TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5548, 9 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(prom oob own correspondent.) Masterton, Wednesday. Harvest hands are unusually scarce, and farmers are in some instances offering as much as 15s. per day. Hands of all descriptions are very scarce in alf parts of the district. (PER PRESS AGENCY.) Masterton, Wednesday. The Hon. John Martin intends cutting up a considerable portion of the run which he recently bought from the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse for the purpose of laying off smaller agricultural holdings. At the election of a Mayor of Greytown Mr. Thomas Kempton, sen., polled 71, and Mr. F. H. Wood 48, The former was, therefore, elected. Greytown, Wednesday. At the Mayoral election here Kempton had 71 votes, and Wood 48. Grahamstown, Wednesday. Scarlet fever, of a malignant type, has broken out in a family here, four members of which are attacked. A discovery of rich quartz has been made at the Kurunui mine, the stone being worth 6oz. to the ton. The reef is supposed to be a continuation of the famous Shotover lode. Mr. Sheehan will not arrive here till Monday, A public meeting is called for to-night, to take steps to give him a suitable reception.

Auckland, Wednesday. The early morning goods train lately ran over a flock of sheep, killing twenty-two.

Mrs. Malcolmson, of Parnell, whilst walking along the street, stepped on a loose stone and fell and broke her ankle yesterday. Serious apprehension is felt along the railway line, in consequence of sparks from the engine igniting Delworth’s fence and the high grass in the paddock near Ellerslie. Delworth and a number of men stayed the progress of the fire, and drove a herd of cattle that were depasturing into another field. The Agricultural Association’s extensive show buildings, situated near the line at Ellerslie, were considered to be jeopardised by the grass between the building and the railway. To-day the Railway Department requested the association to plough a space intervening in order to prevent danger in future of fire spreading. The Star correspondent, writing from Rotorua, says that when the Minister of Public Works passed through the district lately he expressed surprise that such a fine district should be locked up, and said he thought that the sooner the Native Department was done away with the better, so that the country might be opened up. A committee of Rotorua inhabitants has been sitting since the 26th ult., of which Ngahuruhuru was appointed chairman by the different tribes. The gifts of land to Robert Graham were taken Into consideration by the committee, and after three days’ deliberation the committee resolved that the gifts should be confirmed, and Graham put in possession of the land for having been successful in preventing, war and bloodshed atMaketu. The natives are greatly amused at Mr. Dargaville’s statement about his having leased laud at Rotomafaana. The chiefs say that while Mr. Graham holds freehold property at Rotorua, Mr. Dargaville holds no leasehold property at Rotomahana.

The principal topic of conversation at Rotorua at present is the opening up of the Maketu road, and the road from Cambridge. ’ Sir George Grey and the Native Minister are expected here in February, when matters of importance affecting the welfare of the district will be discussed. The schooner Caledonia has arrived from the Savage Islands, She brings no news of importance.

Men have been obtained to fill the place of the strikers on the steamer Argyle, and the vessel has sailed.

At a meeting of the Working Men’s Club it was decided to petition the Government to Stop Chinese immigration. Tauranqa, Wednesday.

Thomas Williams, a journeyman; tailor at Wellington lately, and secretary of the Forester’s Lodge, was arrested to-day on a charge cf embezzing the funds of the Order. It appears that he bolted away as soon as he got a hint that his defalcations had been discovered. He was arrested on a warrant issued at Wellington. Napiee, Wednesday.

There is great excitement here over the municipal election for the two Vacant seats in the Council.

It is reported that the Clive scheme for forming a township in opposition to Napier has fallen through owing to its costliness. Last evening, at a meeting- of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars, the Hon. W. Fox in the chair, consideration of the report of the committee on the 'constitution was continued. The minimum amount of quarterly fees was fixed at ls.‘ 6d. for males, and Is. for females. The degree fee was raised from Is. to 2s. j the clearance and travelling card fee was raised to Is. The report of the Finance Committee yras considered. The Grand Seore-

tary’s salary was fixed at £IOO for tlio ensuing year. Bro. Spreight proposed, and Mr. W. Jolmson seconded, that the Idon, W. Box be re-elected G.W.C.T. for the ensuing year. This was carried. Bro. W. Johnson (Wellington) was elected G. W. Councillor unopposed. Bro. Jacques (Christchurch) was elected G.W.V.T,, and Bro. Speight G.W. Secretary unopposed. Bro. Phillips was elected G.W. Chaplin. Bro. Ellis was elected G.M., after a hard contest. The office of District Deputy G.W.C.T. was abolished. On a division it was resolved to instal the officers this afternoon. It was resolved that the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge be extended all over New Zealand at once. It was decided that arrangements be made for holding a special session of the Grand Lodge, for the purpose of conferring Grand Lodge degrees at Christchurch, Wanganui, and such other places as the executive may deem fit, ns soon as possible. Bro. Fox stated he would go down to Christchurch himself with Bro. Speight, the G. W. Secretary, about the end of February. It was further resolved that the next session of this Lodge be held at the Thames, subject to the usual conditions, and failing there, at New Plymouth. Christchurch, Wednesday.

At a meeting of the directors of the Temperance Hotel Company this afternoon it was stated that nearly 5000 shares had been taken up, and that the company would shortly commence operations.

Complaints are made of the difficulty of the public in gaining admittance to the Supreme Court this morning. J. H. C. Keig, for indecent assault, was sentenced to three months’ hard labor ; and John Casey, for larceny, to six months’ imprisonment. After a long trial Alexander Cowan, charged with arson, was acquitted. A charge against three men at the Police Court this morning was dismissed, the Bench being of opinion that the whole thing was done in a lark.

Mr. Varley, the revivalist,, gave his first Bible reading this afternoon in the Congregational Church, to a small audience. He preached, however, in Cathedral-square this evening to a much larger assembly. At a meeting of footballists to-night it was resolved if the English team visited Christchurch that they should have all the gate money, but the meeting would not guarantee anything. It was stated, however, that £250 might be safely relied upon to be collected as subscriptions. The Stewarts are still drawing crowded houses.

The drapers have decided to have a monster picnic on the 28 th instant. Lyttelton, Wednesday.

An influentially attended meeting was held last night to arrange for presenting a suitable testimonial to Dr. Donald before he leaves for England. Dunedin, Wednesday.

At a meeting of the Botanical Domain Board to-day, Mr. Maitland was elected chairman for the year, Xt transpired that the Board’s financial position is not in a very satisfactory state. It was resolved that in future visitors to the ground should not be restricted to walks, but might also go on the grass plots. A laborer named John Orr was seriously injured at Port Chalmers to-day by a fall of earth.

Several new cases have been erected in the Dunedin Museum for the reception of reptiles and fishes.

James Corbett, on bail, charged with larceny at Lawrence, and who had been liberated on bail, himself in £IOO, and two sureties of £SO each, to-day failed to appear, and unless he shows up within seven days the bail will be estreated.

In the Supreme Court to-day Jane Reid was convicted of perjury, but sentence was reserved pending the decision of the Supreme Court on some legal points raised by the prisoner’s counsel.

To-day the Mayor received a letter from the Lord Provost, requesting his co-operation towards raising money for the City of Glasgow Bank Belief Fund.

At a meeting of the Presbytery to-day, on the motion of Dr. Copeland, a long overture to the Synod in favor of Bible reading in schools was adopted. The first meeting of the new Harbor Board will take place to-morrow. At a meeting of the Presbytery to-day Mr. Kirkland was appointed Moderator for the next six months. Both Synods are in favor of Bible reading in schools. The Mayor to-day received a letter from the Lord Provost of Glasgow requesting his assistance towards raising money in aid of the City of Glasgow Bank relief fund.

Oamabu, Wednesday.

At a meeting of the Kakauui Road Board to-day, J. 0. Gilchrist, the chairman, was appointed to be a member of the Oamaru Harbor Board, under the Harbors Act, 1878. His Excellency the Governor also nominated the following gentlemen to be members : —Mr. Shrimski, M.H.E.; John Read, of Eddersley ; George Sumpter and the Hon. J. H. Miller. Other members are to be elected in February. At last there seems a probability of Shag Point coal being delivered in town cheaper than hitherto.

The contractor for the branch railway commenced operations yesterday. A meeting of the Early Closing Association was held last night, at which George Parker, on retiring from the post of honorary secretary, was presented with a gold locket and pencilcase, in recognition of his services as secretary since the association first started. The chairman, in making the presentation, referred te the able assistance Mr. Parker had given towards furthering the best interests of the association.

The weather has been remarkably hot for the last three days. It will considerably hasten the harvest. Reaping oats has already commenced.

Mr. Shrimski, M.H.R., left for Livingstone to-day to accompany Professor Ulrich, who is to report on the Marewhenua goldfield. The nominations for the North Otago Coursing Club’s Derby Stakes, for'puppies, to be run on May 18, close on Wednesday next. The all absorbing topic of interest here at present is the construction of the waterworks by the Municipal Council. A meeting is to be held on Tuesday night, called by the Mayor, for the purpose of obtaining the ratepayers’ consent to the additional tax, so that water may be brought into town. The engineer says the work can be completed at a cost of £33,000 more, so the Council has decided to ask the permission of the borough to borrow another £40,000. The meeting will be largely attended, with probably a strong opposition to the Council's proposals, but the Council will have a majority. Invercargill, Wednesday.

The Times this morning decidedly advocated Mr. Shanks’ candidature. The News to-night says that for both parties the election is very open. It was stated about town to-day that the convict Walsh had been executed this morning; the rumor was baseless. It is not known when he will be hung. A poll of the burgesses of Invercargill will be taken to-morrow to decide whether money shall be borrowed to provide the town with a good supply of water.