TELEGRAPHIC NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 5869, 22 January 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, Wednesday. By the next San Francisco steamer a party of twenty or thirty converts from Canterbury will leave for XT tali. Their passages have been taken by the elders here. The Hon. Mr. Bryce has telegraphed to the ■natives at the Cambridge meeting that he has stopped the survey of the Patatere Block, and will consider their request for withdrawal of the Government proclamation throwing the block open to private purchasers after the next meeting of Parliament. The natives disclaim that there was any need to stop the survey. The block is one on which the Government paid Mr. Brisseuden £SOOO to buy off his interests, and consists of 249,000 acres of fine land. The request of the natives is prompted by a few land speculators, and if the Government listen to it great dissatisfaction' will be caused. The railway to Taupo will probably go, through the block. The new Catholic school, built by the exertions of Father Henneberry, was opened on Monday. The district meeting of the United Methodist Free Church commenced its sittings in the Pitt and Vincent streets Church this morning. The Rev. S. Macfarlane was elected chairman, and tho Kev. S. White secretary. The annual report of the Harbor Board showed on increase of receipts during last year of £3467. During the year, 28 steamers and 24 sailing vessels, of the aggregate register, of 92,219 tons, were docked. Several were docked more than once, so that the actual number was only 39. The dock was occupied 132 working days. Steps are being taken to hasten on the establishment of a free public library. Application will be made for the old Provincial Council Library. Mr. Rolleston has telegraphed to the Mayor of the Thames that the lands open comprise a series of small sections from five to ten acres each, and rural sections averaging 100 acres. No lands are open under the deferred system. Napier, Wednesday. His Excellency the Governor has promised to bo present at tho Jockey Club races in March. The Borough Council has agreed to reduce the wages of all the Oorpo.atiou laborers, and to increase tho salary of the Engineer by £SO a year. The Council a short time ago replied that it could not afford to give £SO to the hospital, but at the next meeting voted tho Mayor an honorarium of £2OO. New Plymouth, Wednesday. A little boy named Telfar was drowned in the Waitara River last night. Timaru, Wednesday. Bishop Redwood, accompanied by six nuns of the Order of the Sacred Heart, arrived in Tirairu yesterday. Four of the nuns will remain to undertake the charge of the Catholic girls' school. A convent is to be at once erected for them. Oamaru, Wednesday. A meeting will be held to-night to take into consideration the best means of raising funds for the relief of the Irish sufferers. The weather is splendid for bringing in the crops. If it continues the patches of oats which have been laid down will re-open, and the only loss will be tho additional cost of harvesting. V ■ Two thieves, for stealing postage stamps at Otepopo, received, the one 28 days', and the other six weeks' imprisonment. , Christchurch, Wednesday. ; A man .named Hand,; who has been at work on a station near Oxford, fell down dead of disease of the lungs on Monday afternoon. The Opera Company are still drawing excellent houses. “ Carmen" is to bo produced on. Friday. They have given a new opera every night. Colonel Soratobley inspected the harbor yesterday. A second inspection of the harbor will be made to-day. • The Opera Company, at tho request of Professor Hughes, have consented to give a special performance at an early date, in aid of the Irish Famine Belief Fund. Porter’s mare Nellie won the three-mile trotting match yesterday against Morting’s mare Victoria. ;