TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1316, 20 May 1897, Page 37

TELEGRAPHIC.

i Auckland, May 12. J Major Dignan, at his installation as I Mayor, said the fact must not be lost sighx I of that there was an increase in the overdraft, for should they go on increasing as Avas done during the last few months they would shortly find themselves unable to pay their way. A recpaest from Wellington to the Society for the Protection of Women and Children to form a branch there has boei2 deferred. James Lowrie, on a charge of attempting to murder, his wife and two sons, has been committed for trial. A letter has been received from Mr A. L. Harvey, lion, secretary of the New Zealand Sugar Beet Syndicate, stating that the promoters are actively engaged in pushing forward the scheme. The capitalists interested are perfectly satisfied with the guarantee given by the Waikato farmers, and with the assistance promised by the Government. Auckland, May 13. The calendar for the criminal of the Supreme Court, which opens on the 31st, will be one of the heaviest dealt with by the local Court for some years past. Already there are 29 prisoners commifctrd on 33 charges. Auckland, May 1-1<:

At a meeting of tho local branch of the Irish National Federation a letter was read from Michael Davitt, M.P., which stated that the movement for unity among the sections of the Irish Party was gaining ground. Mr Harrington, one of tho lieutenants of the Eedmondite faction, was working hard in that direction. -Mr Davitt also stated that the movement among the Irish landlords for enquiry into the financial relations between Engla: .1 and Ireland was not sincere, but was ;.■•.;- tuated by pique against the Government for granting concessions to the Irish tenantry. The candidates who passed the pharmacy examinations were as follows : Pharmacy.—Smith, Eussell, Barclay, Quill, Bonnington and Elder. Materia Mediea. —Smith, Barclay, Ilea.:, McGregor, Quill, Reynolds (2), Bonnington and Murdoch. Botany. Smith, Williamson, Wood,, Hean, Cole, Quill and Beeson. Chemistry.—Smith, Russell, Barclay, Seed, Lamb, Walker, George, Wollam , Quill, Bonnington and Murdoch. Tho following have now passed in nil subjects:—Smith, Quill, Hean, Williamson, Beeson, Wood, Heed, Walker, Wollams and George. Auckland, May 15. Mr Ferguson, of the Labour Bureau, I as received strong complaints from the Thames concerning the unnecessary Sunday labour in some of the mines. He i ; investigating these complaints .with a. view of reporting to the Governmenv.' Tho gist of these statements .•that a large amount of Sunday work is going on as a general thing in the uncountry districts of the goldftelds, and the evil is gradually growing greater month by month. It originated with tho wealthiest companies on tbe field, the reason'given being that the nature of the treatment required continuous work, font it has*n grown to be a general custom in most the batteries where thoy have not i excuse, and they have even ecmreenct-' some of the mines. Tho genera! <>n shortly. Auckland, May 3 7. At a meeting o£ the Trades and Labour Council a memorandum was received from

the Under-Secretary of the Mines Department, stafcing that the letter calling attention to the fact that a considerable amount of Sunday labour was being performed in xthe mines in the Upper Thames district, ;and requesting that steps be taken to put ■a stop to, or to mitigate the practice, •would receive the careful consideration of the Minister. AtrckLANX), May 17. Yesterday His Lordship Bishop Leniihan opened a new Soman Catholic Church at Karangahake. Father Hackett announced that .£2lO had been received in donations towards the church. The sum of .£5 os was collected on board "the Tasmania on her voyage from Sydney for the Hawke's Bay Relief Fund. John Douglas has been committed for fecial on additional charges of stealing vSSOO, the property of Peter DuMoulin. The Auckland Gras Company has opened tenders for 500 paid-up £5 shares. Tenders were received for 167 S shares, the tenders accepted for 501 average £l4 lis 6d. The shares allotted carry a dividend for the half-year ending 30th .June next. . Dunedin - , May 12. "■-*"-The ballot for the Momona settlement sections near Allanton, recently acquired l?or a, workmen's village settlement, took place to-day. There were 15 allotments, ranging from five to 24 acres. A number of applications were rejected. All the sections' were disposed of, in two cases without opposition. For 47 sections in the Tokaraki estate, Oamaru, 312 applications have been received, only a few allotments, mostly of small area, not having been applied for. The ballot has been postponed till Tuesday to permit of the applicants being examined. At the annual meeting of the Trustees, and Agency Company, the report recommending payment of a dividend of 7 per cent., a bonus of 3 per cent., that .£SOO be added to the reserve fund and .£864 to be carried forward, was adopted. Dtinedin, May 13. The Rev Rutherford Waddell, of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, has received an intimation from the Theological College, of Belfast, that the degree of D.D. would be conferred on him at the closing of the College in the first week in April. Dunedin, May 15. The Minister for Defence, who is at present in Dunedin, emphatically denies that he is specially enquiring into alleged police irregularities with a view to the appointment of a Royal Commission. The real object of his tour is to become personally acquainted with the department and officers, under his control. He leaves for the South on Monday. Chbjstchurch, May 12. Up to date 900 claims under the Old Age Pensions Registration Act have been received and 307 certificates issued in this district, which comprises the Selwyn County. The inquest on the man found dead at Belfast showed that death resulted from heart disease.

ChbistchuPvCh, May 13. To-day the committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association decided to request the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association to investigate the statement that the frozen mutton of Otago was branded " prime Canterbury." iHVERCAKGinn, May 12. The Southland Times states that the directors of the Bank of Australasia have notified the staff throughout the colonies that the 10 per cent, reduction "in salaries made in October, 1895, has been restored, as from the April balance this year. This is the result of satisfactory business done. Masterton, May 13. At a meeting of "the Masterton Benevolent Trustees to-day, complaints were made of the lax management of the Old 'Men's Home in Wellington. It was pointed out that an old man named Ford, sent from here, had died in the Wellington Hospital, and yet tho local society continued to be charged with his maintenance in the Home, whilst the masker could not give any information as to when he was discharged. A child had a narrow escape from being killed by the down train from E ketahuna this afternoon through being caught in the cattle-stop at Kopuaranga. The Wairarapa North County Council decided to-day to ask tho Government to amend the Rating Act so that Crown lands may be rated for special rates. GtREYMOUTH, May 16. Tho wet weather still continues. Tho timber exported last week consisted of 440,000 ft and 1181 sleepers. The coal exported for the wook consisted of 780 tons. Inveucakgill, May 16. Mr Cuthbert Cowan, who unsuccessfully contested the seat for Awarua with tho Hon J. G. Ward at the last election, was yesterday presented with a purse of over 60 sovereigns, subscribed by the electors. Westport, May 16. The coal export for the week ended today was 6917 tons, of which the Westport Coal Company shipped SSOO, and the Cardiff Company 1117 tons. AxJCEr.-Aisri), May 14. At the annual meeting of the Auckland Amateur Opera Club tho roport showed a credit "balance of <£22i. The iiiarl of Ranfurly was elected patron. CHRisrcirrjßCH, May 14 On account of the representation of tho committee of the Hav/ka's Bay Belief JFund Sports, fixed for Queen's Birthday, that the Volunteer field day would clash with the HporfcSjtbo Mayor has communicated with tho Minister of Defence, and consequently Colonel Penton has authorised that a ceremonial parade be substituted for the field asy. The Volunteers here are not generally pleased at tEe change, as they consider that a field day would be more useful than show exorcises at the sports. FALMKKsroN Fq-3/rc-i, May 14. The return of expenses in connection with the Palmerston general election are as follows : I). fiiiick, ,£124 2s 6d ; P. Pirani, £lB 3a 6d.