INTERCOLONIAL.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 90, 14 September 1874, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

AUCKLAND. It is rumoured (says the Thames Evening Star) that an arrangement has been come to in the political world by which Charles O'Neill, Esq., M.H.R., will resign his position as Thames member in the General Assembly, and that James Mackay, Esq, will stand for election to the seat. How far this rumour is to be relied upon as authentic, we are not prepared to say ; but the authority from which it is obtained is supposed to be reliable. Rumour has also caught up the name of Mr William Rowe in its airy passage, and proclaims that that gentleman will contest the election ; this is still more likely, as Mr Rowe has but recently expressed his intention in a definite manner of claiming the suffrages of the Thames electors for this purpose. The difficulty which has long beset the Kawakawa Coal Mining Company of obtaining a road from their coal mine to the Kawakawa river has at length, says the Herald, been overcome, the Government "having been pleased to take and lay off a road for public use as a road and tramway, a curved road one chain wide from the Kawakawa coal mines, commencing at the southern boundary of the Te Wharau block, and ending at the derrick erected on the edge of the Kawakawa river/'

An Auckland contemporary says:—The new premises erected on the site of those destroyed by the fire in Queen street, generally known as Henderson and Macfarlane's fire, to distinguish it from other fires in Queen street, are now completed. They are a handsome and substantial block of buildings, comprising three large stores or warehouses under two roofs. The brickwork has been carried out by Mr Rhodes, contractor, and the carpenters' and joiners' work under Mr Dickson. The buildings were designed by Mr Keals, architect. The foundations are composed of masonry, and the front and sidewalls of brick. They have the appearance of being well and substantially built, and occupy a frontage of about 100 feet. The first store has been built for and is already occupied by Messrs Stone Brothers, whose premises were destroyed in the fire referred to. It comprises four floors, including the basement, under one roof. Each flat measures 33 feet by 80 feet. The second building will be occupied by Messrs Cruickshank and Co, merchants, of Canada Buildings, and the third by Messrs H. F. Anderson and Co, ship chandlers. These buildings are of about, or nearly, the same size as Messrs Stone Brothers.

Two fires have occurred in the country districts. The first took place at Panmure, on the premises of John Dunn. Two old buildings, used as a stable and cow-shed, were destroyed. The property was insured for £l5O "in the South British Insurance office. The second fire took place at Ararimu, beyond Drury. A house belonging to Mr Parr was destroyed, together with his furniture. The origin of this fire has not been ascertained. The house was insured for £2OO and the furniture for £IOO.

We (Poverty Bay Herald) learn that the survey of the Patutahi block is proceeding as rapidly as the weather will permit, but the-30,000 acres now being dealt with by Mr Winter will not be finished as soon as was first anticipated. About half of the outside traverse line has been cut, up to the present time.

Our Tauranga correspondent (says the Ramie's Bay Herald) telegraphs to us that the immigration buildings brought from Auckland are being erected on the old parade ground. Opotiki, he says, is beginning to manifest signs of life and prosperity, vessels laden with produce constantly leaving, and recently with cattle. Snodgrass and Langford are purchasing extensively for the Auckland market. The Southern Cross arrived on Wednesday, laden with a cargo of valuable horses. The Waiapu correspondent of the Poverty Bay Standard furnishes the following items of local news:—The Bay of Plenty is to be provided with an additional Native school, at a locality' north of Cape Runaway, where there is a considerable Native population. This will make the fifth school in the Bay of Plenty, and it is even this number is not adequate to the requirements of the district; ;and that application will, therefore, be made for more. The Governor, in his reply to an address presented to him during his recent visit to Taupo, counselled the Natives to. ask the Government to establish schools wherever required, in order that they might be placed upon a level wit hEuropeans as regards educational facilities; and it would appear that his Excellency's advice is not to be lost sight of in Maoridom.—Death has lately removed one of the Bay of Plenty chiefs, whose name was Martin, and who is spoken of as an estimable man in all the relations of life. Both Natives and

Earopeans highly esteemed him, and such was the confidence placed in him that his advice was greatly sought and invariably taken in the district in which he resided His funeral was the largest that took place in the district, for many years past. The Annual Race Meeting is fixed to be held as follows : Ist day, Boxing-day ; 2nd day, Ist January. 1875 ; 3rd day, 2nd January. On the first day the Auckland Cup Handicap, of 200 stw, with a sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, will be run ; distance, two miles.

Some time ago a person named W. F. Crowe lost a sum of money amounting to about £SO. The loss was duly advertised, and a reward offered to the finder, but without success. A twenty-pound note, part of the missing money was presented at one of the banks for change ; it was stopped, the numbers of the missing notes being known. This incident subsequently led to the apprehension of a woman named Campbell, and two young men, her sons, who are supposed to be implicated in the concealment of the money. After the arrest Detective Jeffrey searched [the premises of the accused, and found other parts of the missing money. Upwards of £4O have thus been recovered. The persons are in custody. At the request of Mr Von der Heyde, we, N. Z. Herald, have much pleasure in giving publicity to the following letter, supplied to us by that gentleman, containing the opinion of the Attorney-General as to his qualification for election to a scat in the House of Representatives:—ln order to remove all doubts as to my being now qualified to hold a seat in the House of Representatives, I consulted Mr T. B. Gillies, whose opinion was clear as to my qualification. To still further satisfy myself, Mr Gillies, at my desire, submitted the case to the AttorneyGeneral, and the following telegrams have passed : "Auckland, Sept. sth, 1874. To the At-torney-General, Wellington. Von der Heyde, being at the time an alien, was duly placed on the electoral roll for House of Representatives. His name has since remained, and is now, upon roll. Recently he has been naturalised. Your opinion requested, whether the fact of his having been an alien at time of enrolment as an elector disqualifies him from now enjoying all rights and privileges of an elector duly qualified and enrolled. " (Signed) THOMAS B. Gillies " " Wellington, sth September, 1874. To T. B. Gillies, Esq, Barrister, Auckland. I think that he being registered would be entitled to vote. The roll is deemed conclusive as to the right to vote. I think that he would be deemed to be duly registered, though, if the objection had been made, he might have been struck off by the revising officer I there fore think that, as he is not now disqualified and is entitled to vote, he is in all respects a qualified candidate. "(Signed) James Prendergast." From the foregoing it will be seen that there is not the slightest foundation for the report so unwarrantably raised against me.—G. Von der Heyde.

The question of a water supply, says the Herald, is assuming form and shape. At a meeting of the City Council yesterday, when in committee, it was decided that the sum of £IOO,OOO be raised upon debentures bearing 6 per cent interest. The repayment is proposed to extend over a period of fifty years, the first instalment not to fall due until the expiration of twenty years, the second in thirty, the third in forty, and the final instalment in fifty years. WELLINGTON. We (Tost) understand that some of our boating men are already beginning to think of making arrangements for holding the Interprovincial Regatta here this summer. Last year it was held in Canterbury, and if there is to be one at all this year it will have to be held here. The result of the City Council elections has been the return of Mr George for Te Aro ward, Mr Mills for the Lambton ward, and Mr Barnett for the Thorndon ward. The Post states that Mr Vogel is not likely to reach England before February. WESTLAND. Owing to recent discoveries in the Lyell Creek Company's claim shares have risen from £6O to .£2OO. We learn (says the West Coast Times) from a statement made by Mr Tabart that the completion of the Kanieri Lake Waterrace, as far as the Hau Hau, will not be delayed beyond the beginning of the year. Mr Tabart, who is chairman of the board of directors, stated positively that contracts for the remainder of the race would be signed this week, and it was not probable that any hitch would occur to prevent the whole of the main race being completed at the time mentioned. Although the race has up to the present time passed through country more or less auriferious, the best country in that respect is considered to be in the ground a :1 jacent to the new contracts. From Scrib blings' creek to the Hau Hau, the land is all highly auriferous, and though mnch of it has been partially worked, yet with a good water supply, hydraulic and ground sluicing can be advantageously carried on. We hear that it is intended to form a company to work the old leads in the Big Paddock. The same thing was mooted some years ago, but was not carried out owing to the difficnlty which then existed of obtaining an adequate water supply. In addition to the ground in the " Paddocks," there exists a good deal of sluicing ground about the old Gaspipe and Shallow Rush Leads, that, no doubt, will command the attention of the miner, and which, we understand, could be worked to advantage under the system of special or extended claims. The extensive leading terrace at the Kanieri, will no doubt also attract attention, as soon as labor on the various public worksis no longer required, and we believe that the company, ere many months are over, will be induced to construct a branch race to command this, and other likely looking terraces in the same locality. At the Supreme Court yesterday, says the West Coast Times of the Bth, Alice Kirkham, found guilty of larceny from a dwelling, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labor. Annie Haines, found guilty of stealing from the person, was sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labor. The Grand Jury found true bills against Leonard and Kersting for larceny from a dwelling, and their trial will commence this morning. True bills were also found against Patrick and John Warren, charged with cattle stealing at the Ahaura, but not against James Fitz Gerald, who was mixed up with the same charge, and he was subsequently discharged from custody. The ! Grand Jury having finished all the business i brought before them, his Honor, after thank-

ing them for their services, discharged them from further attendance. There will be no presentment to the Judge on his present visit. OTA GO. By a private telegiv.m from Naseby, we, Daily Times, learn thai Captain Baldwin's station house at Patearoa, Upper Taieri, has been burned clown. Most of the furniture, we understand, was saved. This is the second time within a few years that Captain Baldwin has been burnt out, as it is not very long since his residence at the North Kast. Valley, and a good dual of his personal effects, were destroyed by fire. The station house at Patearoa was insured. The new Union Bank, in Princes street, has been opened for business, so far as the banking hall is concerned. The entablature and cornice are now, says the Guardian, being erected over the columns. These, together with the pediment, will be com pleted in about a week or ten days from the present time. The building has a very elegant appearance, and is a handsome addition to the buildings in this part of the town.