TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1967, 5 November 1891, Page 35

TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS.

The Post says that private letters received in Wellington during the past few days state that considerable dissatisfaction is caused amongst traders in the South Sea Islands at the manner in which Mr F. J. Moss, the British Resident at Raratonga, is exercising his functions. Representations on the subject are being made to the New Zealand Government by persons who consider themselves aggrieved. About 300 people witnessed the unveiling, by the Premier, of the memorial stone to the late Mr Richard Turnbull in tbe Timaru cemetery. Major Steward and Messrs Hall-Jones and Rhodes, M.H.R's., also spoke eulogies on the departed. The Premier was introduced by Mr Ross (mayor), who also gave a tribute of praise. The stone is a white marble obelisk, and was paid for by shilling subscriptions. At Wellington last week Captain Bernecb, of the Penguin, was laid up with an attack of influenza. Captain Kennedy, who went up from Danedin to relieve him, caught the same complaint, and consequently he was not able to take command. Strange to say, Captain Black, of the Taupo, who ia in Wellington while his vessel is being overhauled in Dunedin, was then to have taken the Penguin on, but , he also was laid np with influenza. The following have bsen appointed a board of examiners to conduct the examination under "The Coal Mines Act 1891 " :— The director of geological surveys of New Zealand, the surveyorgeneraythe inspecting engineer of mines, Henry, Alexander M'Gregor (of Wellington, inspector of machinery), together with James Bishop (of Brunnerton), Thomas Brown (of Denniston), and William Shore (of Eaitangata). The following further appointments as assessors under the Land and Income Tax Assessment Act have been made : — Frank W. Bast, Prebbleton; Ernest P. Diehl, Herbert"; Charles F. Roberts, Livingstone ; Henry M'lntoßb, Oamaru ; William Cruickshank, Oamaru; W. P. Birchell, Invercargill ; Jos. P. Healey, Arrowtown ; James Edgar, Queens • town ; Wm. Lane, Invercargill. The H. B. Herald's Waipiro correspondent telegraphs regarding the Native trouble there :— "Tata Nihoniho still oocnpies Peni Amini's pab, close to Waipiro township, with 60 or 70 armed

followers. Tuta is anxious to take a portion of tbe Waipiro block— say 10,000 aores— which he considers the Native Land Court robbed him of. He professes not to interfere with Earopeanß, and gives unsatisfactory replies when asked his intentions. The Native Minister promises to act firmly, and has desired Tuta's people to go back to their settlements. Tuta has wired Mr Csdman that he will take the law in his own hands if the law will not give him redress. Pern's people are afraid to go for food to their cultivations, whioh are occupied by Tuta's men. Sir G. Whitmore is here." A meeting of the members of the Auckland and suburban school committees was held on Friday to consider the question of obtaining a more equitable system of obtaining a more equitable system of representation of school commiteefl upon the Board of Education. A motion in favour of amending the Education Act so as to provide for this more equitable system was passed unanimously, and it was decided to recommend that tbe representation of committees should be adjusted in accordance with the average attendance of pupils at the schools under their oontrol. A deputation is to meet the Minister of Education on the subject. The Auckland Trades and Labour Council, in a discussion on General Booth's settlement scheme, severely criticised it. The council expressing the opinion that the general had a very fair field for his services in the Mother Country. It was resolved to use every endeavour to resist any action on the part of General Booth calculated to foist upon the colony emigrants of a British pauper class. The council condemned the proposal to sell the railways. A 10-roomed house at New Plymouth, occupied by Mr Coker* and owned by Judge Rawson, of Invercargill, was burnt down at halfpast 6 a.m. on Friday. The family were awakened by the smoke, and found that the flames had got such a hold on the building that they had only time to clear from the house in their night* dresses. Insurances: Building, £3GO in the South British ; furniture £200, and a piano £40, in the Union. Nothing was' saved. There is little doubt bat that the wreckage found at the Solomon Islands ia that of the missing New Zealand barque Kentish Lass, and as Captain Holm, who was part owner, thinks the men may still be alive he waited on the Hon. Mr Cadman on Friday and urged that the Government should cable asking the New South Wales Government to have a search made if possible by a man-of-war. Mr Cadman assented to this suggestion. A short time ago Mr H. C. CJapham made an offer to the Nelson City Council that he would undertake to treat a consumptive patient by his new process free of charge, and now the council have sent him a man named F. Humphreys, whom seven medical men pronounce to be suffering from consumption, and who has been suffering for over five years, being now very weak. Much interest is being taken in the case by councillors and others. The Hon. R. J. Seddon visited Ross on Friday. He was met by the mayor, borough councillors, and citizens, and accorded an enthusiastic welcome. He was interviewed on various local matters in the evening, and entertained by the citizens later on. In acknowledging the toast of the Ministry he dwelt upon the benefit farmers would derive from the change in the incidence of taxation, their burdens now being shifted on to the shoulders of those better able to bear them. He spoke also upon the amount of work done last?* session, which was much more valuable than that of tbe preceding sessions. His remarks were received with unanimous approval, and great enthusiasm prevailed. Information has been received in Auckland that the Natives are ploughing up the land of Mr George Currie, at Maiora, a settlement near Waiuka, Lower Waikato. They turned Carrie* cattle oqt on to tbe road. He has had the lease of land from the Natives, and has been in occupation for some years. Mr Currie is absent in Wellington. Barron Bros., recent arrivals at Gisborne from Southland, have taken up some of the richest land in Poverty Bay flat, and intend to start what will be the largest dairy factory but one in the colony. Besides the, dairy industry they aro going in for fruit-growing. They are laying down 60 aores in fruit, and propose to to start a factory.