NEW ZEALAND

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4979, 11 April 1889, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND

(By Telegraph.) AUCKLAND, April 10. Eleven natives from Tahiti have loft for the Paris Exhibition where they are to give illustrations of the customs, &c., of the South Sea Islands. The Auckland Rugby Union have a credit balance of £343 19s 6d. At their mooting to-night the question of sending homo a New Zealand football team was informally discussed the opinion being that no official recognition should bo given to any team going under private auspices It is suggested that Auckland citizens should make a presentation of provisions, stores, &c., to Mataafa and the Samoan natives who endeavoured to save life during the recent disaster in Apia Harbour. The Freemasons of the Auckland distiicb have agreed that it is desirable that an United Grand Lodge of New Zealand should be formed. NAPIER, April 10. Heira, the Maori under sentence of death for the murder of the Pook family, lias made a statement denying that he was the actual murderer, though he admits being present. He accuses others, amongst them his brother. Three children, aged from eight to eleven were charged before the bench to day with being unlawfully on premises at one o’clock in the morning. They were found iti a stable with a candle alight, and striking matches. The parents of two professed, inability to control their boys, and those two were remanded, the third being discharged. WELLINGTON, April 10. The Railway Commissivners have fully decided to shorten the time of the express trains between Christchurch and Dunedin, unless unforeseen difficulties arise. The local officers have been requested to report if they see any difficulty. The report of the Rawson Enquiry Commissioners has been returned from Napier from His Excellency the acting-Governor, but its contents cannot be made known until they have been sent to Judge Rawson, This will not be clone until the document has been submitted to the Minister of Justice, who is in Auckland, and has not yet seen it, so that some days must elapse before the nature of the report is disclosed. CHEIBTOHUEOH, April 10. Norman Hall was committed for trial on a charge of forging the name of E. C. Hcog to two cheques for £3 10s each on the Bank of Now Soutli Wales and the Bank of New Zealand, respectively. A novel action will occupy the Supreme Court shortly. It is a suit brought by Mrs Baldwin against the Rev. W. A, Pascoe, incumbent of Avonside, for breach of tho rubric in refusing to administer the communion to her. Mr Stringer is retained for plaintiff, and Mr Harper for defendant. During March outdoor relief was given by the Charitable Aid Board in 463 different cases, being 7 less than in February, but 18 more than in March, 1888. Thirty-three which were relieved in March had not been assisted in February, and 40 of tho February cases did not recur in March.

The Operative Bootmakers’Society to-night reversed tho decision of the former meeting requiring the payment of £lO entrance fee from the former clicker at O’Brien’s factory because of whom the employees jwent out on strike, and ered to admit him to membership on payment of ordinary fee of an Is. Till an answer to the offer is received, the union will maintain their present position, and nometnbers will resume work at O’Briens. The ninth annual exhibition of the Canterbury Society of Arts was opened to-night by the President Mr R. Beetham who in his address referred to the loss art had sustained by the death of Mr Gully. On the whole the exhibition is an improvement on former years. This year there are 131 oils, and 79 water colours; last year there were 13S oils and 1,07 water colours.

DUNEDIN, April 10. As indicating the increasing value of land, it was stated to tho board to-day, a person who in November forfeited his holding bocauso the rental was £4 5s too high, is now anxious to get it back, Tho Presbyterian Church Sustentation Fund for the half year amounted to £4693, and an equal dividend was declared for the half year of £lO2 15s. Mr W. C. Edwards has received a telegram from Mr Napier Bell, chief engineer of the Midland Railway, requesting him to proceed to Springfield at once, and start surveys there. Mr Edwards loaves to-moirow. The Agricultural and Pastoral Association have resolved to prepare a programme at once for the Exhibition Show in November, so as to allow breeders in all parts of the colony to be represented. The Union Company say there is no truth in the statement made in the papers in Christchurch that Mr Mills has gone to Sydney to endeavour to purchase the Albion and Dupleix. The company sold the Albion m 1883 for £3300, and the Dupleix was purchased in Sydney recently for £2OOO. Both were built about 1863, and tho company has no intention of adding vessels of that class to their fleet. INVERCARGILL, April 10. Mr Douglas, the stationmaster, still survives in tho hospital. As mortification of the injured leg is not advancing it is expected that the limb will be amputated to-morrow, but there are little hopes of a successful operation.