TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5551, 13 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(per press agency.) Auckland, Saturday.

Captain Symons, master of a small coasting schooner, has been missing for the last four days. He is supposed to be drowned. Mr. Sheehan telegraphs that he wil return to Auckland next Thursday, to meet the Chairmen of the Northern County Councils. Henry Ricorden, an inmate of the Lunatic Asylum, died yesterday evening. He had a fit on the 3rd inst., from which he recovered. Henry Niccol, charged with stealing £4O, was acquitted. The Bench said the evidence entirely failed except on one point, viz., the Bank of England note referred to by the prosecutor, and the similar note found in prisoner’s possession, which, however could not be identified as prosecutor’s. All the grocers closed their promises to-day at two o’clock, as the commencement of the regular Saturday half-holiday. The cricket match between the Taranaki Club and Remuera Suburban Cricket Club resulted in favor of the former.

A new weekly journal—the Auckland Free Press —was published to-day for the first time. Sir Richard Colson was arrested last evening, and charged with maliciously breaking a pane of glass. Mr. Hampton, tailor, of Short-land-street, said prisoner thrust his hand through the window while in a state of intoxication. Colson has only recently been discharged from gaol for a similar offence. The Taranaki team were last night entertained at a banquet by the members of the Auckland club. They return by the next boat. lj

Several cases of brandy, sardines, and pickles, were stolen from the ship Gladys on Friday night. Grahamstown, Saturday.

Mr. Sheehan and party have arrived at Ohinemuri from Waikato, and will come on to the Koroata settlement this evening to interview the chief Tokikino, in reference to his refusal to allow the Ohinemuri road to be made through his settlement. Mr. Sheehan will not arrive here before Monday, when he will be entertained at a banquet in the evening. Some persons interested in the Big Pump Company’s affairs, and the impending stoppage of the company, telegraphed to Thomas Russell, at Loudon, and a reply has been received that £50,000 could be obtained there towards testing the deep levels and maintaining the pumps if arrangements could be made in the meantime towards keeping them going. The Native Minister and party, consisting ing of Mr. Rusden, Mr. Lewis (private secretary), Messrs. Gill, Grace, and others, left Hamilton at 5 o’clock on Friday afternoon, travelling overland through the Piako Swamp. They reached Morrisvilie at nine o’clock. Mr. Sheehan was also accompanied by Mr. F. A. Whitaker and Mr. MoMinn, M.H.R. They stayed there all night, and left at 9 o’clock on Saturday morning, arriving at Te Aroha at one o’clock, where Mr. Sheehan was met by several members of the Thames County Council, by Mr. Puckey, native agent, and other gentlemen. The Native Minister then proceeded to Omaha, where a number of natives had assembled to meet him. Various subjects relating to the subdivision of the reserves in the Te Aroha Block, the laying off a township in their lands, and other local questions were brought forward by the natives, and dealt with by the Native Minister. The Native Minister left Omaha at about four o’clock (Messrs. Whitaker and McMinn returning to Hamilton), and proceeded down the river, calling at Mr. Austin’s, at Te Puke, for a short time. He reached Grahamstown at midnight. Today has been wet, but Mr. Sheehan during the afternoon paid a visit to Taipare’s residence, and was taken to see his new house which is a fine specimen of modern Maori architecture.

The Native Minister leaves to-night by steamer. He' returns to the Thames to-mor-row evening when a banquet is to be given in his honor.

Korea, Saturday. At the native meeting here to-day a good number were present. Taonui Noho accompanied Rewi to Waitara. There were present the promoters of the meeting. Tukorehu and Tupotahe did not carry the meeting with them, for the removal of Europeans and half-castes residing on natives’ land. A number of petty tribal grievances amongst themselves have been discussed, but nothing definite at present has been come to. Hauhauru, a Ngatimaniapoto chief, after a long speech, required Taonui to inform them what was the reason of his and Rewi’s apparent desertion of Tawhiao and their own tribe as reported, and why Rewi hadjnot come to meet his people. Who was this pakeha Sheehan he thought so much of ? Rewi himself told him he only knew one Government officer, Major Mair, at Alexandra, who had been true to them. Major Mair had found them wild at Te Kuiti. He had brought them into peaceful relations with the pakehas. No trouble had taken place or difference amongst them in which he, Hauhauru, concurred. Now it appeared to him Mr. Sheehan was trying all he knew to cause trouble amongst them, Taonui replied he couid answer for himself. He had received and accepted their invitation to be there to-day. He had frequently differed with Rewi and told him he was doing wrong, but Rewi would not listen to him. He still was in heart with Tawhiao and would continue so. When they arrived at Te Kuiti on their return from Waitara he told Rewi he disapproved of his work, and refused to accompany him any further. All the time he had been away he had himself acted consistently for his people. He was watching Tawhiao and their interests. Let them keep together as heretofore. If Rewi liked to go another road let him do so.

The weather is intensely hot. The meeting will probably be continued to-morrow.

Napiek, Sunday. A smart shock of earthquake was felt at 6.20 this evening, Pate a, Saturday. The natives, acting under instructions from Parihika, have refused to allow gravel to be taken from the Waimate Plains by the side of the Waingongora Kiver to repair the road. Williams and Katene went to talk the matter over, and though the opposition of the natives was strong, and violent Slanguage was used gravel r pits were opened and carting commenced. The opposition natives look upon this as literally taking away the land, and offered stronger opposition than to the commencement of the survey. As however, their prophet, Te Whiti, has promised that everything shall be resolved to them in March they have concluded to let the gravel be taken in the meantime.

Nelson, Saturday.

At the Police Court this morning Theodore Wilson and William Mercer, workmen employed at James’s furniture warehouse, were charged with stealing a lot of furniture. They live together, and their house was found to be completely furnished with articles abstracted at various times and in the boldest manner, they having, in the absence of their employer, driven the van to the door and removed goods to their house. They were remanded for a week.

Two town sections were sold to-day under sale for non-payment of rates, one for £2OO, and the other for £57. Lyttelton, Saturday.

Mr. Puflett arrived this morning from Napier, to succeed Mr. D. Mills as agent for the tr.S.N. Company. The Lyttelton Herald, size 20 by 30, a triweekly, was born this morning. Invercargill, Saturday.

A somewhat alarming accident occurred here this afternoon. Mr. J. McDonald, Crown Prosecutor, was being driven by a man named Hughes, in a buggy and pair, when the horse bolted, and, making a sharp turn in Taystreet, the vehicle upset and the two occupants were thrown out. Neither was hurt, but the machine was all smashed, and the escape was a narrow one.

Both candidates for Mataura are making great exertions, and the result so far is doubtful.

Dunedin, Saturday.

The following are the acceptances for the Dunedin Cup and Publicans’ Handicap : For the Cup—Dead Heat, Cloth of Gold, Banjo, Lara, Sapphire, Chancellor, Swindle (colt),Blue Peter, Oberon, King Quail, Fallacy , Jangler, King Philip, Venus Transit, Dundee, Lady Elizabeth, tana, Sinking Fund, Titau,a, Fishhook, Mufti, Danebury, Nemo, Loitglands, Orange, Lightning, Natator, Yorir) Maroro, Mata, Vampire, For the Publicans’ Handicap—Dead Heat, Sapphire, Blue Petre, Oberon, Venus Transit, -Gamballo, Sinking Fund, Lady Elizabeth, Maritana, Fishhook, Luna, Laertes, Foul Play, Vampire. The sale of the township laid out on Menlove’s Windsor Park estate, took place to-day, A good number of sections were sold, fair prices being realised. The Hon. W. J. Miller and S. E. Shrimski, M.H.R., will probably be appointed governors of the Waitaki High School The North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral

Association intend to hold a public trial of reapers and binders on the 22nd instant. Sana fide agriculturists only to be t» vote. The makers of machines receiving the largest number of votes to receivers gold me dab It is expected that all the different kinds of machines will take part in the trial, which is looked forward to with interest by all agriculturists. The single female passengers by the ship Oamarn were landed this morning, and conveyed to town by rail A match for £4O a side took place this afternoon at the Forbary course between Mr. J. Douglas’ Tifflis and Mr. Mercer's Te Kooti. The former won easily. The distance was one mile, and the time Imin. 56Jsec. The contract between Proudfoot and the South Dunedin Council for the extension of the tramway to the municipality, was signed last night. At the meeting of the City Council on Tuesday next, a motion will be brought forward affirming that ia future the heads of the various municipal departments shall submit annual reports. Mr. T. S. Clemishaw, engineer of the Christchurch Gas Works, in his report on the Dunedin works, attributes the majority of complaints as to the quality of the gas to the adoption of bad burners. He thinks that considerable care and management must have existed in regard to the works to have brought them to the state in which they now are. The returns of the Education Board for the quarter ending December 31, have just been compiled, and show that there were 135 schools open, employing 189 male and 129 female teachers, besides several teachers of sewing. The number of children on the roll at the beginning of the quarter was 14,942, and at the end 16,078, composed of 8291 boys and 7787 girls. The average attendance for the quarter was 7040 boys, and 6445 girls, making a total of 13491. The most largely attended schools were those of Dunedin, Port Chalmers, and Oamaru grammar schools.