TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8495, 16 May 1889, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(Pee United Peess Association.)

Auckland, May 15,

T. J. Morrow, secretary of the Arch Hill Road Board, has been arrested at Fiji charged with embezzlement of moneys belonging to that body.

It is reported that some payers of property tax in WhaDgarei district intend to give the commissioner the opportunity of obtaining their properties as provided under the provisions of the act. A vigorous protest against the tax was made by Mr J. B. Russell before the Board of Reviewers for the County of Eden yesterday, when he objected to the valuation of his estates at £2650. Ine estimate was eveutually reduced to £2300. The results of the local examinations in connection with Cambridge University have been received. There were 23 candidates in Auckland, and eight have passed. The flax industry is receiving great attention at ie Aroha, and several new mills are in course of erection. The price for the flax ranges from 9d to Is 6d per ton for green leaf, and it is said that should this rate be maintained, the export trade will speedily assume gigantic proportions, valuable coal seams of great depth have been discovered between the Putuputu and Whansarei districts.

The use of matai timber instead of kauri on the railway wharf has proved a failure, and the engineer reports that matai will not stand in the wharf works.

Hawera, May 15. I For some time past an Arbitration Court has been sitting here to settle the terms under which there should be granted new leases under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act to tenants who hold leases confirmed by the Governor, as the recommendation of the West Coast Commission. The Natives have generally objected to the renewal of the leases by the Public Trustee, and have declined to accept service of the notices or in any way to recognise the proceedings. At a sitting of the court to-day the solicitor for the Natives announced their determination to apply to the Supreme Court for a mandamus to compel the Public Trustee to suspend all further action pending a reconsideration of the whole matter by Parliament.

Wellington, May 15. A deputation from the Presbyterian Assembly waited on the Governor and presented an address of -welcome. His Excellency made a suitable reply, and added, " I recognise that differences of religious convictions does not prevent the belief that her Majesty's representative in this colony will allow no fuch considerations to interpose iu the faithful and impartial exercise of the duties of Governor, which it will be my earnest endeavour to fulfil." Lord Onslow left for Palmerston North to-day on private business, and probably returns to-morrow. In Chambers to-day in the case of Joseph Simmons, arrested on a warrant from New Plymouth, an application was made to have the rule nisi granted on Saturday made absolute His Honor pronounced the rule absolute, and Simmons has been released from gaol. The property tax reviewers have reduced the valuation of Miramar Peninsula (the late J C Crawford's estate) from £52,915 to £26,000. A patent has been granted for Cobb and Co.'e palace cars. The application had been before the Patent Officer for months, and postponed waiting the result of the recent trial.

Chbistchuech, May 15. .The Board of Governors of Canterbury College to-day decided that all fuel, light, and service in the School of Agriculture buildings should be found by the board, and at the end of the year a rate per head should be struck, and that the rector pay for himself and family at the same late, subject to an allowance of £35 per annum for entertaining visitors, &c, and that school fees be reduced to £40 per annum. It was also decided to suggest to the Minister of Education that the recommendations of recent commission should be partially carried by the appointment by the Government of half the members of the Agricultural School Committee At a meeting this evening General. Strange spoke on federation, and a branch of the Imperial Federation League was formed, with Mr C. C. Bowen as president, Hon. W. Reeves, John Studholme, and 0. P. Hulbert, vice-pre-dents.

Invercabgiix, May 15. The Southland Building Society pays a dividend of 8 per cent, for the year's operations, which are now restricted as compared with a few years back. The society hss now entered on its twenty-first year, and to-night it was unanimously resolved to give a bonus of £100 to Mr J. W. Bain, who has been chairman since its formation, on the completion of his 21 years in office, when he will retire.