TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5669, 31 May 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Friday. A fire broke out this morning in Victoriastreet, in Simpson’s shop, containing drapery, boots, and other light clothing. The brigade quickly arrived, but the contents of the shop were mostly destroyed. Insurances—Royal, £SO; Colonial, £IOO, The seizure of the vacated Constabulary huts at Waipa, between Cambridge and Rotorua, was made by two old Hauhaus, who are now at the Cambridge Land Court. Mr. Wood, the owner of the huts, ordered his men to throw the meddling natives into the river if they again interfered with the huts. It is explained, however, that the natives thought the huts were abandoned. The racehorse Lalla Rookh was offered for sale at Mr. Buckland’s to-day. The highest bid was £IOO, and the horse was withdrawn. Mr. Creswiok and Miss Helen Ashton commence a series of readings on Monday. Hokitika, Friday.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day B. Dixon, head master of the State school, was charged on three informations with unlawfully assaulting a pupil named Peter Hemling, fourteen years of age, by beating him with a stick on the 10th, ‘2oth, and 2i>rd inst. 1 A number of witnesses were examined for complainant, and without acquiring evidence for the defence the Bench dismissed the information, each party to pay his own costs. Notice was given of appeal to the Supreme Court. The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Hokitika Gas Company was held last evening, and a dividend was declared of 7s. 6d. per share. Eeefton, Friday. A return is being prepared here, under the direction of the County Council, to show:the Government the number of idle quartz mines in Inangahua, which contain abundance of stone, proved to average from sdwt. to 15dwt. of gold per ton, but which cannot be worked at present owing to the high rate of wages, provisions, &c., due to the want of railway communication. Concurrently with this a monster petition is being got up for presentation to the Assembly, urging the immediate construction of the Nelson and Greymoulh railway via Bailer and Inangahua. Christchurch, Friday.

At a meeting of the Kaitaugata Relief Fund Committee this morning the following resolution was carried ;—That the Christchurch committee respectfully suggest to the central committee the following : That after ample provision having been made for the sufferers by the late calamity, it would, in the opinion of this committee, bo desirable that whatever surplus money may remain should be invested in a permanent fund, bearing interest available on any further contingency, to be applied in accordance with the discretion of the central committee. It was also resolved that in the event of a trust fund being established, a committee should be formed in, each provincial district or chief town, to whom application may be made for funds, it being understood that such district or town should make an actual effort to augment the fund. The Diocesan Synod is still sitting. An additional sum of £6OOO has been voted for buildings, enlarging churches, parsonages, and schools, and augmenting ministers’ stipends. The vice-presidents’ meeting of the Coursing Club takes place on June 17 and 18. Matches: Maiden, Puppy Stakes, and Christchurch Stakes.

At the usual meeting of the Selwyn County Council to-day, a number of grants were made for planting reserves and other works which will employ men. The sum of £5500 was allocated for the further extension of the Malvern water-race. TiJ'ARU, Friday. Two hundred and six summonses were issued in the Resident Magistrate’s Court during the month ending to-morrow, being the largest number ever issued in one month. Dunedin, Friday. At nine o’clock last night when the Ladybird was lying alongside the Rattray-street Wharf it was discovered that water was pouring into the engine compartment rapidly, and had reached within 18 inches of the engine room floor. Steam was got up in the boiler of the donkey engine, and a telegram was sent through the railway department to the chief engineer, who was at the port, and Captain Malcom was at once sent for. The captain and Mr. James Mills arrived with all speed. By half-past nine the donkey was at work, and though it threw out large quantities of water through the steam pump it was found that the water was gaining. By 10 o’clock steam was got up in the boilers, and at 12 o’clock the leak was much' gained upon, so that the water was nearly down to the skin. The cause of the leak is supposed to be that on the tide going out she settled" npon a stone, which forced itself through one of the plates. She had only come out of dock yesterday morning. A great deal of cargo had been taken in during the day, but as the sluices fortunately were down, the water was confined to the engine compartment. She will be placed in the dock and surveyed to-day. By the Tararua the Museum' received 'a pair of the large bivalve shells Taidicua Gigas. This shell is the largest in the world, one valve being more than a man can lift. It lives on the coral reefs at Fiji and the other islands of Polynesia. . .. " Performances at the Queen’s Theatre have led to an, animated discussion on the subject of Spiritualism.

The postal officers throughout the colony subscribed as a body to the Kaitangata Relief Fuad,, and the sum so realised amounts in the aggregate to over £2OO. The, Town Clerk of Dunedin informs the gas consumers that a book has been opened at the City Council chambers for the insertion of any complaints a,s to the quality or deficiency of the supply of gas.

The formali-m of a carbine clnh :'.>r the purpose of holding a series of haiidi- ip m itehes during- the winter month? ha? been - Several gentlemen representing the Dunedin Artillery and Naval Brigade met to make the necessary arrangements. A gen-’-ial committee was elected. The club numbers 75 members. It is reported that numbers of hares are being snared in Tokomairiro and the surrounding district?. One party snared and killed no less than seven hrres in one day lately. The advisability of the Acclimatisation Society appointing two more rangers for the district and increasing the reward for every conviction is suggested. To-night tiie Star says editorially: We hope Mr, Fisher will wake up and make his tenure of office memorable by at least one useful work —tbe initiation of the parcel post. The Star also points out that Mr. Woods, of Victoria, found the revenue the railway derived from the carriage of newspapers so inconsiderable that it is not worth while to continue it. The Dunedin Jockey Club birthday races for once left a margin of profit, but it is still an open question if it had not better be abolished for the future, and the Spring Meeting be improved. It has been found the steps taken under the Land Tax Act are not legal. Clause 23 provides expressly that valuation lists of counties shall be deposited with counties, instead of which the whole of the county valuations have been gazetted. An Order in Council will probably issue to make it all right.