TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1200, 1 March 1895, Page 36

TELEGRAPHIC.

Dunedin, February 23. The Tariff Commission sat this morning, but by request the names of the witnesses and the nature of their evidence was not disclosed. The Commissioners leave for Invercargill on Monday. Dunedin, February 25. The Queen's Drive, the champion crew here, will take part in the Picton Regatta. Gisborne, February 23. At the Validation Court this morning Juige Barton stated that he had received a letter from the Native Minister instructing him to cancel the appointment of Mr Jackson as receiver in the Paremata case. This action would paralyse the working of the Court entirely. He had not decided what steps he should take, and should not do so until he had received suggestions from the parties interested. They might, however, be satisfied that he would be as firm in enforcing the powers of his Court as Sir Roland Williams had been in London. Christchurch, February 24. , Four burglaries occurred at Kaiapoi yesterday. The offices at the railway station, the premises of the Kaiapoi Produce and Milling Company and those of M. Eckersley, accountant, were entered, but very little of value was found. The Pier Hotel was also entered, and 23s and a bottle of whiskey were stolen. Messrs Russell and Collins, M/sH.R., addressed a large open air meeting on Saturday night, under the auspices of the

Progressive Liberal Association, on land law reform. Over 1000 persons were present. At a farewell " social " tendered by the citizens to Chief Detective O'Connor and Detective E. Neill, a letter was read signed by 169 ladies expressing regret at being precluded from taking part in the gathering. Christohurch, February 25. The twenty-first annual district meeting of the United Methodist Free Churches was opened to-day. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: —President, Rev J". J. Pendray (Waipawa) ; Secretary, Mr J. A. Flesher; sub-secretaries, Messrs E. Fennell and Theo. Withers ; scrutineers, Eev J. Benning and Mr W. G. Burns ; precentor, Eev A. Peters ; stationing and finance committee, Eevs S. Macfarlane (chairman and secretary), J. Hosking,, Messrs Brown, Bowron, Fennell, Leadley Turner, Vile and "Wheeler. It was resolved to retain Danevirke on the list of stations, and the District Committee was authorised to procure a site for a church there during the next twelve months. Auckland, February 23. Several large kauri logs are drifting about Cuvier Island. Tiplady's store, at Mount Eden, was burnt down last night. The building was insured for ,£BO, Phoenix, and the stock for .£2OO, New Zealand. Auckland, February 25. It is understood that Mr Malcolm Macpherson has been appointed by the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company general i manager in New Zealand in succession to ' Mr F. Battley,who recently resigned through I failing health. j Mr Macpherson has been a resident of I Christchurchfor many years, and is favour- '

ably known in commercial circles as a man of ripe experience. Mr Dodds, inspector for the Company, retains his present position; but it is understood that he will in future take up a more important post than heretofore in the responsible control of the Company's New Zealand business. Hoey, Bailey and Brigham, jun., left by the Takapuna to represent Auckland at the Swimming Championship Meeting at Christchurch. By the Tarawera, Malonev, Hendry, D. Kelly, C. Proudfoot and E. Davis came over from Sydney en route to : Christchurch. Greymouth, February 24. The Reef ton gold returns for the week are: —Globe, 121 oz amalgam from 115 tons ; Hercules, 161 oz amalgam from 111 tons; Progress, 2240 z amalgam from 180 tons ; Cocksparrow dredge, 740 z amalgam for 134 hours ; Alpine, 5460 z amalgam from 410 tons. Dunedin, February 24. In the annual competition for the Ladies' Challenge Shield the B Battery won for this year. By a fire at Opoho two six-roomed and one four-roomed, house was destroyed. Insurances, so far as known: National, <£255; Victoria, <£l2s. Wanganui, February 24. The barquentine Grace Dent, 98 tons, Captain Pughe, from Clarence River, New South Wales, and laden with ironbark timber for the Government Railway Department, went ashore at the Heads on Saturday evening, and is now a complete wreck. All hands, seven in number, were saved. The pilot says he gave the signals to stand off, warning the boat of the danger ; but no notice was taken. At the time the boat struck, 5.45 o'clock, it wanted some hours to high water. It is believed the vessel is insured, but

the captain does not know in which office or for what amount. Lyttelton, February 24. The Government steamer Hinemoa returned from a month's cruise to the Southern Islands tb-day with His Excellency the Governor and party. The pleasure of the trip has been considerably marred by the bad weather. Captain Fairchild speaks of the passage as by far the worst he has ever made to the Islands. A series of deep sea soundings were taken, and the greatest depth recorded was 550 fathoms. Captain Fairchild has almost recovered from the effect of the accident he met with just before leaving New Zealand. Two of his ribs were badly broken, and but for the presence of Dr Collins with the party, the genial skipper would have been compelled to remain ashore. The steamer proceeded to Wellington during the afternoon. Feildino, February 25. Halcombe beat Sutherland on Saturday night in a wrestling match, Greeco-Eoman and catch-as-catch-can styles. Napier, February 25. John Fenwick, licensee of the London Hotel, was fined ■£l and costs for a breach of section 131 of the Licensing Act, in paying wages to a man within the hotel premises, the recipient not being a labourer employed there. It appears that the man Avas in Fenwick's employ as a stevedore, and going to the hotel for his money, was paid in a private room. The Magistrate held that an offence within the meaning of the Act had been committed.