin. A diver is being sent down to examine the damage, and to-morrow the cargo will be removed, and the vessel ,will ‘

probably be sent on to Port Chalmers for repairs. New Plymouth, October 29.

In the Supreme Court, in the civil case Rev S. Breach v. Victorian Insurance Company, the plaintiff sues for the insurance money on the Scotch Kirk, which was burnt down in August, 1882. The case is now going on. The goods and chattels of Mr J. Elliott, J.P., of Waitara, were sold under a distress warrant issued by the New Plymouth Harbour Board, for rates amounting to £2 ss. There was a large attendance at the sale, but the goods were sacrificed.. A buggy, almost new, fetched 17s; a piano 20s, valuable pictures, 7s 6d. The amount on the warrant was not satisfied till nearly half the furniture was sold. Mr Elliott-informed the bailiff before the sale that the judgment was illegally obtained, and he would proceed against the Board for damages. It is thought there is some flaw in the proceedings. The Supreme Court was occupied all day in hearing the case, Breach v. the Victoria Insurance Company. An insurance was effected by the plaintiff on the old church burned four years ago. The action was to secure the alleged arrears of stipend, amounting to £6OO. After hearing the evidence his Honour directed the jury that Breach had no insurable interest so far as the church was concerned. Breach also claimed £lO on the harmonium in the church, which he alleged was his own property. The jury brought in a verdict for £lO, the value of the harmonium, and costs, £3 14s. Dunedin, October 29. Tho National Insurance Company declared a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, and a bonus of 6d per share, leaving £11,694 to be carried forward. The profits of the year, with the total brought forward, give a total of £26,401 up to date. The sum of £2965 has been guaranteed for the proposed exhibition. £IOOO was obtained in about an hour this morning. At the inquest on William McLaughlin, who hung himßelf, the evidence went to Bhow that he had worried gieatly about some bad speculation he had made. A verdict of suicide while temporarily insane was returned.

Wanganui, October 29. A youDg man named Lett was killed by the fall of a tree while bush-felliug on Saturday. An inquest is to be held to-day. In the case Grant v. Manawatu Road Board the jury retired at 4.20, and returned into Court at 9.35 with a three-fourths verdict for the plaintiff; damages, £173 15s 6d, with costs, and a certificate for eight days’ extra allowance for counsel. The costs will be enormous. The case has lasted nine days. Mr Jellicoe for the plaintiff, and Mr Fitzherbert for the defendants. New Plymouth, October 30.

In the Appeal Court to-day judgment was given in the case of Gowland and Arundale, an appeal against a Resident Magistrate’s judgment, that the appellant Gowland pay half the costs in an action brought by Arundale against the Public Works Department for cutting a dam at Pate'a. The appeal was dismissed. Masterton, Ootober 30. Mr Pownall, solicitor, states that the result of the injury he received by- a stone is less serious than was at first supposed. He is now able to attend to business. Auckland, October 30. The insurances on the fire at Newton are Royal office, £200; South British office, £200; Pbasaix office, £175, New Zealand office, £125. , Sir Frederick Whitaker has resigned his position as director of the Bank of New Zealand. On being applied to yesterday by a Herald reporter as to matters at the Avondale Lunatio Asylum, Mr F. G. Ewington, one of the visiting Justices of that institution, said that he was obliged to refuse information. He had regularly sent to the press reportß of his visits to the Asylum, but when the Colonial Secretary was in Auckland he (Mr Hialop) asked him to discontinue this custom, at all events for the present, as Dr Cremonini, the Asylum Superintendent, felt aggrieved at the reports being published, since he thought they reflected upon him. Mr Ewington says he had always Bpoken highly of Dr Cremonini, and in his opinion it is a mistake to cease publishing the reports, which, he says, allayed public uneasiness respecting the Asylum. Major Jackson, M.H.R. for Waipa, addressed his constituents at Te Awamutu and received a vote of thanks and confidence. At the inquest upon the young man Driver, the jury recommended that the spring-board at the Saltwater Baths be made movable, so that its position could be changed to suit the level of the tide at low as well as at high water. The accident to Driver was the second which has resulted at these baths from diving into low water. Sir George Grey is steadily continuing his gifts of rare and valuable works to the Auckland Free Library. Among his recent gifts arc a copy of the Bible (Queen Elizabeth's), History of the Reformations of the Church of England from the Hamilton Palace collection (1679), Cicero’s Orations (1501), Works of Origen (two volumes, 1512), A Wurtzburgh Missal (1613). The number of applications for shares in the new Moanatairi Goldmining Company is over 35,000, and it has been decided to register the Company at onoe. It is stated that a branch of the Knights of Labour organisation is to be formed in Auck-' land. The Parnell Borough Council have adopted the rating clause of the Rating Act, ISB2, and its amendments. j At the inquest upon the remains of the child found at Judge’s Bay an open verdict was returned. The following Volunteers left to-day for Melbourne to take part in the Centennial Rifle Meeting Captains Cooper and Skinner, Sergeants Fairs and Parslow, Lieutenant James, Gunner Lumsden,, Volunteers Rout, Volunteer McCarthy (Onehunga), Seaman Weir (Thames). The business of tire Kauri Timber Company has been got into working order, and Mr G. Holdship, the Managing Director in New Zealand, left for Melbourne to-day. The export trade has been very brisk at all the timber centres. Through having to fill a number of large orders'from the South and Melbourne tho immense stocks at Aratapu, Tairu, and elsewhere are being rapidly diipinishtd. It is probable therefore that at

an early date operations will have to be resumed at the various centres of mills owned by the Company. It is stated that the syndicate have paid over half a million pounds in purchase moneys to the former owners in this district.

Wanganui, October 30. An old soldier named John Grogan fell into the river yesterday and was drowned. The verdict was accidental death. The jury added a rider favouring doing away with the steps near where he fell in and substituting a “ hard." • The case of Nash v. the Rangitikei County Council occupied the whole of the day at the Supreme Court. Mr Jellicoe appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Essam for the defendant. The jury retired at 4 p.m. and returned to Court at 6.30 p.m. with a verdict for the plaintiff, but judgment was reserved on the application of Mr Essam pending further argument in Wellington.. At the meeting of the Board of Education to-day Mr Carson brought forward his motion, of which he had given previous notice, as to the establishment of a Wanganui Girls’ High School. A committee was appointed to report on the matter. At the inquest to-day on the body of the man Grogan, who met his death yesterday by falling into the Wanganui river, a verdict of accidentally drowned was returned. Dunedin, October 30.

The Diocesan Synod was opened this afternoon, Archdeacon Stocker, in the absence of the Bishop, presiding. Dr Belcher, the Bishop’s commissary, read a brief report. At the request of the Grand Secretary of the 1.0.G.T., it was decided to receive a deputation from the Goo I Templars. Among the notices of motion is one to provide parishes with a mode of relief from the ministrations of clergymen whose doctrines, etc., are such to alienate the majority of the parishioners, although possibly not such as to obtain removal on appeal to the Ecclesiastical Courts. The Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland opened this evening. The Moderator, Rev J. Baird, referred to the death of his son. Dr Menzies gave an address on the latent power of the Church. The Salmond controversy, it is believed, is likely to be revived. Usually' when committees are appointed no opposition is raised, but when a motion to appoint a records committee was made, an amendment was made proposing an entirely new committees. Among the notices of motion is one to hold the next sitting at Invercargill. ; _ . The Manufacturers’ Association to-night decided to cordially support the exhibition, but decided to urge on the committee the desirablenessof securing a site for a permanent building for industrial purposes. The guarantee fund is over £3OOO. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS,) Greytown, Ootober 30. A smart earthquake shock occurred here at 11.40 p.m yesterday, preceded by a loud rumbling noise. The apparent vibration was from the north-east.. Havelock, October 19, An application, for a licensed holding at Mahakipawa has been lodged at the Warden’s office. It is north of the Bright Smile and west of the Welcome claims. Tho Success Company; area, 30 acres, capital, £IO,OOO ; mode of working, quartz reefing by machinery ; term, 21 years ; day of hearing, 21st prox. ; James R. Brimer and party.