BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH

Evening Star, Issue 3694, 24 December 1874, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH

„„ Wellington, December 23. ihe Customs returns show that L7oQ|moro was taken during the last foiir weeks than the previous four, while this mouth shows an increase of fifty per pent, over the corresponding month of last year. 1 here is 11 steady sale of land privately at kf Provincial Land Office. A large quantity of the Melding laud, withdrawn yesterday, was applied for to-day at the upset prices, the principal purchasers being large landowners in the neighborhood. About L 1,500 worth was sold to->lay.

December 24. Mr Lee, travelling Colonial Inspector of the London pud Liverpool Insurance Company, had tbe central fire brigade turned out last night to show the extent of water power. All the mains were turned on. and nine jets, about eighty feet high, were kept going some time. Mr Lee said it_was the greatest power he ha J seen in New. Zealand, and presented the bri! gads with LXOj, *

The ‘ Times ’ protests against the action of * Victoria, in sending ''ullivan hack here as most unfair under the circumstances, f Auckland, December 23. SJThe Bank of New Zealand shipped, per W.mga Wring.a, for Sydney, 3,‘Jolozs. of gold, a portion of which quantity was from the Invercargill Co.’s claim. Ti e Operative Meat supply Company has been successfully floated, anil officers appointed. Guakamstown, December 23. A number of natives interviewed Te Hira and Te Moan.umi ut Parawliai yesterday, aud accused them of giving away gold secretly at night. Although expressing their indignation at such conduct, most of them concurred in the action, while condemning the way in which it was carried out. Those who have been consistently advocating the opening of the land, express themselves ready to sign the necessary deed at any time. Mr James Mackay is very unwell, the ex- , ertion of the last few weeks’ travel and talking being too much excitement, and a reaction has set in. (From our own Correspondent ) , Napif.u, December 24. Christmas promises to be dull here, partly owing to the unseasonable, wet weather, and partly to the scarcity of money. The trading community is apparently as solvent as ever, but all complain of the difficulty iu« collecting accounts. I’h" recent sales of land, both in town and country, shew a falling off in value, wnich is attributable to the tightness of money. Accounts of the fall iu wool have also created a depression. The management of the railway is causing great dissatisfaction. Whenever excursion trains arc announced, uniform rates are charged for all classes and distances. At Mr Miller’s sale of the pure-bred sheep bought at Canterbury Show, only three Lincoln rams sold, at LSO, L 73, and LlB5. At the Presbyterian Church soiree all the ministers condenme I the running of Sunday trains, and denounced the bad example set by the Government in this respect.

Auckland. December 23. iQe bankruptcy case of George Thorne jun., merchant, which was again before the bupieme Court to-day, is one of tlie most reimrkable commercial cases ever heard in Ancleborue took the old-established business of Kobertsou and Co., and commenced exteusive transactums. representing some L 50,000 on LoOO capital. Credit with the Bank of New booth Wales was sustained by the name and reputation of his father, Mr George Thorne merchant of Sydney. An important branch of the bankrupts business was the purchasin'' and shipping of wool to America. A large consignment of wool, purchased on accommodation given by the Bank of New South Wales, was sold at a frightful sacrifice in America during the temporary panic Immediately on receivmg intelligence of his serious losses, Thorne endeavored to get the Bank to keep him going, in the hope that he would ultimately clear off the great deficit. They declined, and in order to force them, it is alleged he commenced realism" his estate paying away large sums to outside creditors, to the detriment of the Bank. Some pf these amounts it is alleged were paid subsequent to the order obtained by the Bank making him insolvent. When the case came info the Insolvency Gourt tee Bank secured the appointment of one of their accountants as trustee. Mr Rigley examined the books, in Inch entries had latterly been made without date, and found letters paying large suras had been sent without; being entered in the letterbook. ihe bankrupt then neglected to go over the accounts with the trustee, and made various statements of his affairs which the trustee objected to Ihe bankrupt has been weeks under examination during the past few months in endeayonng to ascertain the cjcact state of his Old Tr*'"l* case being advanced, the Chief Justice to-day said unless a satisfactory statement was submitted before the day to winch the case was adjourned he would commit the bankrupt for contempt of court. borne horsey men who distinguished themselves lecently m Wellington have arrived in Auckland to attend the race meeting, and the police here are taking their measures to keep a close eyo ou theiv proceedings. Co ‘i ,ar : l ’ s farewell concert was crowded to overflowing. She visits the Thames, where all the seats for her concert are already steamer f noceet * s * 0 America in the mail Sir Donald M'Lean being successful in securing a protune from the Maori chief of the upper 1 hames to open the country in a fortniglit hence, r fter Mr Mackay had apparently failed, is another proof of his skill in Maori negotiation ; hut the credit of having placed i A r \ l,b f ra s ouistß iu a corner is undnijbtedly due to Mr Mackay. People will not believe in the it has actually taken & if,r Don>ld *“ -* There Is so little share speculation that the brokers held a meeting to-day to consider the advisability of dissolving the association, but timeT reS ° lVed t0 hold 011 in ll0 P e of better Ihere was a narrow escape to day from a large fire in a block of wooden buildings in bln ohdand street. A chira .ey bad been burnmg m a iumse adjoining the previous day, and it is_ supposed a spark from it had been smouldering m the dry shingles since, and broke out in flame this afternoon. The fire was extin gmslied by the prompt application of water, after a hole bad been burnt through the roof.’ ! • :j* ir Donald M Lean has promised to use his influence to get a block of laud iu the Piako district, hit..erto wholly Native, set apart by nml°\v nt i S a r d °! 1 d ': forrerl Payments under the new Waste Lands Act. It is understood that Mr v °i:cl opposes the free grant system. ihe heavy penalty of LIQO on Conley, the waterman, for receiving 251bs of smuggled tobacco, has struck dismay in the hearts of “Hf r “ ;tnn ? storekeepers. The tobacco was evidently a lot made up by a sailor fresh from a voyage. Conley said it came off H.M S Ivosario, which is probably true. The licensed victuallers were stimulated to make a subscription of L 32 towards the Auck> land chanties by the Good Templars making a gift of two cows to the Neglected Children’s wiTe e> yhalleUßm £ tbe victuallers to do like-

Referring to the refusal of the Government to allow Messrs Brogdeu and Sons to run excursion trams to Waihola regatta, the ‘ Star’ says it is hi keeping with the policy that has closed fm mouths the ->ucklatpl aqd Waikato railway to Obahuhu, and subsequently to Papakura( The motive for it, _ the -Star’ continues, “cannot divine, unless it be a deep-rooted animus lingering ip the same official mind against the contractors; but that any such feeling should so long have been permitted to set at defiance public feeling ami public convenience in connection with works costing the Colony millions of money is another proof of the utter indifference to the sentiments of the public manifested by the Government, intoxicated with uncontrollable power. During the mouth the Brogdens worked the Auckland and Onohunga railway we heard no complaints regarding the inode or conducting, with lower rates of charges, and wages paid to the officials higher than those fixed by the Government, yet it was a well known fact that the firm netted handsome profits out of the business. On the other hand, with the uiost miserable, _ cheese-paring system, it is ■plainly stated, in defiance of Mr Passmore’s railway management, that the line is still worked at a loss. We lippe the dissatisfaction recorded in our Dunedin telegram will develop into such action as will react favorably on this portion of the (Glpny—otherwise we fear that the pros pec of railway facilities before the line is farther than Otahuhu, Papakura. and Drury will continue to be a distant one. Mr Reynolds, who was appealed to in Auckland, is now in Dunedin, We would suggest that before rhe preaeiisatiou proposed to be made to him is handed ove* he_ he respectfully, asked to explain the position which the Government has assumed m relation to this matter,”