TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 871, 9 November 1888, Page 27

TELEGRAPHIC.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Wanganui, November 1. The entries for the Agricultural and Pas. total Show are very large, and everything points to a successful show on the Bth. At Barns’ stock sale yesterday, a well furnishod line of shorn ewes brought 13s 6d. A Maori will case is occupying the attention of the Supreme Court, in whioh the plaintiffs wish to show that the testator was not in his sound mind at the time of bis death.

Dunedin, November 1. The Presbyterian Synod last evening decided to issue a pastoral address setting forth the views of the Synod on the period of grace. A discussion arose on an overture with respect to the' Synod declaring the views which the majority hold about the oonfession of faith and some disputed pas. sages in Scripture. The question having only been opened, a,motion has been made to postpone it till The report on the state of religion spokefm a more hopeful and cheering strain than for years past. Notwithstanding the eXodus, only one or two sessions reported a Blight falling off. Regret-was expressed- at the prevalence of the mania for dancing and linking, parents appearing indifferent or unaware of their moral and spiritual danger, Several suggest;ons|were made, and the report was adopted. It was decided to receive' a deputation from the Good Templars to-morrow. > There was a heavy fall of snow here last night. ‘ '' ' ■' '' The Exhibition Committee are issuing circulars to all Mayors, Chairmen of County Councils, and Town Boards, requesting the formation of local committees in each district. The bank rate of interest was raised today by one-half per cent, making 3 per cent for three mouths, 4 for six months, and 5 for 12 months.

A deputation from the Grand Lodge of Good Templars waited-on the Presbyterian Synod to-day to ask their co-operation with the alliance in putting down the liqnor traffic by setting apart one Sunday in the year on which Ministers should preach specially on the temperance question. A vote of thanks was passed to the deputation, and cordial sympathy expressed with their object. The temperance report was then considered, and a motion carried fixing the day on which to preach temperance services.

Thelogal profession are protesting against the removal of the Land Courts, on the ground of inconvenience and expense to the Colony. Two fishing boats were wilfully destroyed by an unknown person or persons. There was a large crowd at the railway Btation to-night awaiting the arrival from Invercargill of Thomas Gleeson, arrested for various burglaries here and. iu Christchurch. He is a young man about 19 or 20 years of age, with n smooth face, and, accord* ing to his statement, a native of Auckland. His collection is about one of the most miscellaneous and characteristic ever got together: Among his outfit were found a false beard and an elaborate moustache, eyeglasses and cosmetics. He had also an elaborate silk dres3 and fittings, which lead to the belief that he has been masquerading in women’s attire. , All the goods lost in Dunedin were found, and a considerable quantity from Christchurch, while others are believed to be the proceeds of burglaries further north. He had 14 watches, an air gun, a saloon rifle, a sporting gun, a number bi revolvers, a jewelled dagger, handsome pocket knives, chains, rings, silver table napkin rings, field glasses, boxing gloves, &c., and a number of candle ends. Only £5 in cash was found on him.

At a meeting of the Dock Trust to-day only three members attended. It was de* cided to extend the time for floating a loan for the construction of the new dock for 12 months. One member proposed the resolution, the Chairman seconded it, and notwithstanding a protest of the third member, the resolution was carried.

Waipawa, November 1. Last night quite a host of applications for space were received by the secretary of the Exhibition. The art exhibits are numerous and valuable, while the home industries will make a splendid show. To-day is the last for applications for space. Subscriptions are coming in for the brass band contest fund. Feilding, November 1. A woman named Mary Ann Welsh was found drowned in a well this morning at Power’s Farm, Spur-road. Nelson, November 1. For” four weeks’’ ornshing at Johnston’s United Mine, Collingwbod, 102 oz of gold was obtained.: Christchurch, November 1. A child 18 months old, the daughter of Mr Harvey, living at Addington, was drowned yesterday, by falling into a tub, in a workshop behind its father’s house. At a meeting of the North Canterbury Board of Education to-day, it was resolved, “ That, in compliance with the reiterated request of the United School Committees, it be an instruction .to the Appointments Committee to forward to the School Committees interested the names of all teachers applying for vacant situations, distinguishing the names approved by the Board from those not considered suitable. Such names to be sent on a printed form explaining to the Committee that the names not approved by the Board for that particular school are not necessarily objectionable for 'any other school, and may. not have anything against them affecting their general character.” A letter was received from the South Canterbury Board of Education, requesting the Board’s co-operation in protesting against the adoption of strict average in calculating school attendances for capitation. It was decided that the Board agree with the object sought by the South Canterbury Board, as calculating the attendance on working average was more just, more favourable to strictly honest practices, and attracting a larger and therefore more fair proportion of the public grant to the education of those outlying, scattered and unimproved districts, which will always demand larger expenditure upon education to. produce anything approaching to satisfactory results.

Mr T. W. Hißlop has sent a reply to the resolution passed at the public meeting at Lyttelton; requesting furthur inquiry into the oause Of Gaolfer O’Brieh’s redaction and transfer, and states that the base has been fully investigated by Messrs Beethdrh and Westenra, and also by the Minister Gf Jhstice. He is therefore unable to interfere in the matter. South-west weather has prevailed all day. Last night snow fell on Banks Peniusula. Hail fell in Christohuroh between 1 and 2 p.m. to-day. Wanganui,.November 2.

The Caledonian Sooiety, at a meeting last night, drew np a programme of the annual sports similar to that of last year, excepting increased money for bagpipe music and wrestling, the latter in expectation that George Robertson and Harry Dunn are coming here to wrestle a match. The hearing of the Maori will case Rera Peti v. Ngairaihi te Paku was concluded to. day, his Honour reserving judgment. During examination as a witness Major Kemp said he thought the Government should make a law by Which all Native wills would be invalid unless draWn out iff the presence of a magistrate or Court official: His Hondur the Chief Justico quite agreed with hifh, add stiggested that the Major ought td bring the matter before the Government and ask that something of the kind be done. It was, he said, a peculiar omission on the part of the Government in not providing such a law, especially as they were so particular in cases of native land transfer. Major Kemp said he would do so. George Miller, alias Thompson, was convicted by the Resident Magistrate on three charges of the theft of hides' from the slaughterhouse of Mr T. Mitchell, butcher, at Aramoko. The Supreme Court closes here to-morrow, and his Honour returns to Wellington to attend the Court of Appeal. Feilding, November 2. At the inquest on the body of Mary Ann Welsh, th s morning, a verdict that deceased committed suicide when suffering from melancholia was returned. Timaru, November 2. Tommy Williams, the champion lightweight boxer, was fined 20s, and costs 10s, this morning for giving a boy, who was peering into the boxing tent on the racecourse yesterday, a smack on the mouth through the tent, and knocking out a tooth, Dunedin, November 2. In the oise Otago Benevolent Trustees against the South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board, Mr Carew gave judgment for the plaintiff. Leave to appeal was granted. It is to be taken to the Appeal Court in any ease. The secretary of the Labour Bureau states that the applications for employment on relief works from men in the city and suburbs have been fewer than usual, but there have been a number from the country people, not finding work on farms as formerly. Nineteen men received orders last week for the Otago Central Railway. At the Presbyterian Synod to-night, the moderator and deputy of the Northern Church wore beard and thanked for their addresses on a pastoral address as to whether the period of grace terminates with the present life. The question of Professor Salmond’s “Reign of Grace” was raised by several petitions. Several elders withdrew their names to the petition, as they were satisfied with the position the matter had assumed. D. McGregor, of Oamaru, and others, opposed letting the matter drop, and the former said the responsibility rested with the others of allowing Dr Salmond to retain the full status of a minister, while he personally would sooner die than own him as a Ch istian minister. It was resolved on the voices that no iurther action be taken. A protest was made by the minority. •' Christchurch, November 2.

The Stella arrived at Lyttelton this morning from her annual cruise to the Snares, Campbell, Auckland, Antipodes and Bounty Islands. Captain Fairchild found the provision depots of all tha islands intact. He found tb.6 beach at Auckland Islands strewn with the relics of the ill-fated Derry Castle. A figurehead of a vessel (a life-s>zed bust of the Queen) was found on the beach, and by Captain Fairchild’s instructions was plaeed over the graves of four poor fellows who were buried on the island by their shipmates. Other relics, such as a name-boaid, lifebuoy, &c., were secured and brought to New Zealand. One board, with “Derry Castle, Limerick,’' painted on it, Captain Fairchild intends sending Home to the late owners of the vessel.

The entries for the Metropolitan Show number 1484 against 1432 last year. Sheep number 509 again-t 365; cattle, 109 against 169; horses, 176 against 192; pig 3 * 64; dogs, 17; dairy produce, 95 ; cured and preserved meats, 29 ; manufacturers, 98 ; implements, 325 ; sheep dips, 5 ; carriages, 56.

The cabmen held a meeting to-night to consider the proposed bylaw for regulating the pace of traffic round street corners. They deem it unnecessary and arbitrary, and appointed a deputation to wait on the City Council and point out the injustice of the by-law. Laing, the boxer, has arrived from South, and will fight Ellis privately on Tuesday night. He has undertaken to knock out Ellis in five rounds.

Greymouth, November 4. The bar was blockaded all last week. The coal exports last week were 1878 tons. Reef ton mining returns for the week : Welcome, 5970 z of amalgam from 58 tons ; Keep-it. Dark, 2400 z of amalgam from 168 tons ; Globe, 2050 z of amalgam from 175 tons; Nil Desperandum, 201 oz ef amalgam from 95 tons ; Venus, 1250 z of amalgam from 65 tons-; Fiery Cross, 1540 z of amalgam from 85 tons ; Big River, 370 z of gold from 35 tons.

Feilding, November 3. A house belonging to Mrs M. M. Brown, in Kiwitea, was burned down this morning, and nothing saved. The insurance on the bouse and furniture is £350 in the _ Colonial office. Joseph Brown, who was sleeping in the house, had a narrow escape, but was saved by his brother Ralph. Dunedin, November 3.

The foundation stono of the new municipal buildings at Port Chalmers was laid to-

day with full Masonic honours. There waff only a small attendance. The building will include] the townhall and municipal offices, fire brigade station, resident magistrate’s court and (customhouse, and the contract pride was for £3,700. At a meeting of the Dunedin branch of education, the Institute paper Was read by Miss Walket, Oh sewing: Bhe referred to the work which matrons Were required td do, instancing two cases where they had td express their inability to overtake the work. The members expressed their thanks to Miss Walker, and said she was the first lady that appeared before the Institute to read a paper. Mr White mentioned two other cases where the work was too much, and said the matrons had often to [sit up late after a busy day to prepare the work. Notioc was given of a motion to rescind the resolution to hold the next meeting flit Auckland, as there is reason to believe many Northern teachers would like to visit Duuedin during the exhibition. MartoN, November 3. A young man named Dallamore was killed whilst felling bush in the Hunterville diatrict yesterday. Blenheim, November 4.

James Crewe, aged 35, a farmer at Mastonton, was arrested on Saturday at Mahakipawa Elat cm a charge of obtaining goods from Litchfield’s stofe, valued £4 2s, and oasli £2 18s tiy means of a Valueless cheque of £7 on the Bank of New Zealand at Pidton, When in the store he said he had come down to speculate £IOO at the diggings. He was lodged in Pioton Gaol. Dunedin, November 3. A peculiar affair has been reported to the police at-Balclutha. Joseph Valentine called on the police on Saturday and reported that on the 28th ultimo he was taking a child, two weeks old, from his mother’s house to that of his sisters, and that while walking along the banks of the Clutha, it being a dark night, be stumbled, and the child fell into the river and has never been seen since. It is said to be legitimate. Valentine has been detained in custody pending in l quiries. At the Police Court on Friday, Ernest Wilde pleaded guilty to the larceny of a costume, the property of Mr Sibbald, and was remanded for the Probation Officer’s report. This morning Gaoler Phillips stated that he believed the prisoner's statement that he had simply taken care of the article was correct, and that he had pleaded guilty under a misapprehension. Wilde said that as the article was found in his possession he thought it constituted an offence, but had no feloniouß intent, and never attempted to realise on it. Mr Sibbald said he believed the man was perfectly honest. Mr Carew was satisfied, and ordered Wilde to come up for sentence when called on. Nearly £SOOO is now guaranteed for the exhibition. The Canvassing Committees are meeting with success, but their returns are not included. In the southward alone it. is believed £2OOO will be obtained. The members of the Caversham, Port Chalmers, and Kaikorai bands left this morning for Queenstown, where a band contest takes place. The Oamaru band are also on the way there. ■ _ t ._•. .- The Agricultural and Pastoral Association have decided to protest to the Government against Lyttelton being made the only port in the South Island for the importation of cattle, as this will inflict great hardship and expense. At the Presbyterian Synod to-night a protest was received protesting against the action of the Synod in regard to the “ Reign of Grace,” on the ground that the Synod should have censured lhe Dunedin Presbytery for irregular proceedings, and the author should have been declared not a minister of the church. The Synod determined not to answer the reasons in the protest. ' The evening was taken up with the Church Extension Report. A recommendation to send Home for two ministers, was objected to, as it would discourage local students, and the Synod, by a large majority, decided that ministers should not be sent for.

At the Anglican Synod a debate took place on the motion that it was desirable to amend clause 20 of Canon 2 to provide for the parishes a mode of relief from the ministrations of clergymen whose mode of conducting divine aorvice >or general conduct are such as to alienate the majority of the parishioners, although probably not such as to enable the parishioners to appeal. This was eventually withdrawn in favour of a motion that the Standing Committee should communicate with other committees throughout the Colony as to the advisableness of amending clause 20. Christchurch, November 5.

Two hundred and thirty-six entries have been received for the Interprovincial Dog Show from all the principal towns of the Colony, except Auckland. Captain A. Sproul, one of the earliest settlers at Lyttelton, died there to-day, aged 77. He first came here in 1851 in command of the barque Hoogloy, from Australia. He was Harbourmaster and Pilot from 1857 to 1869, and was afterward Marine Surveyor to Lloyd'e and the New Zealand Shipping Company. A cottage near Papanui, belonging to Robert Bishop, was burned down yesterday morning. The occupants were out. The cause of the lire is not known. It was in. sured for £l4O in the New Zealand office.

At the Police Court to-day Albert Goodall, who was committed for trial last week for horse-stealing, was committed on a charge of stealing two horses at Kaiapoi in Ootober. A very successful fancy fair was opened to-day by the Mayor in the drillshed in aid of the funds of the Christchurch Volunteers, Large numbers of people attended to-night. The particular object is to raise money to repair the drillshed, which ia somewhat delapidated, and improve the rifle range. The amateurs who recently performed the ct Mikado’’for the benefit of the Magdalen Asylum, revived it to-nigbt in the Theatre Royal. The performance was vory successful.

A game of football on skates, between a Dunedin and a Christchurch team, was played at the Palace Rink to-nighb, resulting in favour of the local men by a try to nil. Timaru, November 5.

Henry Pile, manager of Lane and Co.’s Aerated! Water Factory, has died frorn the effects of a fall from his cart on the Show Grounds last Wednesday.

Auckland, November 5.

A private cable from Townsville states that the ffchpoifer Borelnis, of Auckland (Captain McKeflzio) has been wrecked. All hands were saved. A house at Hamilton East,' .owned and occupied by Mr Searancke, J.P, and Coroner, was destroyed by fire yesterday,With nearly all the contents. The insurances are £275 on the building in the Now Zealand office, and £4OO on the furniture in the Colonial. Captain Hayward, who has been for some time in Sydney negotiating in the dispute with the Maritime Dnion, has resumed commaud of the MaripOSa'. Joseph Young, who was recently brought back from Sydney by the police was charged at the Police Court to-day with obtaining £42 by from James Hovvden.The prosecutor intimated that he to withdraw the charge, as Young had promised to make restitution. The Bench dismissed the case. Mr Miller, General Secretary of the New Zealand Federated Seamen’s Union, who is at present in Auckland, says that the statement that the matters in dispute between the Union and the Northern Steamship Company were settled is somewhat premature, as it still remains for the Directors of the Northern Steamship Company to accept or reject the terms arrived at in Dunedin between Mr Mills and the representatives of the Union, and Mr Millar has come to Auckland to confer with the Directors of the Jubilee Company. The steamer Stormbird is still running on the opposition service to Whangarei and Northern ports, and settlers are taking advantage of the delay by shipping their goods at once, as it is expected that when the opposition is withdrawn the freight rates will be increased, A man named Andrew Hastie was fined £lO and costs at the Police Court to-day for having rescued goods which bad been levied under a process of the Resident Magistrate’s Court. Mr R. Thompson, member for Marsden, addressed his constituents at Whangarei on Saturday, and received a vote of confidence. Captain F. D. Rich, of Lichfield, writes to the Herald contradicting the statements made by Mr Buckley at the half-yearly m: eting of the shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand in respect of the Patetere Company. He says nothing deserving the word discreditable ever took place in floating the Company. Napier, November 5. The Harbour Board to-day passed the plans, and agreed to call tenders for the second section of the breakwater. At present the work is in over 20 feet of water at, high tide. The next section will carry it to 34 feet. The wharf is to be started immediately, though not until the arm to give shelter is built, and that will be a third contract. It will be available on'y in fine weather. The shingle has not accumulated to anything like the extent expected, and not one-third the length o£ the section is now finished. The bottom at the end of the work is bare rock.

Wanganui, November 5. The coal lumpers at the wharf struck work this morning owing to a reduction of 3d per hour —from 4s 6d to Is 3d per hour in their pay. The local agents of the Union Steam Ship Company went up to the Corporation yards and obtained several men who were stonobreaking, and pnt them to unload the Moa and Manawatu, which arrived thiß morning with coal, but after unloading one truck they gave it up, the work being too much for them.

The delegates from various parts of the Colony to the Baptist Conference at Christchurch, which commences its sittings on Tuesday next, are authorised to travel on the Government railways at Saturday return fares upon production of a certificate from the President, Rev T. Spurgeon, stating that the holders are entitled to the concession.

At the Harbour Board meeting to-day Mr Thatcher, the contractor for the Heads breakwater fascine extension works, tendered for another contract which would be a modification of the present one. He expressed his willingness to abandon the present contract, subject to the Board granting him the modified one, but as they did not seem inclined to pledge themselves to entering into another contract, and not being certain of their power to grant a modified contract, Mr Thatchar declared his intention of abandoning the present scheme, and clearing off his plant within a week. The Christ Church Vestry held a meeting to-night, at which the Bishop of Wellington attended, and opened an inquiry into the present unsatisfactory state of the parish and its causes. Timaru, Novembor 6. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning the squatters on the Defence Reserve at Patti Point, who have been there 10 or 12 years occupying the same sod huts which were erected to accommodate immigrants, were ordered to ciear, as their occupation of the ground interferes with the upe of the rifle range. Two others left on pro. ceedings being commenced. One man named Donovan claimed to have some right to occupy, though not a documentary one, and under this impression he has built a good two-roomed cottage of wood and planted 50 fruit trees. Mr Wray advised him to lay his claim before the Government, and in making the order to quit suggested that he should be allowed time to do that. Colonel Bailey appeared as prosecutor. Auckland, November 6.

The City Council is threatened with trouble over the nightsoil question. Debarred from depositing the matter at Point Chevalier, the contractor has been sending it to Avondale and Mount Albert, but the Road Boards of those districts are taking steps to stop the practice. The Avondale Board threaten to prosecute the land owners who allow the offensive matter to be deposited. Mr Devore, Mayor of Auckland, who has just returned from an Australian tour, has collected a lot of information ou the subject of the disposal of nightsoil, &c.. which may be useful if the Council has to alter the existing arrangements. The Auckland Dog Show open 3 on Thursday next. The total entries received are 182, against 105 last year. About 1 o’clock this morning a six-roomed house in Wallace-otreet, Pousonby, owned and occupied by Patrick Lysaghfc, was destroyed by five. The furniture was not in-

snr fid,and was nearly all burned. The house is insured for £250 in the Royal office. The fire is believed to have originated in the washhouse under the dwelling. A fire also took place this morning afe Ford’s bakery, North Shore. Particulars are not yet to hand. Later. The North Shore fire was in a two-story concrete building, of which the ground floor was occupied as a bakehouse and the upper flat as a storeroom. The building was completely gutted, and the stock of flour, &o. 7 destroyed. Messrs R. and R. Duder, the owners of the building, had no insurance, but Ford's stock was insured for £BO in the Royal office. It is reported that the Shaewai Quicksilver mines in the Bay of Islands county will commence working about January. The Whangarei County Council have passed a resolution urging that Mr Elliott be retained in his position as Sheep Inspector. A child named Bean was drowned on Sunday at Pokeno, having fallen into a creek. The dispute in reference to Mr Lanigan’s claim for extras in connection with his contract for the construction of the Calliope dock was again before the Harbour Board to-day, when Mr Lanigan wrote asserting that Mr Ware, who was appointed by the Board to act as arbitrator of the claim, was not impartial, and that he had made damaging statements in reference to the contract. A copy of the letter is to be sent to Mr Ware.

In the district embracing the settlements of Pokeno, Miranda, Bombay, Arawamu, etc., the property-tax valuer finds that the progress of settlement during the last three years has been so extensive as to fully compensate for the shrinkage in valus. The valuation of those districts will therefore show no diminution, although the land values have got down to the bed-rock of non-specnlation, and of course the general prosperity is far greater than before. Napier, November 6. The Resident Magistrate gave judgment to-day in the case of Councillor Fitzroy v. the Hastings Borough Ceunoil, in which the plaintiff sought recovery of eight guineas to the Borough funds, being cost of a portrait of ex-May or Well wood, paid by the Council and disallowed by the Auditor-General. The defendant Corporation claimed that the portrait was Council chamber furniture. The Magistrate gave judgment for the plaintiff with costs.

A scheme is on foot to purchase the freeholds facing the new marine parade now in course of ■ construction, to pull down the existing small dwellings, and erect handsome houses for residences and lodginghouses.

Feilding, November 6. The programme of the Feilding Boxing Day sports is published to-day. £l4O will be given in prizes.

Dunedin, November 6. At the Presbyterian Synod the Rev Dr Steward was appointed moderator for the next year. Revs Beard and Skinner were appointed deputies to the Northern Church Mission. The report gave an encouraging account of the work in the New Hebrides. It was proposed to send another missionary to the Islands. This proposal was adopted. The Rev Mr Bannerman, convener, was appointed to visit the Islands - and report. Reference was made to the reoent antiChinese feeling and agitation, which, it was said, interfered with mission work, and was therefore condemned.

Mr F. Fergus, Defence Minister, reached town to-day, but transacted no public business. He leaves for the north by the morning train. At a meeting of the Acclimitisation Sooiety it was resolved, in view of the expense gone to in stocking the Aparima River in Southland with trout, to support the Government in their aetion in closing the mouth of the river against netting, notwithstanding the petition of the fishermen to allow seining in portions of the river. There are at present under the charge of the Industrial School 472 children, of whom 77 boys and 44 girls are in the sohool ; 76 boys and 46 girls are out at service ; 96 boys and 9S girls are boarded out ; and 26 boys and II girls are in charge of friends. On the school being inspected to-day, 91 per cent passed the standards. There are 165 banking accounts in connection with the children out at service, who have over £2OOO to their credit in the Post Office Savings Bank. The Commercial, Property and Finance Company declare a dividend of 4 per cent, carrying forward a small balance. At the meeting of the Anglican Synod a resolution was proposed that the clergy be requested to preach sermons having reference to the siu of intemperanoe. On November 5 the motion was objected to by two of the town incumbents. One, the Rev A. C. Yorke, said he did not know one in his congregation addicted to the sin of intemperance, and Dunedin was the most temperate town he had seen in all the colonies. The Rev Mr King said that if he preached cn the subject his congregation would regard it as a joke, as he did not know a single one who was intemperate. The motion was amended by substituting the oause of temperance for the sin of. Refer--ence was made to the appeal made by Bishop Neville in London, and adverse criticism was made on it. It was pointed out that the Theological College, the cathedral and ether objects were quite proper things for the Bishop to make an appeal to the rich churchmen of England. The Synod then concluded its proceedings. Palmerston North, November 6. The entries for the A. and P. Show numbered 450 as against 419 last year. There will be exhibitors from all parts of the coast. Extensive improvements have been carried out, including anew and commodious grandstand. Greymouth, November 6. A few days ago one of the new hydraulic cranes broke down, and now the other has gone the same way. In each case the bed plate seemed to be too weak. At a meeting of arbitrators for the Brunner miners and the Coal Company it was decided to request Major Keddell to act as umpire. The meeting stands adjourned till a reply is received.