Telegraphic.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 999, 24 April 1891, Page 32

Telegraphic.

(PEE press association.) AUCKLAND, April 16. To day Mr R. Walrond, Private Secretary to His Excellency the Governor, left by the 3S.M.S. Goldfinch for a visit to the Islands of the Hervey Group. Mr Shera has abandoned further attempts to bring about a settlement of the dispute in the boot trade. The Strike Committee have &ent him a letter of thanks for his efforts in the matter. The Rev W. Birch has announced his intention to remain in Auckland. ■ At the quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-day, a resolution was passed endorsing the action of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce re bills of lading. Jt was decided to send to the Native Minister certain correspondence with reference to the case of Driver v. Raiba Tinipoaka. The Native borrowed £IOO to put a piece of land through the Court, bnt when he died the money could not be recovered from his estate, as under the law the estate of a Maori is not liable after his death for debtsi ■which he contracted. The Native Minister, la to be asked to have the law amended to meet such cases. Sir H. Atkinson and Captain Russell left Auotland to-day. the former for Wellington and the latter for Napier. The question of technical education was brought up, it having been suggested that the Committee of the Chamber be appointed to meet the Committee of the Board of Education to diacuss the introduction of technical education into schools. However, the only resolution passed on the subject was one asking the Board of Education whether any provision is to be made for technical education in public schools. It was decided to ask the Government to supply to the various Chambers of Commerce and other pnblio institutions in the Colony, the available information on the subject of Fedeialion. Certain amendments in the mining laws were recommended, and suggestions as to the method of dealing with Native lands adopted, to be submitted to the Native Bands Commissioners. Auckland, April 17. A movement is on foot to light Auckland City by electricity. A syndicate announces that they propose to apply to the next Parliament for authority to supply the electric light to Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. An address and purse of sovereigns from the public to Miss Arnabo'di is to be presented to that lady on Monday evening next. About thirty of the City Guards went into camp to-night at North Shore. Auckland, April 19. The Auckland Trades and Labour Council have passed a resolution of sympathy with Mi3S Arnaboldi, and delegates were ap pointed to attend the presentation on Monday. Auckland. April 18. As another Artillery company is required to make up the complement of corps requisite for Auckland, the Waitemata Naval Artillery corps are to be resuscitated. H.M.S. Cordelia sailed for Samoa to-day Dunedin, April 17. The German residents have signed a petition to the Consul-General in Sydney and to the Imperial authorities in Berlin, recommending the appointment of Mr B. Hallenstein as German Consul for Otago, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr H. Houghton. The names of about 75 applicants for emplovment have been registered for work on the’Catiin’s River railway. Of this number 65 are married, the others being single with parents depending on them. Dunedin, April 18. Margaret Renton, an old settler, 94 years of age, died suddenly at White Swamp today. Dunedin, April 19. A six-roomed house, tha Glen, owned by Walter Sparling was burned down last night. It was insured for £2OO, and the furniture for £IOO in the Standard. Among the vietims of retrenchment in the Civil Service is Mr D. M. McGowan, clerk and secretary to the Land Board, who, after thirty-three years’ service, receives fourteen days’ notice of the termination of his engagement. Dunedin, April 20. An uninhabited house of eight rooms, in ■which was stored a quantity of grain, was destroyed by fire at Hatton on Saturday night. The property was owned by P. Eord, and was insured in the South British for £l5O. It is stated the Government have decided to retain Mr Maitland as Commissioner of Crown Lands. Christchurch, Apiil 16. The Hon W. P. Reeves left for Wellington this afternoon. The election of a Licensing Committee for Christchurch North-west resulted in the return of the moderate party’s candidates by about 170 to 120. The secular cantata, ** Australia,” by ILuecombe Searelle was performed by the Christchurch Musical Society at the Theatre Royal to night, under the direction of the comDOser, with great success. The music is bright and pleasing. There are several tuneful solo 3 and effective choruses. The solos were taken by Mrs Lubcombe Searelle (soprano), Mrs W. P. Townend (contralto), Mr H. Weir (bass), Mr R. Trist (tenor). Mr Searelle was at the organ, and Mr F. M. Wallace leader of the crches. tra. The chorus numbered 150. There was a large audience, who received the cantata enthusiastically. Christchurch, April 17.

The annual statement of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society shows receipts for the year ending March 31, £502 19s lid ; expenditure, including £SO from the preceding year, £505 7s Bd, there being a debit balance of £2 7s 9d. The weather, which has been terribly dry for nearly three months, has changed, steady rain having set in this evening. New Plymouth, April 17. The case against William Appleyard for larceny occupied the whole day at the Supreme Court. The jury brought in a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was

acquitted. There is only one case remaining on the criminal calendar, a case of indecent assault, which will be tried to morrow. Sir H. Atkinson arrived here from Auckland early, and leaves by train for Wellington this evening. Invercargill, April 17. A meeting was held to-night to consider the question of amalgamating the Harbour District, the cause being the desirability of removing Invercargi I Harbour from the jurisdiction of the Borough Council, and to raise a fund for its improvement. A dredge was purchased and did excellent work, but operations had to be stopped owing to lack of funds, while the harbour is indebted to the town to the extent of several thousand pounds. If the improvement is carried out 17 miles of railage to the Bluff would be saved on a portion of trade. Resolutions affirming the desirability of amalgamating the Bluff and New River Boards und appointing a committee to take further action were carried. Blenheim, April 17. Extraordinary electrical discharges wore noticeable at 11 this evening in the direction of the Wairau Bar, resembling ships rockets. No reports were heard, and the phenomena differed from Bheet lightning in the respect that the glare occurred at regular intervals in the same direction,_ and was not apparently subject to oscillation caused by condensation of the atmosphere. Westport, April 18. The Harbour Board having decided to reduce the expenditure at the quarries, 80 men will be discharged to-day. An attempt is being made to get the Government to give the discharged men the uclet section of the Mokihinui Railway on the co-operative labour Bystem. Westport, April 20. Very little interest is taken in the local option poll to-day. Although the prohibitionists worked quietly against an increase of publicans’ licenses, and succeeded In effecting their aim by a narrow majority of two, the poll for all other licenses was in favour of an increase. The poll of the ratepayers in the Charles, ton Riding for a loan for water race purposes was carried by a majority of 12. The total export of coal for the week was 3600 tons. Wanganui, April 20. Francis Trevelyan Keony was charged at the Police Court this morniag with having set fire to the Commercial Hotel, burnt down yesterday, and was remanded for eight days. Nelson, April 20. Arthur Lawrenson Bristow, manager of the National Bank, died yesterday, after a long illness. Lyttelton, April 20. H.M.S. Curagoa has sailed for a few days’ cruise. * Christchurch, April 20. The whole of the proposals of the City Council Works and Finance Committees to dismiss the City Surveyor, employ one inspector instead of two, and reduce the amount of the Town Clerk’s salary were rejected by the Council to-night. Auckland, April 20. An inquest into the recent fire on board the ship t eading Wind was held to-day at the Waverley Hotel before Dr PbilsoD, Coroner. Captain Hinchley, late master of the vessel, said that he believed the fire arose from spontaneous combustion, and this opinion was also given by Captain MariDg, wharf stevedore. However, the jury returned an open verdict, at the same time suggesting that the Government should enquire a 3 to whether flax is liable to spontaneous combustion. The sheep owners of Matakana having formed an association to protect their interests, similar steps have now been taken at Kaukapakapa, where a Farmers’ Assooia. tion has been established to take cognisance of all matters relating to the farmers of Auckland. Auckland, April 21. A new seam of coal has been Btruck at Hnntly. Pastor Birch has deoided to go to Sydney for three months. At a meeting of his friends he advised them to form a free Church, and officers were thereupon appointed. Dunedin, April 21. At the City Court to-day, Lavinia Fielder and Florence Finlayson were brought up on remand, on a charge of stealing sealskin jackets from the D.I.C. Counsel said the jackets had been paid for, and the Probation Officer reported favourably. The Bench convicted the accused, and ordered them to come up for sentence when called on in their own recognizances of £SO each. The prohibitionists will carry Roslyn. Sew Hoy’s Big Beach obtained 77ea retorfced. A judgment of some importance to butchers and stock agents was delivered by Mr Justice Williams in dealing with the question whether stock agents are entitled to interest on open accounts. The judgment was in the negative. In the case of Forsyth v. Forsyth, the Judge granted petitioner alimony of £126 per year. Mr W. E. Spence, M.A., B. So., has received the appointment of assistant inspector under the Wanganui Education Board. He was at the Training College for some time, and had a brilliant University career. Ashburton, April 21. Less than one inch of rain has fallen this month, and much of the land is too bard to plough ; the wells are mostly dry, and there is much Biokness in town and country owing to the scarcity and impurity of the water.