TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5552, 14 January 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(per press agency.) Auckland, Monday.

At Hokianga, Te Whaka, convicted some years ago of killing a native here, and whose sentence was commuted to penal servitude, is at the head of fifty natives, and has seized Point Mutuwera, where the natives are firing volleys of ball cartridges, and burning off the scrub. Endeavors are being made to settle the dispute amicably. A petition is being forwarded to the Governor, praying him to commute the sentence of nine months passed on English for wounding a native at Opotiki. William Serral, who recently met with an accident on board the steamer Taiaroa, died to-day from his injuries. An exciting scene occurred on board the James Wishart ns she was coming down the English Channel on her way to Auckland. A terrific sea broke over the vessel and did considerable damage. Amongst other things it broke into one of the deck-houses, where a quantity of gasoline and ammunition was stored. The concussion caused an explosion, and a man named James Henderson was injured. The sea washed away a portion of the ignited substance, and the captain threw the remainder overboard, the others not daring to touch it. This action probably saved the ship and the lives of those on board.

The latest news from Samoa, by the arrival of the schooner Active, reports that General Bartlett, -who came as successor to Colonel Steinberger, is unable to secure his footing. Latest accounts report the natives very orderly, the three Consuls not having a single case to deal with during the last three mouths. Four men-of-war—English, American, German, and French—visited Samoa within that time. The prospects of the cocoauut and cotton crops are good. Trade is overdone, and is comparatively dull. During the last month Apia was visited by a severe storm, which lashed the harbor into foam, but did no damage. Grave apprehensions are felt regarding the Ohaupo swamp portion of the railway line, which is sinking, considerably embarrasing the railway management. The earth cracks through the dry weather, and the weight of the train causes the rails to sink. Two engines are kept exclusively for crossing the swamp. They have had the lifeguards and cowcatchers removed. Some of the rails have sunk twice in one day. At the District Court to-day, Charles Hawkeswood recovered £IOO and costs from the Waitara Steam Navigation Company, for materials and work.

A guard was suspended on Saturday charged with allowing a woman to travel from Waikato without paying. The guard also is accused of conveying produce without a waybill.

Grahamstown, Monday.

The Hon. Mr. Sheehan returned from Te Aroha and Ohinemuri this afternoon. He landed at the new wharf at Kopua, on the Thames River, just completed by the Harbor Board and the County Council conjointly. Mr. Sheehan, at the requst of the chairmen of these bodies, formally opened the structure. It is a splendid wharf, giving seventeen feet in deep water, and six feeet at the lowest tide. It is nearly opposite the Hauraki and Thames River Saw-mills, and two and a half miles from the township. New Plymouth, Monday.

By a return of land sales during the year 1878, laid before the Land Board to-day, 38 acres of town lands and 16,970 acres rural lands have been sold in the Provincial District of Taranaki. The average price of town lands was £159 per acre; of rural, £2 2s; total value sold, including deferred payments, £42,718; cash received, £32,180.

Taupo, Monday.

A slight shock of earthquake was felt in the vicinity of the Hot Springs about half-past sis yesterday evening, lasting about ten seconds. Tne natives are making preparations for a Land Court to be held here shortly. Several blocks partially gone into by Judge Bogan at the last sitting of the Court will pass into the hands of the Government.

Masterton, Monday.

Messrs. Gawith and Beetbam, solicitors, have dissolved partnership. The former carries on the business.

The sea elephant recently exhibited at Wellington enjoyed a swim across the Waipoua River yesterday. It swallowed gravel eagerly. Foxton, Monday.

Operations at the Hydrabad during the last spring tides were progressing favorably, when strong westerly weather, accompanied by heavy seas, delayed operations. The ship has been taken some distance seaward, and fine weather is now being waited for, in order to make another trial. Captains Gibbon and Holmwood are sanguine of ultimate success. Napier, Monday. The immigrants per ship Adamant were all landed in good health, and will be open for selection here to-morrow. Recently two building contractors sought relief in the Bankruptcy Court; their failure has thrown a number of carpenters out of employment. To-day Scarfe and Co., large storekeepers, filed their schedule ; their liabilities are said to be £40,000. A man named Vernon Campbell was committed for trial to-day for forging a cheque to the value of £36. He went to an unsuspecting horse-dealer on Saturday night and told him he was a horse-dealer, and was purchasing horses for Auckland and Wellington. He said he had sold a horse that day for £36 to Archibald McLean, Douglas McLean’s manager. After leading his victim on he expressed a desire to see what horses he had for sale. He was shown several, and chose two ; one he was to pay for at once (£l2), and the other to-day. He then handed the dealer the forged cheque, and in return received a receipt for the horse and Blonteith (the dealer’s) cheque for the balance, £24. When the cheque was pre-

seated by the dealer it was found to be a forgery. He cashed the dealer’s cheque, but when arrested none of the money was found in his possession.

Blenheim, Monday.

A fatal accident has occurred at Havelock. Two natives were going to Pelorus in a cart, and were capsized into the river through the horse shying. One of the occupants, known as “Job,” was killed on the spot; the other, Mrs. Byrams, is not expected to recover. Mr. J. Ohaytor met with a serious accident at Tua Marina on Saturday. His horse set its foot in an old well, and threw the rider on his head, producing concussion of the braiu. P. Lawrence, a merchant of Blenheim, has offered £IOO, in addition to £2OO offered by the Government and £3OO expected from the insurance offices, for such evidence as will lead to the conviction of the person or persons supposed to have set fire to the Government Buildings at Blenheim in 1876. Many rumors are afloat. It is said one of the culprits has made a full confession, and that particulars will be disclosed shortly. Nelson, Monday.

Stevens, the secretary of the New Zealand Rifle Association, accompanied by several local officers, visited the spot selected for the prize firing, and was highly pleased with it. Ranges can be secured if necessary to fifteen hundred yards. It is fine dry land, close to the Bridgewater railway station, twelve miles from Nelson, and with a telegraph wire passing through it. The river is close by for bathing. Stores and provisions of all kinds are obtainable in the immediate vicinity. The light is good, and it is in every way most suitable, and range firing will probably commence on the first Monday in March. Christchurch, Monday. There is a great feeling of dissatisfaction at the new Court fees.

To-day has been one of the hottest of this year. At noon the thermometer registered 130 degrees in the sun and 86 degrees in the shade. When placed upon a piece of white calico in the sun, about midday, the glass went up to 140 degrees. Two hundred of the Australian minahs, brought from Victoria by Mr. Butts a few days ago, were to-day liberated. Miss Amy Sherwin was a passenger by the Taupo this morning from Wellington. She gives a concert here on Tuesday. Mrs. Walter Hill and Miss Hill (Miss L. May) were passengers by the same boat from Auckland, where they had been playing a long engagement under Mr. De Lias. They join the theatre here on its re-opening. A bowling match is to be played on Friday next between a Dunedin and Christchurch team, numbering sixteen each.

The number of railway waggons on Thursday received from and despatched to Lyttelton was 388 and 326 respectively, and on Friday 354 and 320.

Mr. Varley, the Evangelist is a great success. He appeared last night at the Theatre Royal, which was densely packed. He spoke for an hour from the words, “ That I might preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” This evening he gives a lecture entitled “ Lamed for Life.”

A common jury was occupied for several hours at the Supreme Court this morning hearing the case of Clark v. Hirst, which was an action brought to compel the defendant to fulfil a certain agreement into which he had entered for the purchase of Snead’s Hotel, Kaiapoi. The defence was that he had been entrapped into signing the agreement while in a state of intoxication. The jury found for the plaintiff on all the issues submitted.

The land tax return officers are now very busily engaged all over the city and suburbs. At the City Council to-night a motion is to be brought forward to limit councillors’speeches to ten minutes’ duration. After the experience of the last few months this is very necessary. Dunedin, Monday.

The debate between Mr. Charles Bright and the Rev. Mr. Green on “ The Divine Origin of Christchurch” commences on the 21st of this month.

The Diocesan Synod of the Roman Catholic Church will be opened on the 22nd.

The foundation stone of the new cathedral will be laid on the 26th instant. Mr. De Lautour intends to address his constituents towards the close of the present month.

A house owned by Mrs. Ridley, and occupied by Mr. Scott, situated in George-street, was burned down last night. The house and furniture were insured for £3OO.

A lad named Arthur Stoneham narrowly escaped drowning at Peliohet Bay on Saturday evening last. He was seen to fall into the water by two gentlemen, who swam to his assistance and brought him safely to shore. The tenders for the Waimea Plains railway have been referred to the company’s engineer, and will be made known in the course of a few days. The Attorney General left here this morning for Christchurch ; he will return in about a week, probably accompanied by Mr. Macandrew.

A number of the lads employed in a boot factory assaulted a Chinaman to-day while passing through Olark-street. They first threw dust over him, and then one of their number struck him in the mouth.

The National Insurance Company is interested to the extent of £2OO, and the Union to the extent of £IOO, in the George-street fire. In the Police Court to-day Adam Gordon Seymour was proceeded against on two charges of embezzling money belonging to Hamilton, a Sydney bookseller; each information preferred against the accused was dismissed. Invercargill, Monday.-

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day William Robinson, aged 19, was charged with forging a cheque for six pounds five in the name of Walter Brown, blacksmith, in whose employment he had been. The cheque had been presented and paid by the Bank of New Zealand. The signature was proved to be a forgery, and in the prisoner's hand writing. He was remanded till Thursday for the hearing of the second charge. The prisoner was arrested on the Ist inst. A woman named McShane was committed to prison for six weeks for keeping a house of ill fame.

The Times this morning closely criticises Mr. Stout’s speech, and condemns the evident intention of the speaker to unduly foster a certain class.