NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 7947, 2 December 1886, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SUMMARY FOR EUROPE. Per 3,5, Alameda.—Mail Draw Loudon, January 10, 1887. Under the now arrangement for accelerating the transit across the American Continent of’ the mail from New Zealand, via San Francisco, to England, the steamer will hencoldrth leave Auckland one day in tho week earlier, and the mails will arrive in London two days earlier. The present mail will reach its destination on the IQfch of January, 1887, instead of the J2tb, the day appointed in the time-table issued at the beginning of the present year. There seldom is much political news in New Zealand at this time of the year, and the present season is no exception. His Excellency the Governor has been down in Christchurch for the races, and the members of the Ministry have been dispersed in various parts of the Colony. There has been little speech-making, the Ministers apparently being in no way desirous of maintaining tho reputation which they acquired last year of speaking each his own mind without consulting his colleagues, and propounding schemes and theories to be repudiated afterward by the Cabinet. Sir Julius Vogel made a speech last week at Lawrence, a goldfield town in Otago, but for the greater part he studiously refrained from committing himself or the Government, and indulged chiefly in glowing platitudes and truisms. Tho one important part of his speech was where ho said that, owing to the comparative ill-success of the last loan raised in London, it would be necessary for the Colony to be exceedingly chary in borrowing, and that it would be wise to refrain for a considerable time from undertaking the construction of public works beyond those already authorised. The saving clause is rather an extensive one, but still it is a good deal to find Saul, in however small a degree, siding with the prophets. Tho Wellington and Manawatu Railway is now open for regular traffic. On Monday the first passenger train ran through to Palmerston, where a banquet was given, and there were great rejoicings. Yesterday traffic began according to a fixed time-table, arranged with reference to the trains on the Government line between Longburn, the terminus of the Manawatu Railway, and New Plymouth. Tne railway has been opened at a most favorable time of the year, as wool is now coming in fast, and good returns will no doubt be earned at once. It is also certain that the line will bo very largely used for the conveyance of stock for the supply of Wellington, for shipment to other parts of New Zealand, and for freezing. The settlors in tho Manuwatu district can now visit Wellington, do business, and return home within the day, and a like facility is extended to Wellington people who have occasion to go to Palmerston. The terrible poisoning case at Timaru has advanced another stage. It will be remembered that just before the trial of Thomas Hall and Miss Houston for the attempted murder of , Mrs Ha l !, the body of Captain Cain, : Mrs Hall’s father, who died early in the 1 year, was exhumed, and that it leaked j out that large quantities of antimony , were-found in 'it. An inquest has i since been held on the remains, which ' had to be'exhumed a second time for 1 the purpose, and the result was that the jury found that the deceased'had beenI’murdered 1 ’murdered by some person unknown. Since then it has been announced that the police have_ discovered further ev : dence which justifies them in charging Hall with this crime also, and that he will be brought before a, magistrate to ansvyer the charges. In the ■ other terrible case which has'excited people’s'minds in |7ew Zealand, namely,' that of the brutal murder of Taylor at the Great Barrier Island, Caffrey and Penn, the two men charged with the crime,'have been committed for trial. The girl Graham, who was with them in the craft “ The Sovereign of the Seas,” has been discharged, and will give evidence when the case comes on - for trial before the Supreme Court. ' The election of Mayor of' Wellington for twelve months,took place last week, when Mr"Samnel Brown, who was v ari unsuccessful candidate last year, "defeated b'« opponent, Mr George Fisher,, by a large majority, and was returned. Mr Fisher at first announced that he was to be a candidate,“then retired, and .again ’ very Shortly before the election came for-ward-again. The finances of th'e Corporation are in an' exeeedingly prosperous condition, the receipts for the half-year having exceeded the expenditure by £2OOO. A long-standing dispute between the City Council and tho Wellington Harbor Board with reference to reclamation is now’ all but arranged in a friendly manner, both sides having agreed to give and take. The remaining points of differ ehce are only slight, and the whole matter will probably be finally settled by Rarliament in a few nlon|hs.'’ The Harbor Board has again 1 been endea vbrihg to get Ifye Goyernqent to give full compensation in the shape ot an equivalent in land for endowments on the reclaimed land of which it has been deprived. This, however, the Government decline to do. ‘ Sir Julius Vogel has fought a duel with the Eastern Extension Telegraph 60., and has won. ‘ In order to secure a renewal of the Government subsidy, the continuance of which fee 4 ve years the Company had previously declined, the Directors decided to increase largely the charges for messages between Australia' and New Zealand. To this Sir Julius Vogel replied by announcing that he would charge the Company for the use of Government offices and the New Zealand telegraph lines, and would thus b'e enabled' to recoup senders of messages'for the increased cost. The Company fought vigorously, and had a large portion of the press of Australia and New Zealand on its side, though not that of Wellinigton. The fight, however, did not last very long. The Colonial-Treasurer made inquiries as to the cost of a second cable, and in the end the Company gave in, agreeing to return to the status quo ante for six months, .when fresh arrangements will have to bs made. There is now no likelihood that Parliament will sanction a renewal of the subsidy. - The Wellington people are assured on capital authority that they have now the ’ best theatre South of the Line. The new Opera House at To Jfrxo is built, on the site of a former one which was burned down some years ago. The new one has teen bililt by a Joint Stock Company,

and all care has been taken to attain as near perfection as possible. Hie result is highly creditable to the architect, Mr Cbatfield- The Opera House was opened nearly three weeks ago, when his Excellency the Governor and an immense audience were present. The usual summer amusements are going on briskly. Tho Canterbury races, as usual, drew great crowds to Christchurch, which, at all events for one week, showed no signs of being, as it is often said to be, a town suffering from the utmost depression. There have been races also in Dunedin and Wellington, and it is plain that in all parts of tho Colony people can still find money for their amusement. The Australian cricketers, whe recently visited England, after playing matches in Dunedin and Christchurch, are now in Wellington, engaged in a match against 23 chosen from the various clubs in the city. Cricket is thriving hero, and year by year it exeites more and more interest even among non-players.