Late Telegraphic.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 897, 10 May 1889, Page 23

Late Telegraphic.

AUCKLAND NEWS

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, May 8.

Coal has been discovered on both Bides of the Main Trunk Railway Line. Mr E. Mitohelson brought to Auckland a bag of it, which he forwarded to Wellington for analysis. The steamer Rotomahana, which left for Sydney, took away 1750 sacks of -wheat, 1300 of ohaff, 421 of barley, beside a large quantity of butter, efso. In reply to a deputation of the Otorohunga residents, M r Mitohelson promised to favourably consider the question of forming a road from that place to Kihikihi, 14 milc3 disant. The Tuharangi chief Te Kepa and some other Rotorua chiefs have been at Te Kooti's settlement with the petition to the Queen that their lands may be restored to them. They were not particularly successful in getting signatures. Te Kooti remarked that they bad sold the land and spent the money, and now they wanted the land back again. He regarded such conduct as childish. At the Zealandia Rink the race for the five-mile skating championship I (of New Zealand was won by J. Eaton. Time, Bmin 43 l-ssec, the fastest time in the Colony. Mr James MoKerrow, Chief Commissioner of Railways, was interviewed to-day by merchants, who, on behalf of the various Waikato companies, asked that the freights on coal from Waikato to Auckland be reduced. They pointed out; that in a great many instances it was possible to obtain Newcastle coal at a much cheaper rate than it was possible to get local coal. At present the freight for coal is 7s 6d per ton from Huntly, and the deputation asked to have this reduced to about 5s 6d, when they were sure that the output would be doubled. They suggested a freight of a ton per mile froin the mines to Mercer and Id per ton per mile from Mercer to Auckland. The consumption of coal in the city'is from 80,000 to 100,000 tons per year, so that the possibilities for the local mines were very great. Mr McKerrow promised that the matter would receive every consideration. A deputation of members of the Auckland Dairy Association asked for a reduction of rates for the carriage of milk on the railway, and were promised that the Commissioners would consider the question. As a sign of the progress of settlement, it is stated that during the last twelve months thirteen persons have purchased properties in the Waiuku district; the total amount of money thus changing hands being considerably over £6OOO on property which was sold a fortnight ago for £ISOO. Whilst at Otorohanga Mr Mitohelson met the Natives in the Public Hall, when there was , aorowdsd attendance, including many of the principal chiefs of the Ngatimaniapoto and Ngatematua tribes. The Win’ster promised that a commission would be appointed to consider the question of the Maoreroa and other land cases, and if it was found that the Natives were entitled to a rehearing, it would be granted. The Maoris asked that a school be established at Otorohanga, either a Native or a mixed school, and promised to give land for the building aud for the use of the teacher. Mr Mitohelson promised that the matter would be attended to. It is probable that Hanlao will give a publie exhibition of his skill as an oarsman during his stay in Auckland. He intends to travel through the Colony, and will return to America in a few months. Mr MoKerrow was interviewed by a number of persons in the dairying industry. They requested that a cool truck be provided for the oarriage of butter by rail. Mr McKerrow thought it would be quite an easy /matter to have a cool truok) constructed. The matter would be considered by the Commissioners for other places as well as Auckland, as the dairy industry was going to be one of the most important in New Zealand. He had bten giving considerable attention to it on that ac* count. The deputation also explained that they wished to take advantage of the export rate on batter, which they could not now do, as, though nine-tenths of their butter was exported/ they had first to bring it to town to properly sort and pack it, and on this account had to pay a local rate. The Commissioner said the matter would receive attention.