Telegraphic.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 994, 20 March 1891, Page 31

Telegraphic.

(PER ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, March 12. The Hon P. Buckley, on behalf of the members representing Oamaru, has asked the Governor to request the Admiral to order the fleet to the Easter encampment at Oamaru. Lord Onslow is prepared to recommend that the Curagoa, now bound south, should be present if possible. Messrs Edwards and Ormaby, Native Land Commissioners, having intimated to the Native Minister that it was impossible to do anything farther, their commission has been terminated, as from the 31st inst., the date up to which their salary was appropriated. The net loss of the South British office by the fire in George street, Dunedin, will not exceed £SOO. Major Goring, who is in command of tho permanent force at Fort Cantley, will take temporary charge of the Auckland Volunteer District. Lieutenant-Colonel Shepherd retires from the 31st instant. Auckland, March 13. The Liberal Association at a meeting held to-day decided to appeal to the Government not to allow the Village Settlement Act to remain a dead letter any longer. Satisfaction was expressed by the Association at the retrenchment proposals of the Government. Auckland, March 14. A ten-roomed boardinghouse, unoccupied, and owned by Alison Bros., at Devonport, was destroyed by fire this morning. The origin is unknown. The building is understood to have been insured, but the particulars are unknown The Hon. G. McLean went South to-day. The City Valuer has withdrawn h ; 3 assessment for the Auckland Docks, which therefore will be free of taxation as hitherto, a decision of Justice Williams showing that! docks were not liable to be assessed for rates. At the election of three members for tho Board of Education, Messrs Nation, Muir and Grant, three new members, were returned.

Auckland, March 16. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Boardmeet to-night to consider the report of tho Commission on the Arnaboldi charges. A. committee was appointed to meet a committee of medical men to discuss the future management of tho hospital. The two-year-old son of a resident o£ Helensville, William Downey, was drowned there on Saturday, Auckland, March 17. The South Frankljn Agricultural Show held a successful exhibition at Pukekohe. The annual firing competition for the belt presented to the Volunteers by Mr P. N.’ Clark resulted in a victory for Capt. Tobin, of the Royal Irish Rifles, with 197 points, Lieut. Fairs, Victoria Rifles being second, with 106. A protest, however, has been lodged against Capt. Tobin on account of alleged infringement of conditions. In the matches for the local championship in lawn tennis, Mr Morrison beat Mr Tonka for the Gentlemen’s Singles, and then beat the last year’s champion (Mr Goodhue) and won. For the Ladies’ Championship, Miss Spiers and Mrs Chapman played for the last round, and the former won. She will now play with Miss Mowbray, who has held the championship for four years. Wanganui, March 12. The Premier leaves for Wellington tomorrow. Invercargill, March 12. Surprise is felt at the Hinemoa not going to the Macqnarries to see whether the Gratitude, now two weeks overdue, ha 3 arrived at the Islands. Invercargill, March 13.

The Southland County Council to-day interviewed the Minister of Lands on several matters, the most important being the position of the Counties now that the gold duty is abolished. In the oase of this County it was stated that while formerly it got £4OO to £SOO a year from gold duty they now found that the rates to be derived from mining properties would not pay the cost of valuing these. If any change was made to improve matters it was suggested that all the Counties should be placed on the same footing. Mr McKenzie said they could rest assured that he would look after the interest of the agricultural Counties if any fresh, scheme were introduced. The County Engineer reported that a bridge through which the traction engine fell through was built 17 years ago to carry five tons, and that the engine’s weight was 10 tons. Tho Council has been threatened with an action. The Government has asked the County Council to permit them to use the traffic bridge across the Mataura for railway purposes in the event of the completion of the Switzer’s line of which eight miles of formation is made. The members of the ridings interested opposed permission being given, evidently having no faith in the Government. But the other Councillors favoured further consideration on the ground that a completion of the railway would be a great boon to the settlers who had given high prioes for the land on the strength of getting the line. Dunedin, March 12. The death is announced of William Hefferman, one of the pioneers of Sandhurst, Victoria, At the Police Court to-day William Parker, charged with stealing £2 at Otaio, was remanded to Timaru. Dunedin, March 13. A meeting of temperance workers tor night appointed a committee to select five prohibition candidates for the licensing •leotion. Dunedin, March 15. A number of mechanics and others out of employment have called a meeting for tomorrow night with a view of obtaining an exact statement of the number of unemployed, so that the members for the city and suburbs will be able to lay the facts before Ministers. The Dunedin Gold Dredging Company obtained 42 ounoes of gold for five days last: week. Dunedin, March 16. At the annual meeting of the Protestant Alliance the balance-sheet showed £2933 to credit of tho Sick Fund, and £2147 to credit of the Funeral Fund,

The employes of Sargood, Son and Ewen roughout the Colony havo made a donation of the money refunded to them on aocount of their Exhibition shares, amounting to £l6 17s sd, to the Dunedin Art Gallery. Palmerston North, March 12, The man Hector McDonald, lost in the Pohangina Bush since Monday, lias turned np all right. Chrtstchubch, March 12, An application for a mandamus to compel the Sydenham Borough Council to plaoe certain names cn the fcurgess list came before Mr Justioe Denniton this morning, and was adjourned to Thursday, Maroh 26, as the Council meets on Monday, when the applications will come before them. His Honor pointed out forcibly that it is the business of a public body to do its duty, no matter what the private feeling or opinions of members may be, so that if the applicants were entitled to be on the list the Council should place them there, no matter what their object was in seeking to get there. The applieations come from opponents to Prohibition, and the Temperance party, who are strong in the Council, allege that it is an attempt at roll-stuffing. Considerable exoitement prevails over the matter in the borough. . . Messrs W. Montgomery, C. G. Y\ right, and E. Hanson have been elected members of the Board of Education. The Board referred to the Auckland Herald article, and appointed a committee to report. The firing for Government medals took place to-day, Gunner Field (Lyttelton Navals) won the District medal, with Sergesnt Blackwell (Kaiapoi) second. Welso’s March 12. Sir John Hall and Mis 3 Hall arrived from the West Coast overland this evening, ex. pressing themselves highly pleased with the scenery’ en route. They leave early in the morniDg by coach by way of Havelock, for Blenheim. WESTrORT, March 13. Quartz specimens showing gold freely throughout have been obtained in the I Beaconsfield olaim in a reef ISin thick at the bottom of the wins 3. Westport, March 34. The coal export for the weekended to-day a 4506 tons. Woodville March 13. Nelson Brothers commence the erection of their freezing works here on Monday. Gisborne, March 13. The three fishermen, who were missing, have arrived safely at Tologa Bay. Gisborne, March 17Mr Gavin, Assistant Controller and Auditor-General, was engaged yesterday arbitrating accounts as between the Cook Cousty and the newly - formed Waiapu County. The accounts showed the financial position of the Cook County Council at the time of separation to be—Assets, £3285 ; liabilities, £7357. Waiapu claims that a large proportion of moneys due to that riding have been nsed in other ridings, and it is intended to receive the moneys from the Cook County. Cook, on the other hand, claims that Waiapu must pay its share of the present overdraft. The Controller gave no decision, but said that a division of funds in counties that were in debt to the Bank was impracticable, and that it must be held that all main roads and peimanent charges mußt be provided for before any divisi;n of moneys can be made to ridings. Timaro, March 13.

The Hospital Board to-day received notice of a beqae o t by R. A Barker, deceased, a late member of the Board, of £2OOO, subject to a life interest in the income, with a letter expressing the wish that it be devoted to the erection and maintenance of a special ward for the treatment of sufferers from septic diseases. The Board acknowledged the bequest with thanks. The Borough valuation roll was signed today. There were few objections, and none were maintained. The total of the roll is £37,574, or £llO less than last year. No addition to the number of dwellings or stores baß been made during the year, but several old ones have been replaced by new. Greymouth, March 15. The week’s export of coal products amounts to 1693 tons. Hawera, March 17. Mary Ann Tiller, of Hawr.ki, a half caste, has been arrested on a charge of bigamy in having married one Matbeson, Tiller, her husband, being still alive. Waifawa, March 17. The new church of St. Patrick’s, Waipawa, was formally consecrated by his Grace Archbishop Redwood this morning. The church was crowded, the visitors having arrived from all directions. His Grace congratulated Father Dawson and the congregation on having so soon and so well completed the work taken in hand. A collection at the close of the service amounted to about £SO, about sufficient to clear off the debt. His Grace delivered a forcible address, dealing with the cardinal points of the Roman Catholic faith. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Master! on, March 13. This morning Robert Crawford, a stranger to this place, was sentenced by Colonel Roberts, R.M., to ten days' imprisonment for using obscene language in a public place.