BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3520, 5 June 1874, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Auckland, June 4. The Clio, from New Caledonia, reports that Bateman, formerly of Auckland, and convicted of shooting a French officer, has been sentenced to ten years’ seclusion. Business at the island is active. Various gold discoveries are reported, but they are not proved payable. Prospectors are out in every direction. Arrangements have been completed between the Auckland Steam Packet Company to run one of their boats, probably the new steamer Southern Cross, between New Zealand ports, commencing at Dunedin, and Fiji. Lyttelton, June 5. Export quotations free on board.—Wheat, milling, 5a to 5s 3d; oats, milling, 4s 9d ; barley, 5s _ to 5s 3d ; flour, Ll2 10s. Potatoes have risen to L 4, with the prospect of a further rise. _ Grahamstown, June 5, i r *tums for May show a decrease of 1,300 ounces on the previous month. A number of Natives are now en route to tho great meeting at Minanda. Natives have armed from Makitu, East Coast, find the remote districts. The ostensible object of the meeting is to lift the bones of a great chief, and remove them to Tapu from the burial ground. ~ n , • , Napier, June 4, • 9, rmon M hls financial Statement m the Council to-day. The actual revenue for the year ending 30th June will amount to about L 86,000. The balance in tho Bank on the Ist of May was L 63.221. On 30th Jun? After paying all claims, there will be an avail-

able balance to date of L 34,334. The proposed expenditure on roads, bridges, and public works is L 56,160. The report of the Inspector of Sheep shows there are 1,025,256 sheep in the Province—a very large increase on previous years. 70,000 bushels of grass seed have been sown. The Inspector points out the results of sowing ryegrass exclusively, and suggests the substitution of cocksfoot, timothy, and fescue. 1 _ Christchurch, June 4. A meeting was held this afternon of persons favorable to the establishment of the Colonial Bank. An influential working committee was appointed to promote the undertaking. A prospectus is issued of a company to establish a new tri-weekly paper to be called the ‘ Guardian,’ with a capital of L 5,000. Wellington, June 4. It is notified in the 1 Gazette’ that the No. 2 (Dunedin Scottish) Company of Rifle Volunteers has been disbanded. The Australian Mutual Provident Society has purchased 40ft frontage to the Custom House quay for L 1,750. The following Acts passed by the General Assembly will not be disallowed by Her Majesty :—Act to further alter and amend the Customs Tariff Act, 1866 ; Act relating to Life Assurance Companies; Act to amend the Steam Navigation Act, 1866, and the Steam Navigation Amendment Act, 1867; Act to amend the Merchant Shipping Acts Adoption Act, 1869 ; the Canterbury Waste Lands Act, 1873; Act to amend the Westland Waste Lands Act, 1870 ; Act to provide for the Resumption of Land for the purpose of Mining for Gold or Silver; Act to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to the Native Land Court and Native Lands ; Act to fix the Duties payable to Her Majesty in relation to the alienation of Native Land, and to make provision for payment and recovery thereof ; Act to make provision for the better administration of Native Reserves throughout the Colony. June 5. la the Anglican General Synod the following Bills were passed A Bill for making certain necessary alterations in the organisation of the Church; the Diocesan Courts’ Bill; and the New Lectionary Bill. It was resolved that, in consequence of the paramount importance of religious instruction being afforded to the young, the Synod expresses a hope that the Bishops and Synods of the various dioceses will do everything they can to secure to the parochial clergy the privilege of imparting religious instruction in Government day schools. It was also resolved to extend as widely as widely as possible the system of mutual insur ance in regard to Church properties, provided that for the present no single risk be taken exceeding LSOO.