BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3108, 4 February 1873, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(From the New Zealand Press Association.)

Christchurch, February 4. Dr. Moran to day administered the rite of confirmation to 120 persons, and afterwards delivere 1 an address, strongly condemning the secular system of education. The Otago cricketers arrived at Lyttelton yesterday, and were met at Lyttelton by a number ot Canterbury cricketers The match commences on Thursday. Long oddl are being offered on Canterbury. ADDITIONAL ITEMS. London, December 10. The first general meeting of the Nat : onal Bank of New Zealand was held in London to-day, Mr D. R. Smith, Deputy-Chairman, presiding. The report stated 110,872 applications had been received, and that 66,6(57 shares were taken by 850 shareholders. Two pounds ten shillings per share has been paid up. The ba< k is ready to commence busi- . ness in London—capital in hand L 166.667 10a, and the preliminary expenses, L2,71l 17s.

Messrs Oevitt and Hett’s report of Deoemher 11 states that cotton is dearer by a farthing j 520 ba'es of Fiji sold at from 10s to 18s for stained long staple, and 20s to 3Qs for good to fine; 550 bales of phormium have been sold, and prices remain firm ; 10Q bales were sold at from Lls IQs to Ll6. A shipment per Warwick, from Dunedin, sold as follows Blueskin flax-mills (hemp), L 36; S and R D. L 34 ; SX, L 33 15 ; J D K, L 33 10. Per Crusader, from Lyttelton: Kowai mills, i 34 10s. Per Wild Deer, from Dunedin : Blueskin mills (hemp), L 3 6; AZ, L 36 ; WB, L 34 10s; ASH, L3l to L 33 10s. The stock on December 2 was 249 tons, against 695 tons last year; the deliveries since January 1, 1,524 tons, against 2,872 tons ; the import 1,032 tons, against 2,650 tons during the same period last year, Manilla hemp is dull of sale, at L 46 a ton. The loss by Barnum’s fire was 500,000 dollars.

The Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, which had accommodation for SQO guests, has been destroyed by lire. Twenty-two persons were burnt to death, and sixteen bodies were recovered. The fire resulted from neglect on the part of the servants.

Naseby, February 4.

The Chinaman Ah Yuck has been committed for trial at the’Supreme Court for selling spurious gold.

Lawrence, February i The monthly clearing of the Gabriel’s Gully Company was one hundred and ten ounces from a hundred and six tons stone, being twenty-one days’ crushing.

Queenstown, February 4. His Honor the Superintendent, and the Goldfields Secretary, have been well received in all parts of the district, and thoroughly examined its requirements. No public reception was given, but they had private receptions. Mr Bastings expressed himself quite surprised at the advancement of the district, and left this morning for Riverton.

The harvest operations are m full swing. Crops, though lighter than last year, cut more favorable than was at first anticipated.