TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1436, 3 December 1885, Page 1

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

A deputation ef representative Irishmen presented Mr Boucicault ;with an address at Auckland on Monday. Sir George Whitniore was presented at a banquet given by the Star of Auckland Lodge of, the American Order of Oddfellow a, to Grand Muster William*, of Wellington, who is at present in Auckland inspecting the Lodges. News comes from Wairoa Auckland (to the effect that in making ibread some nativea mistook strychnine for soda. From eating this bread one native has died and four ot 1 • s aie sesiously ill. An apparently determined case of suicide has ; occurred at Denniston, West (Joast. A girl named Martha Kerr, aged 12 years, drauk some tea in which she had soaked matches, and died from the offsets on Monday. Willinm Harrison, whose house in William frtrett was discovered to be on fire under very Suspicious circumstances on November 23rd, was committed for trial at Ohriatchurch on Monday under a charge of arson; In addition to the facts previously telegraphed, it was elicited that a largd " billy" full of kerosene was on the premihes concealed in an oven, some days before the tire, and the accused was seen about the place, which was unoccupied," about two hours before the fire. A piece of Oamaru stone, with a hollow in which was a bit of lighted-candle, was found close to some burning rags, etc. ( neaked in kerosene, and on the premises whore the accused lived another piece of Oamaru stone was found, which fitted exactly to the former'piece. A meeting of the Moorboiise Statue Committee was heid at Ohriatchurch on Monday afternoon, at which the Governor attended. It was decided that the statue which is being .erected in 'the Domain, should be unveiled on December 22nd. At the meeting of ;the Chrietchurch Oity Council on Monday night petitions were received from the employees of several principal firms who were effected by the Employment of Females and Others Act and its amendments, and asking that no steps mi?ht be taken to niter the half-holiday from Saturday to Thursday. In consequence of this, the Council agreed not to make the proposed change as they are empowered to do under the amended Act. The Chrietchurch Charitable Aid Board Committee have decided -to ask the present managers of the Female Refuge o carry on the institution for another month, and thera is a possibility that the present managers, with the aid of private subscriptions, ;will be able to continue iheir good work apart from the Charitable Aid Board.

A boy two years of age, a son of John Watt, of Stirling (OUjro), was drowned while playing on the edge of the river on Sunday afternoon. Shaw Sayill and Albion Company*! chartered steamer Coptic, from London, via the Cape and Hobarl, passed Mon,;onui on morning, and arrived it Auckland about ten o'clock the same night. Mr Ball.ince has received from Wahanul he taiha or sceptre of' war of the Ngatimaniopotos, which indicates that from henceforth no bloodshed will take place between Europeans and the Waikato tribes. Thin taiha is said to bars been in the hands of the Ngatimaniopotos for upwards of 100 yearsy and its pasßing out •>f the hands of these n»tiv ( eß ia a uutter if the highest importance, The "sceptre," if it may be so named,: is a long t&ff of hard wood clul'bed at the foot and pointed at the other extremity, the point being carved and decorated with dogs' iinir and Raka feathers. At the time the Kind's aukati lines were drawn, this taiha was sent down by the Ngatimaniopoioa o the Tutiua tribes, indicating thereby that peace had not been proclaimed betweeu the Maoris,«nd,Europeans, and that the Tuhua natives were at liberty to .wage war against all Europeans who ovorat. pped : he aukati line. It remained with Ngatiand His people until MofFatt's murderers were pardoned a few yeaia ago. It wan then returned to the Ngatimaniopotos, in whose ;iossession it was kept till it was handed ,ver to Mr Wilkinson, a Government igent at Waikaio, by Wahanui a few lays ago, to be forwarded-to the Native Minister. Mr Ba'lance intends to have Air taiha placed in the General Asuemhly Library or in the House of Representatives as a token of (he final withdrawal of the aukati by the Waikato tribes.