(Per Press Agency.)

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5277, 17 January 1879, Page 4

(Per Press Agency.)

Auckland, January 15th. The Star says there appears to be a gang of skilful scoundrels at work in Auckland, watch* ing every opportunity to rob the coffers of tradesmen and hotel-keepers. Twenty-four sovereigns were abstracted from a box in the bedroom of one hotel, but no clue has been found to lead to the conviction of the offenders. A myatery still hangs over the more extensive robbery from Mr Warren, and no trace whatever of the guilty party has been discovered.

John Pennan, proprietor of the Te Aro sawmills, \va=", whilst working, killed by a blow from a plank. Ha died half an hour after the accident.

New Plymouth, January 16th. \V. Carrington has been put on pay to assist in making a friendly call on the prophet; Te Whiti, at Parihaka. .

Wellington, January 16th. On information from Christchurchtne police, at about midday, arrested a young man named Edward Bastings, late stationmaster at Waihola, for uttering a forged cheque for L 7 5?, purporting to be signed by the: General Manager of Railways, to one Henry Allen, *. publican at Chtistchurch.

The city valuation for 1879 80 is L24L.808, aa against L 207.605 for last year, which shows an increase of L 34.203. There are 5126 ratings, while last year there were only 3,490. : It is reported that Mr Barton, M.H.R, haa sold his residence at Tetebens. near the Hutt.

Col. Whitmore has arrived here,

A movement is on foot for presenting an address, and a purse of sovereigns to Superintendant Atcheson, who leaves Wellington for Nelson at the end of the month. It is understood the members of the force in Wellington have made a very handsome and valuable presentation to Mrs AtehesoD, in view of her departure. ■'

Chkistchdech, January 16th. The case of Clives v. King and another was brought to a close yesterday, when the jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff for LISO, with power to move the Court above forLI4QO. The case of the Napier Harbour Board is fixed for to-day.

The annual meeting of the Canterbury Coursing Club was held yesterday. The balance-sheet shows that the receipts during the season had been L 46 4; of which, after paying all expenses, there is a small balance in. hand. It was resolved to recommend the committee to comply with the request of the North Otago Coursing Club to send a delegate to a general meeting to consider the question of establishing a New Zealand Waterloo Cup. The opening of the through line from Christchurch to luvercargill will definitely take place this day week. Last season the total amount of grain dispatched from the different districts of Canterbury amounted to 145,614 tons.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. (fhoji our own coerespondents.) Arrow, January 16th. Two additional applications, one by Mr H. Douglas, and one by Mr W. Jenkins, to hava the election of the 2nd instant declared void oa account of irregularities, were lodged yesterday in the R.M. Court here. Much dissatisfaction is felt amongst electors, as the riding is virtually left unrepresented in the Council, by the action of two contending parties, who may go on coatinually to upset elections on friviloua grounds in the present state of the roll and .L.gt^gtslJ:?5 '""^"w tion Act. .The application, .wilfiie heard on the 21st instant. y •-*"*■■

~ -"' Oamaru, January 16th. The Mayor's speech at a public meeting on. Tuesdfi^'njghf; na 3 created a very favourable impf ession, even amongst those who had preJifiusly threatened to vote against the raising of a further loan for water supply purposes. There i 3 now very little doubt that the plebiscite to be taken on Thursday will result in an over-: whelming majority in favour of borrowing the L 40,000 required to complete the w.jrks. The strongest and almost only notable opponentthe Corporation have is the member of the House who introduced and most strongly supported the borrowing bill last session. A paioful sudden death occurred this morning. Some old and respected residents in. Oamaru, named Bisselt, had a party last evening, and retired to bad, leaving things on tha table, Eirly in the morning a little girl, aged five and a half years, got up and drunk half a bottle of brandy, which had been left on the table. This was not discovered until the brandy had had such an sffect that the remedies applied failed to be efficacious, and the child expired.

The whole of the immigrants by th 9 Oamara have found employment. The single girls obtained from L3O to L4O per annum; single men (agricultural labourers) easily secured bLe and 12 months' engagements at from LSO to L6O a year, with premiums for harvest work. The name of Mr G. S. Lintott's Queen of the Seas was omitted from the list of nominations for the North Ocago Coursing Club'a Derby Stakes, as prepared by the secretary last night. At the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, John Johnston, of Waitaki Bridge Hotel, was fined L 5 for selling liquors iv an unlicensed house. The facts were tUese:—Johnston's hotel is some dntance from the railway Btation, at Waitaki, and as the train only stops a few minutes there, he had erected a small refreshment room contiguous to the station, for the convenience of passengers, and sold liquor there in addition to other refreshments.

Henry Varley, the evangelist, is expectedt here next week.