[Press Agency.]

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1340, 6 January 1879, Page 2

[Press Agency.]

Wellington, Jan. 4 It is understood that tbe authorities are organising a detective department for the whole colony. It is probable that Inspector Thomson of Auckland will be Chief-Inspector, and that there will be three detectives m each of the principal towns, and that the Government will endeavor to prevent their identity being known to the public. Ttiere are only four cases set down for hearing at the next civil session of the Supreme Court. The New Zealand Rifle Association resolved — " That the Secretary should at once proceed to Nelson to make the necessary arrangements for the meeting next month." Mr Hunter's farm, m the vicinity of Wellington and recently sold by Messrs ■Jacob Joseph to Mueller, Young and Saunders, will be laid out m a new township called Brighton, and £4000 ia to be expended to place it m tramway communication with Wellington. About 180 acres of it were valued at £100 per acre of level land ; some 20 acres, hilly, at £30 per acre, and the .remainder of the land being very rough, was valued at £2 per acre. There is a strong difference of opinion between the Government and the deputation representing the mercantile community, respecting the railway station ; one thinking the proposed site suitable, and the other not suitable. A good deal of dissatisfaction is manifested with regatd ti alterations m the tariff of fees m the Resident Magistrate's Court, the increase m some instances being 100 per cent. It is rumored that some hitch occurred regarding the railway, free passes fur the Press of the colony. Mr Macandrew positively refuses to authorise the issue of them until such time as the matter is brought befcre the Cabinet of Ministers. It is estimated that the new line discovered for the Foxton. railway by Mr Hume, Engineer, will cost only about £6000 per mile, including permanent ,

way, rolling stock, and stations. The jirevi'iua estimates had been £10,000 per mile, with st-ep gradients. The Commission on higher education commence t ieir sittings on the 15th February. Tiie R.-v. W. J. ELbens, In-spector-General <>f Schools, will he Secrntary, and Mr Drake, of the Hansard staff, sh"rthand writer, 'o the Cumiuission. Mr Gordon Allen called the attention of the Resilient Magistrate to the practice of sh-pmaste -a lefusing to pay counsel's fees out of seamen's money they had m hand. The Government are about to offer a substantial reward for such evidence as will lead to the conviction of the persons who set fire to the Government Buildings at Blenheim m November, 1876. Detective Brown has been here several weeks making inquiries, and is said to have obtained important information. Marton, Jan. 4. Had it not been for the change m the wind yesterday, the Post-office must have beeen burnt. As it whs all the paper and documents had to be removed. Nelson, J.-in. 4. The resignation of Mr Sharp, M.H.R., who has left for England, was posted today. Christchcjrch, Jan. 4. At the inquest upon the man Reynolds, who was found deid m his bed, it was shown that he had partaken of a very haavy suppiT just before going to bed. The post mortem examination by Dr Frankidh showed that he had died of apoplexy, and a verdict to that effect was returned. The Stewarts, who have be°n doing most excellent business, give their first change of programme this evening. It is intended to re-lay a great pdrtionof t\. c rails from Christchurch toDunedin with 521 b. steel rails, equal to 641 b. iron. This has been found necessary m consequence of the wear and tear caused to the light rails by the heavy traffic. The change will begin at Selwyn on Monday. It lias been raining heavily since 5 o'clock, and there seems every likelihood of its lasting. The improvements now going on at the Waimakariri, with a view to preventing the floods doing damage to the railways m the future, are estimated to cost £12,000. Very elaborate plans have been drawn up m the Public Works office here for a new men's wing t> the Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum. The sum of £10,000 was placed on the Estimates for carrying out the same. The tenders are now m, and have been forwarded to the Public Works office, Dunedin. Although the amounts have nut been made public, it is understood that the lowest tender is £30,000, and consequently only a portion of the work can be gone on with for the present, or else a less elaborate plan will have to be prepared. Tt is understood that the repairs are now complete on the Rangifata bridge till the next floods carry it partially away. Mr Lowe, the resident engineer, who has b. en m charge during the week, returned to-night from completing his work. This will be a great relief to the sheds and stores along the line, many of which are choked np with wool and goods of various descriptions. Special trains will be run to relieve this. Two men named William Henry Izon and Joseph Hall, charged .vith stealing a dug, were discharged thia morning without the slightest imputation on their character. Dr. Schwazback, the eminent aurist, announces his intention of professionally visiting Christchurch m a few weeks. Thirty e^tra waggons have been placed on the railway during the past few days, and absorbed into the general traffic. Dunedin, Jan. 4. Four men appeared m the Police Court tn-day charged with disorderly conduct on New Year's morning. Three of them were fined £3 each, m default a fortnight's imprisonment, and the fourth was fined £5. In all cases the fines were paid. The management of the Dunedin Athenasum appears to give considerable dissatisfaction, and leads to much criticism m the local papers. Parker's estate, m South Canterbury, containing 9500 acres, was purchased on Saturday by Mr Henry Driver. The price has not transpired, but it is said to be at a much lower rate than land m the same locality was sold for a short time ago. Invercargill, Jan. 4. It is stated that the Government have decided to order that the last sentence of the law be carried out on the convict Welsh. Judgo Williams advised the Government there was no reason why he should not si'ffer capital punishment.