TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1204, 29 March 1895, Page 31

TELEGRAPHIC.

Invebcargiiil-, March 22. Mr J. W. Kelly, M.H.R., addressed a meeting of his constituents to-night. At the close of the jroeeeh, which was not a long briei Mr Kelly received a vote of thanks and confidence. Invebcargim., March 26. At a meeting of the Land Board to-day, a solicitor made a suggestion that the Board should delegate its power to assent to a r ;ihortgage under the Advances to Settlers Act to the Chief Commissioner, in order to save time, the Board sitting only twice a mbnthu The-Board was of opinion that they could hot do so, as the Act provided that they must be the assenting parties. ' The solicitor also pointed out that there was a conflict between subsection 3, section 83i of the Land Act of 1892 and the seventh clause of the. fourth schedule to the Advances to Settlers Act, the former providing that the power to sell should not arise till the expiration of one month after default, while the latter fixed the period at 14 days. The Board resolved to call the attention of the Government to the discrepancy, and that instructions be asked for as to which Act should govern its consent to mortgages. Christchttrch, March 22. At a. conference on the subject of Party Government promoted by the Progressive Liberal Association, held last night, and attended by Messrs W. J. Steward, G. W. Russell, G. W. Smith and W. W. Collins, M.H.R.'s, a resolution was. carried " That this meeting considers the/vpresent system of Party Government objectionable, and that the general principle of the Hon Mr Steward's Elective Executive Bill was sound, and tended to promote Parliamentary reform; also, that Mr Steward be asked to re-introduce the measure early next session." Auckland, March 22. The leak in the Wolverine makes no headway while the vessel is in the harbour, the vessel only making water to any serious extent when in a seaway. Mr J. Ellison, -owner of the vessel, is coming to Auckland by the next steamer. Auckland, March 25. At a meeting of the Northern Railways League, Mr Oliphant suggested that if the work of making portions of the unformed track between Ohura and Stratford were undertaken, the merchants in Auckland would contribute axes, blankets, tents and pro /i3ions, and a subsidy could under such circumstances be obtained from the Government. He saw no difficulty then in getting the track completed during the months of April and May next. At the request of the League, the Hon Mr Jennings and Mr Lawry telegraphed to the Premier asking that Mr Hursthouse meet the Auckland League to confer as to the assistance which will be required. Auckland, March 26. | The Premier, in reply to the telegram B©nt to him on behalf of the Auckland Railway League, regrets that Mr Hursthouse cannot go to Auckland to confer with the j fceague as to the probable cost of complet-

ing the bridle track on the Stratford road between Waikato and Taranaki, but he places his services or those of any other officer at the disposal of the Auckland representatives who contemplate the trip through the country indicated. The party intend going over the Stratford route first, instead of the central line as originally contemplated. Auckland, March 26. At a Native meeting at Te Kuiti, in the King Country, Messrs Wi Pere and Te Ao, members for the Eastern and Western Maori districts, delivered addresses on political matters. At a meeting of the Auckland Builders' Association, it was unanimously agreed by the Association to adhere to their previous decision not to tender for the Naval and Family Hotel, believing that no contractor, while serving as a licensing commissioner, should compete in tendering for works in connection with breweries or hotels, no reflection, however, being intended upon the contracting commissioner, but the establishment of a. principle; Three tenders were put in, and the contracting commissioner's was the lowest, and was accepted. The Mayor of Auckland states that, if the City Council pass a resolution of which notice has been given in favour of proclaiming Wednesday the half-holiday instead of Saturday, he will carry out the resolution. The Onehunga -Borough Council sends a petition to the Minister for Labour to have the holiday changed from Saturday to Wednesday. %[ Gisborne, March 22. Saturday was the day appointed for the weekly half-holiday in Gisborne, but shopkeepers and • the Borough Council being desirous to get the day altered to Thursday, the Mayori after an interview with the Minister for Labour, proclaimed Thursday a public half-holiday. The halfholiday was strictly observed yesterday afternoon, and the shops will open all day to-morrow. Gisborne, March 22. The Gisborne breakwater is in a serious condition, and there are grave fears that unless a wave - breaker apron is speedily thrown out on the seaward side of the pier the blocks will fall into the channel, and completely block the navigation of the port for even the smallestf of vessels. THE TARIFF COMMISSION. Christchurch, March 22. Before the Tariff Commission yesterday, E. G. Wright, chairman of the Christchurch Gas Company, asked that imported gas appliances should be placed on the same basis as electric light appliances, which were admitted free. -

J. Armstrong, manafacturer of knitted stockings, &c, requested assistance for the hosiery industry, and' asked that yarns should be admitted free. ' R. Hay ward, of Hay ward Bros., pickle and sauce manufacturers, asked for protection for the industry,- as regards the inferior class of imported goods. He stated that they could compete successfully against the better class of goods with the present duties. G. S. Jakins, dairy produce merchant, asked that parchment butter-paper, for wrapping up butter for export, should be admitted free. . Auckland, March 22,. The Provincial Agricultural Association have appointed three delegates to wait upon the Tariff Commission when they come to Auckland. Hokitika, March 25. The Tariff Commissioners arrived from Canterbury, via Otira, this morning, and sat during the afternoon. They took evidence from members of the mercantile community and representatives of the Miners' Association, - They proceed to Greymouth to-morrow, and then on to Westport and Nelson. Greymouth, March 26. The Tariff Commission sat at the Harbour Board offices this afternoon, and some evidence was heard. , The Hon J. Kerr and R. Nancarrow pointed out that in connection with the Watkins medal for education which they had.got struck at Home, a duty of 25 per cent, had to be paid. They asked that juch medals should be admitted free. The Commissioners visit Lake Brunner and Jackson's to-morrow; then proceed to Westport via Reef ton, and go overland to Nelson.

THE AUCKLAND MUSEUM ROBBED. Auckland, March 26.

The Auckland Museum was entered last night, and all of the coins collection, valued at hundreds of pounds, was stolen. The burglars effected an entrance into the building by breaking a window in the ante-room on the right of the main entrance. The window was fastened in the middle by an ordinary catch, and opened back on hinges. To manipulate the catch, the burglars broke a pane, the catch being then turned. ' Admission to the ante-room|was comparatively simple, owing to the width of the ledge and. the construction of the window. When the burglars found themselves in this room, another difficulty presented itself. According to instructions from Mr Cheeseman, the caretaker always locks the doors of both of the front rooms before closing up for the night. The thieves, however, had come quite prepared for such an emergency, for, apparently with the aid of chisel, they wrenched off the outer board covering the lock, and then after having bored a hole into the lock by means of a "jemmy," they burst the door open. The coins, which appear to have been the object of the burglary, were enclosed in two glass cases on the upper floor. , The cases were broken open, which was a very simple matter, and their contents removed, In one case the cloth on which

the coins were arranged was removed as well.

The collection contained a large number of very early English and Roman coins such as are very rarely seen in most collections, and was most valuable as far as the Museum was concerned, as well as from a coin collector's point of view. Many of the coins had been presented to the Museum by the late Mr R. C. Barstow, of this city, who was well known as the possessor of one of the best collections in the Colony.