NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1577, 10 March 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[per press agency.] Wanganui", March 8. A man named David Pursell was drowned up the river near Upokonga yesterday. He was engaged on the little steamer Waitara. Through inattention at the ferry when the steamer was approaching, the wire struck the funnel, which topped over and knocked Pursell into the river, Search was made for the body, but without success. Wellington, March 8. Five hundred and eighty-seven souls arrived in Wellington during the year ending June 30th last year. The arrears due to the Government on account of assisted and nominated immigrants, consisting of bills and promissory notes, mount to .£47,908. Balclutha, March 8. At a meeting of the Kaitangata relief com. mittee, it was reported that .£l5O had been sub. scribed within the borough. It is expected that the whole sum from Balclutha will be about £2OO.

[Press Special Wire.] Grahamstown, March 9. The threatenings of Tukukino Tini, Paora Ha:itu, Paka, and other Natives of Komata, to interfere with the building of the ohinemuri bridge, and the construction of the PukePaeroa road, were carried into effect at Paeroa to-day. It seems the above-mentioned Natives, accompanied by twenty or thirty of their followers, some of them armed with meres and native spears, visited the site of the new bridge, and pulled up and destroyed the pegs and poles of the surveyor and bis assistants, and afterwards pulled up and burned the fascines on the Puke road. This action of Tukukino and his followers was at once communicated to the Chairman and members of the Thames County Council, who determined that instant action should be taken by law agaiust the delimiuents. It will be remembered that authority was given by the Minister of Public Works tc the County Council to t>ike such steps as the law allowed against the Natives found <?estroying or injuring the road works of the County. There is now a clear case, and the Count., Council intend teaching these Natives that they cannot break the law with impunity. It is intended to swear an information against the transgressors of the law in the usual manner. Wellington, March 8. The organisation of another Now Guinea expedition is still going on. Sixty five applications for passages were started to have been received, but it is not probable that more than forty or fifty will be taken. Sixty pounds is the amount of the passage money asked, if passengers wish to return at the end of twelve months, and an extra payment if they should return sooner. Each member is to provide his own outfit and arms. It is expected that the first cargo will be ready in about six months after arrival. Arranger ments are also being made for an expedition on a different basis, should the one now under way fall through. Dunedin, March 8. In the Police Court to-day, Drake and Collins, the well-known bookmakers, were proceeded against for holding a Consultation Sweep on the Dunedin Cup. Mr Dodson, of the Empire Hotel, the head-quarters of the sporting men in Dunedin, was also called upon to answer an information for having permitted Calcutta Sweeps to be drawn in his licensed house. The facts were admitted in each case, and the question was whether such sweeps are an infringe ment of the law. Ihe Bench reserved its decision. The captain of the Easter Hill will appear at Port Chalmers on Wednesday morning to answer an information for having neglected to attempt to save the lad who fell from the mast, and was drowned or killed on the voyage of that vessel to Port Chalmers.