NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1579, 12 March 1879, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[Press Special Wire.] Auckland, March 11. The Grammar School Governors have accepted a tender of £>sßoo for a new school building. The iron ship Margaret Galbraith, 841 tons, was safely docked, the sill showing fourteen feet of water at spring tides. Shaw Saville have given instructions that all their vessels requiring it are to go into dock. A number of young men are petitioning Sir Q. Grey to secure the establishment of night classes in connection with the Auckland Grammar school, in accordance with the trust deed Charles Meagre was cross cutting at Coromandel mill, when the log shunted and cut the top of his head off. Death was instantaneous. Thomas Condon, his mate, was seriously injured. At the district firing to-day, three cheers was given for the Colonial Carbine Champion, being a Thames man. Mr Sheehan telegraphed special thanks to Paul and the assembled Orakei chiefs. The rains having brought down logs, a number of vessels left for the mils to load timber for the South. The brigantine Island Lily, from Chatham Islands, brought up the divers from the Ocean Mail. They only got out half a bale but were prevented getting more by the beams in the way. The wool is as good as when the vessel sank. A law case is likely to arise out of the transaction owing to certain disputes. Referring to ihe League now being formed to restore the timber and breadstuff duties, the “ Star ” says “ America, Tasmania, and New South Wales are already pouring in timber by shiploads, and the great industry which has been Auckland’s mainstay must dwindle, leaving the colonists at the mercy of importers, victims of alternate bulling and bearing of the market with a foreign timber supply.” Four more hoys ran away from the training ship on Saturday, but were recaptured. The Board of E ducation have benefitted by the reduction of insurance. The tenders for insuring the whole of the schools in the Province (which are nearly all wooden buildings), ■were as follows:—New Zealand and South British (jointly), 6s per ,£100; North British and Norwich Union (jointly), town, 6s 4d ; country, 7s 6d; Manchester, 7s 3d ; Imperial, 10s. The total amount insured is between £>30,000 and £140,000. The Government consent to provide conveyance for cniefs to the meeting at Te Kopua. Sir George Grey’s telegram will be publicly read by Commissioner Kemp at a meeting of Natives in the runanga house to-morrow. Alexandra, March 11.

The Natives are now making great preparations for the approaching meeting. Ahipene Kaihau was here to-day, and takes up five tons of flour and a large quantity of sugar for bis share ; other Natives in proportion. It is quite possible that neither Sir George Grey nor Mr Sheehan will be invited to the meeting. Te Ngakau, who came here yesterday, and had an interview with Mr Grace, Native Agent, appears n-uch exasperated with the Government on account of the reports that have been published as to the large blocks of laud acquired by the present Government in the Upper Wanganui and Tanpo districts. The meeting will in all probability take place very shortly. The Kopua Natives are busy building bren.kwiiids for the expected visitors. It is reported that after this meeting another will take place for the Northern Natives, Tawhiao having special business with them. Patea, March 11. There was a good sale of Momahaki land today, prices ranging from £2 sss to JJB Ids. The average for the seven highest was over £7, and the total realised nearly 10,000. The survey of the Waimate Plains railway is abont to be commenced. Napier, March 11. At a meeting of the Harbor Board to-day it was resolved that the Board had no objection to the erection of the Port Ahuriri bridge, provided it is so constructed under the advice of Government engineers as not to interfere w.th the navigation of the harbor. The Board negatived a motion for sending for Mr McGregor to report on the Breakwater. The general entries for tho Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club meeting, on tho 20th and 2lst, close to-morrow (Wednesday) evening, at the Criterion Hotel. The Native tangi over the remains of Karaitiana is now going on at Pakowhai. A large assemblage of Natives is present from all parts of the district. The Working Men’s Dramatic Club gave a performance on Wednesday in aid of the Kaitangata relief fund. Wet/ltnoton, March 11. Sir Hercules Robinson will leave Sydney for Wellington on Wednesday, the 19th, and is expected here on the 26th. Preparations are being commenced to accord him a suitable reception. Sir George Grey and Colonel Whitmore left for the North in the Hinemoa at 5.30 p.m. Sir George Grey goes to Auckland, but Colonel Whitmore will only go as far as Napier. Wm. Ross, a fruiterer, was fined to-day by the Magistrate for exposing for sale damaged fruit. It was contended that such fruit was daily sold all over the colony. The Magistrate said the Public Health Act allowed a fine of ,£2O, but this being tho first offence, defendant was only fined 40s. George Adams and George Robinson have been arrested for burglary. They stole a quantity of drapery, Ac., from the shop of Mrs Steele. A quantity of other goods were found on the premises, worth altogether .£l5O, which had been plundered. The crew of tho Duke of Athol struck work to-day, alleging that the ship was short-handed, and refused to go to sea in her. Tho master banded in the articles, which showed that more persons were aboard that were provided for in the articles. The Magistrate explained that the word “seamen,” in the terms if the Act, ineluded all hands aboard, master and apprentices. Eibeton, March 11.

In the District Court to-day, a labouring man, in an action for .£lB9, road contract, was nonsuited, the evidence disclosing a partnership between himself and defendants, storekeepers and substantial men, and also showing that equity proceedings for partnership accounts should have been substituted. Judge Weston, with much earnestness, said it was a mo strous shame that in this colony, with all onr Comts, people should be unable to avenge their wrongs. The Supremo Court is beyond ordinary people. The procedure is slow and costly. The sittings are few on the West Coast, but twice a year, and ho could not understand why the District Judges should have unlimited powers when sitting under the Mines and Mining Companies and Bankruptcy Acts, and as criminal Judges having power to pass long sentences, but should have no jurisdiction in cases of partnership and other equity suits of greater or leas magnitude. The costs in the District Court were small, and here the sittings were monthly. Ho concluded

by saying that he turned plaintiff away to practically leave him without redress, and there were many similar cases. Dunedin, March 11.

At a meeting of the City Council to-day a proposal was submitted for the construction of a tramway from Dunedin to Roslyn, Mornington, and Kaikorai. The Senate of the University to-day appointed a committee to suggest alterations in the mode of drawing up the New Zealand University Calendar. It was also resolved that the Chancellor be authorised to give certificates to candidates who may succeed in passing the first or second section of the B.A. examination. It was announced that the result of the recent degrees and scholarship examinations would be made known to-morrow. The Hon. W. Fox, accompanied by Mr J. Hialop, paid a visit of inspection to the Industrial School to-day, andexpr saed himself highly pleased with the way in which that institution is conducted.

Mr Creagh, secretary to the rifle association, has received a letter from Lieut. Appleby of the Christchurch Engineers, stating that a two days’ meeting had been arranged for at Christchurch. On the first day there will be a match at 200, 500, and 600 yards, and another at 400, 500, and 600 yards. On the second day one at 200 and 300 yards, and the Into provincial match in the afternoon. The matches will bo open to Otago Volunteers other than those who have been at Nelson. '1 ho exact date for the meeting has not been arranged yet, hut it will be probably Tuesday and Wednesday next. In the Police Court to-day a young man named JohnMoon,a wharLc-irter,was committed for trial for criminally assaulting a little girl. At the inquest to-day on Thomas Barry, the jury returned a verdict that the de ea-ed killed himself by taking strychnine while in a state of temporary insanity. Large contributions cofatir ne to h 6 received in aid of the Kaitangata Belief Fund. Two small shops at Roslyn were burned to the ground this morning. One was occupied by John McLeod, a draper, and the other by Mr Horne, grocer. The origin of the fire Is notknown. The Union Office is interested 'o the extent of £>2oo, the South British £MOO, and the National <£3oo. Mooney and Quin’s private offices and Ferguson and Co.’s premises at Tapanui were totally destroyed by fire this morning. It is supposed to be the work of an incendiary. The property is partially insured. The weather was calm and the townspeople worked well, or the greater part of the township would have been destroyed. The insur nccs are—Ferguson and Go., £>2400 on stock and £2600 on buildings, apportioned as follows: National JLOOO, Victoria £>soo, Union |£>so, Standard <£soo; Mooney and Qnin £>so in the Union, and £>9o in the Victoria : their loss is considerable Ferguson and Co. estimate their loss at £>WOO above the amount covered by the insurance. The City Council intend asking the Government to erect a suitable residence for the Governor in Dunedin, to he available on the occasion of vice-regal visits. A number of Dunedin clergymen have intimated that in future they will not attend funerals on Sundays, unless for sanitary reasons.