NEW ZEALAND.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 67, 14 January 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

(United Psess Association.)

WELLINGTON

January 12. Mr Charb-s Ludwig, the well-known jeweller on Lambton Quay died on Saturday last, and Mr Alfred Shaw also a wellknown jeweller died on Sunday evening. Dropsy was the cause of death in both cases. The Natire prisoners sent to Dunedin and Hokitika will be brought back for trial to Wellington. Colonel Roberts, with Captain Wilson, visited Titokowaru’s settlement last week, and were favorably received. It is rumored that Sir Horcules Robin sou has written to Mr Lee, of Sydney, to lend him a calt or two for racing purposes,

Mr A. F. Halcombe has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute. The tender of Mr Bassett, of Wanganui, fer £9,940 has been accepted for the Mangawhero contract, on the FoxtonNew Plymouth railway. One of the large bells recently bung in St. Peltr's Church fell on Saturday, owing to the wheel shaft jumping out of its socket while the ringers were practising. Fortunately, its fall was stopped by some heavy beams which had bteu used in hanging the bells, otherwise it would have lallen on the tip of the ringers below.

It is understood that the Royal CominisMOu to report on Native afl’iirs will consist, of Sir Francis Dnlou Bell, Sir William Fox, and Mr Tawlii. Sir George Grey intends soon to visit the Thames and open a lecturing campaign throghout the colony.

AUCKLAND January 12 Tuo Penguin has arrive! from the Sounds excursion. Piss : ng Portland Island, a passenger, Mrs Ashley, gave birth to a male child. John Murray, a schoolmaster at Taupo, was fined 10s and £8 cost*, for beating « boy in his school. Mr Fenwick, R.M censured the school committee for not inquiring into the matter. A deputation of Waiuku settlers waited on Mr Whi aker to urge that a survey should be mad 1 * of the branch line from ] Pukekohe to Waiuku- The deputation j stated that rough statistics would show that the line would pay. Mr Whraker said the Government would not construct any further lines in the present state of the finances of the colony, and it was doubtful whether they could complete the lines undertaken. The Government would not take over any branch lines. He asked the deputation to prepare statistics for the Minister for Public Works, who would shortly visit Auckland. During the second day of the Waikato Race Meeting, a Mrs Mutphy, who had a baby in her arm 3, was knocked down at the finish of the Publicau’s Handicap by Harold, the third horse in the race. The woman wss badly injured, and the baby lay unconscious for soma time after th-; accident. It is stated that the committee of in« qniry on Captain James, of the Auckland pilot service, have recotaeuded his suspension. Pastor Chiniquy proceeds to Waipu on Monday. After visiting that district he will return to Auckland. He will go to the Thames on the 18th and to Waikato on the 21st. It is understood that Hokitika will be the first place visited by him in the Middle Island. GRAHAMSTOWN. January 12. A man named Whelan met with an accident this morning at the Alburnia mine by falling down a winze, breaking his leg. NEW PLYMOUTH. January 12, A man named Pearce, who had been splitting wood at the Meeting of Waters, has bean missing for two days. The Carandinis concluded a successful season, and leave by steamer for Auckland to-morrow. DUNEDIN. January 12. Tha City Bench, committing a woman to gaol for shop-lifting,'.strongly expressed their disapprobation of goods being exposed outside shop windows, and so tempting people in passiug to commit l theft. The rtial of the Waimate bush fire case is fixed to take place in Dunedin on the 13th March, before a special jury. Fiye single girls per Auckland hv been engaged at £26 to £3O yearly. Mrs Birch died early this morning from injuries received at the recent fire which took place at her residence. Joseph Sutherland, aged 8, whilst gathering chips on the new bridge at Atakia, caught hold of a rope beneath to swing himself, slipped, falling into the riyer, about nine feet deep at the spot. The body was recovered an hour afieivvards.

INVERCARGILL. January 12. In many parts *f Southland the turnip crops are an absolu e failure, owing to the continued draught. Frost has ,also damaged the potato yield. John Harford, late steward of tho May Qu*en, was yesterday cimmitted for trial on four charges of larceny, and remanded on three others, including breaking into a house and being in the possession ot burglarious tools. In the accused’s box were found dark lauterns, files, aud skeleton keysCHRISTCHURCH. January 12. There has been very little loss of hay, notwithstanding the bad weather, and the grass seed harvest is plentiful. An abundant hurvest is anticipated, the crops are very promising, and the farmers are looking forward to a yield ol from 50 to 60 bushels per acre, as against 20 reaped last year. A spring under the railway engine on the Eyreton branch line broke last night. Tho train wai stopped for half an hour, and the engine was packed up temporarily. On resuming the journey the packing

gave way, and the engine left the metal, the wheels being buried to the axles iu the ballast. The carriages remained on the fine, but the passengers were much startled by the shock. They returned to Kaiapoi, and then went home by buggies. Au inquiry will probably be held as to the cause of the accident. A woman named Stokes was committed for trial to-day on a charge of larceny of a gold watch and chain and a pair of gold mounted eye-glasses. Her son had found them in the street, and a neighbor who saw Mr Stokes wearing them, and had seen an advertisement regarding the missing articles, gave informa ion to the

police. Complaints are made about the practice of cross-fishing iu ihß Avon. Two men stand on an opposite bank, with lines from their rods attached, and strung with flies the whole width of tho stream. By moving gradually down they can strip the whole length of the river of fish. The practice is visited with a penalty at Home, and it Would be desirable for the Acclimatisation Society to take immediate step* in the matter. The gamekeeper at Cheviot Hills, near Harrison, was drowned on Thursday. He was learning to swim, aud had gone down to the creek by himself.

HOKITIKA. January 12. An expedition started to-day with divers to search for gold at the botiooi of the Mahinakua lake. The result was very satisfactory. It is probable that a dredge will be employed, and a company formed to work it. The Stella has arrived with forty-three Maoris aud twenty Armed Constabulary She has sailed again for .Wellington At a special meeting, appointed by the G ivernur-m-Counci', lor tne elemion of a County Chairman for the ensu-ng yeai, held yesterday, lwo candidates we.e nominaled. The following is the resuit — Lang, Hokitika, five votes 5 Jack, May vr

of Hokitika, four votes. Lang was therefore declared duly elected. GREYMOUTH, January 12. Afire broke out at Orwell Creek, at one o’clock on Thursday morning, in a kitchen attached to Gilmore’s hotel’ The hot<l and b ikery were destroyed, as were also Crissey’s butcher’s shop, and tha dwelling house of Mr Maloney. Nona of the prop :rty was saved, and the whola was uninsured.