NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1536, 20 January 1879, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[PEII PRESS AGENCY.J Auckland, January 18. Mr Sheehan goes to Mougonui to-day by the steamer Btclla, and is expected to be absent several days. Wellington, January 18. The Public Weeks Department experience groat difficulty in obtaining the necessary sleepers for railway works in hand. It is feared that owing to the difficulty the Government will be obliged to send large orders out of the colony. Offers for supplying a million sleepers from Tasmania have boon received, and, as a temporary measure to prevent the absolute stoppage of one or two works approaching completion, fifty thousand have, meanwhile, been ordered from Tasmania. A presentation, on behalf of the police force, was made to-day to Mrs Atchoson, by the oldest member of the police force. The present consisted of a handsome casket, with a hundred sovereigns enclosed. [Special Wire.] Auckland, January 18. The Wesleyan Conference continued its sittings to-day. The following were present— The Revs. W. Morley (president), J. Crump, Buddie, Warren, Wallis, Kirk, Reid, Bavin, Isitt, McNicol, Lee, Richardson, Brown, Bull, Gittos, tochnackeuberg, Law, Worker, H. H. Lawry, and Whewell, together with the College students. The stationing committee brought forward their first draft of stations, which was as follows ; —Auckland College, Rev. T. Buddie; Auckland circuit, Rev Morley and G. Bond ; Thames, Rev. W. J. Watkins; Hokianga, Rev. Mr Hammond; Pnkekohe, Rev. Joseph Buttle; Waikato, Rev. Mr Thomas ; Manukan, Rev. J. Law; 'Jaranaki, Rev. McNicol; Wanganui, Rev. Mr l.ee ; Rangitikei, Rev. H. Lawry; Wellington, Revs. Kirk and Williams ; Napier, Rev. W. Oliver; Nelson, Rev. Bavin and Rouse; Hokitika, Rev. J. Smith ; Christchurch, Revs. Reid and Baumher; ht. Albans, Rev. Mr Uichardson; Colombo road, Rev. Mr Smalley ; Rangiora, Revs. Connell and Ellis; Kaiapoi, Rev Mr Armitage; Dunedin, Rev. J. Crump ; Momington, Rev. J. J. Lewis; Invercargill, Rqv. R. S. Dunn.

Referring to the telegram from London that the German man-of-war was directed to exact satisfaction from Samoa, the “ Star” to-night says The Taimiia and Faigula in August last refused to fulfil, or to state a time when they would fulfil, article 4 of an agreement, or rather a’diatinct promise, made on the 3rd of July, 1877, guaranteeing perfect equality of rights to the Imperial German Government. The German ship of war Ariadne left porton the 15th August, proceeding to Saluafata for the purpose of attaching that harbor and vicinity as security for the faithful fulfilment of the said obligation by the Taimua and Faigula, or until further orders were received from the German Government. The Ariadne left Apia on the 15th, and on the following morning proclaimed the attachment of Saluafata for the above-named reasons. She proceeded to Calealiti, and on the morning of the 17th that harbor was attached in the same manner as Saluafata. January 19. A party of four men who have been prospecting the island ofWaiheke for several months yesterday brought to Auckland a quantity of specimens containing very heavy metal, supposed to be platinum. They also report that fine gold specimens are said to have been found near the manganese mineAt a gathering of Wesleyan Sunday schools to-day the Theatre Royal was crammed. There were supposed to be 2000 present. Addresses wore delivered by various members of the Conference now in Auckland, A man named Pat. Murphy was arrested today on warrant, charged with stealing articles of the value of JS2B from a dwelling house in Hobson street.

A swindle of a somewhat unusual nature has just been brought to light, and the matter is now in the hands of the police. A man named Parker, formerly in business as a tailor, for some time past has been in the habit of going round the city getting coats for the purpose of cleaning them. In all cases he told a pitiable tale, representing himself to be starving and unable to get work, although he was an excellent cleaner, dyer, and preaser of clothes. Ho so far prevailed upon many of the leading merchants and tradesmen that they consented to give him caats to clean. No sooner, however, had ho got them into his possession that he sold them at an old clothes shop and expended the money in drink. On Saturday one of the customers of the coat cleaner and dyer observed his swallow tail exposed for sale. Napier, January 18.

A messenger just arrived from Longlands brought intelligence of the sudden death of Mr James Watt, late of Watt Bros., Napier, and well-known in spirting circles throughout New Zealand. He appeared quite well when in town yesterday

Wanganui, January 18

At tho Police Court this morning before a full Bench, Sergeant Donnelly and Constable Buchanan were charged by Sub-inspector Goodall with having used insulting language and behaviour towards each other in a public place, calculated to provoke abroach of the peace. The charge against Buchanan was' dismissed, that against Donnelly was sustained, tho Bench imposing the mitigated penalty of forty shillings and costs on the ground that the latter defendant was at the time laboring under a strong feeling of provocation which, however, the Bench did consider justified. Wellington, January 18. A footrace took place to-day between Delaney and Webber, for ,£2O ; distance, 100, 150, and 200 yards. Webber won tho first event by about half a yard. He also [.won the second event by about two yards. The Primitive Methodist (conference continued its sitting yesterday and to-day. Eeports were presented from the various churches in the colony of a satisfactory character. A resolution was passed advocating the formation of an Australian conference. The Eevs. Clover and Guy were ordained. Dunedin, January 19.

A store and dwelling belonging to Peter Rutherford, of Caversham, was destroyed by fii'e last night, through the upsetting of a kerosene can. The New Zealand Insurance office is interested to tho extent of .£2OOO, and the South British .£2OO.

Messrs R. Oliver, M.H.E., and W, H. Ecyuolds, have been appointed Governors of the PI gh School. _ A new club is to he established in Dunedin. The preurscs elected by the promoters are those of the Occidental Hotel, High street. James Owen, tho cook of the steamer Antrim, Queenstown, took strychnine this morning. He is a single man, and his act is attributed to jealousy. Medic il assistance was obtained, and he may recover. Invercargill, January 19. The men at Nugget and Cornish’s reef at tho Upper Shotovcr have struck work. They had been promised £4 per week, £1 in cash and the remainder out of the gold. As the tunnel hgs now been pierced for nearly 4QO sect, and no gold found, they refuse to work any longer. A meeting of shareholders is tc.be held at Dunedin on the 24th instant to decide tho question. Business at Arrowtowu land Queenstown is now beginning to recover, and the effects of the late hood are passing away. The body of a, man named John Morrison was found in the Otamite, near Want wood, (>n Friday. He had been drinking, and wh/cu last seen alive appeared to be suffering fr^ m delirium tremens.