NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1586, 20 March 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[per press agency.] Auckland, March 20. The Premier’s Movements. The Hinemoa is still at Kawau. Sir George Grey will probably not come to Auckland until it is time to proceed to the Waikato, probably some time next week. Coastal Defences. No earthworks are yet erected to receive the big guns arrived per Alastor. They will probably be stored, Auckland, March 20. A walking match of .£6O a side has been arranged between John O’Connor (champion of South Island), and J. Hendry (champion of Auckland), to take place at Ellerslie on April 12th.

Captain Robertson, of the ship Loch Fleet, met with a severe accident to his shoulder by a fall from his horse.

Entries for the Autumn Handicap and Steeplechase close on Friday. The Native lands Court. Gisborne, March 20.

An important case in the Native Lands Court is now being beard by Judge Symons, at Tologa Bay. The principal business is the passing of certain blocks of land of a total area of seventy thousand acres, which are under negotiation by the Government. Mr. R. J. Gill, under-secre-tary of the Land Purchase Department, is at present endeavoring to conduct the transactions formerly entered into by Mr G. A. Wilson. The Court and the Native claimants are at issue, as a difficulty has arisen through the latter including minors as owners in certain blocks gazetted under negotiation by the Government. The Court refused to admit minora whose parents were living. In consequence of such division the chief Wi Pere informed the Court that all blocks would have to be withdrawn from hearing, had he not pledged himself to the Government to try to get them passed. The Court temporarily adjourned until the difficulties with the Natives were adjusted. A large number of cases were adjourned sine die, Mastkkton, March 28.

In the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day, Mr Warded intimated that, the practise of the bur of making addresses as to the facts of cases should be discontinued, in accordance with the practise obtaining in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington Courts. The bar opposed the innovation. The question is held over. Opunaki, March 20. The “Expected” Arrives. Mr Sheehan left at nine this morning to see Te Whiti and other chiefs at Parihaka. Tk Awamdtu, March 20. William Fraser, a Sergeant-Mayor in the Armed Constabulary, an old Balaklava veteran, and one of the finest cavalry drills in the colonies, shot himself through the heart last night whlo under the influence of drink. Be leaves a wife and family. An inquest will be held to-day. Wellington, March 19. _ The disputes re the administration of the will of the late W. B. Rhodes are to be brought before the Court of Appeal for its opinion. A couple of accidents occurred yesterday at the Featherston and Summit stations through the fouling of the points. In each case the engine was thrown off the line, and the cowcatchers broken and other slight damage done.

The Athenaeum committee determined to give an entertainment in aid of the Kaitangata sufferers.

Many cases of typhoid fever are reported here lately, and several terminated fatally. Complaints come from Wairarapa of the tightness of money, and the difficulty of obtaining accommadation.

[from our own correspondent.l Grauamstown, March 20. Firs at Grahamstown.

A fire broke out shortly before nine o’clock this morning in the heart of the town of Grahamstown. Smoko was observed issuing from the roof of Driller's Commercial Hotel, Brown street, ns tho inmates were at breakfast An alarm was immediately given. Tho bedrooms wore in a blaze, but tho brigades soon got to work, and with a very good supply of water

from the county main through a Oin pipe an effect was speedily produced, which allayed the fears of the neighbours, although the buildings are all of wood and very dose together, and although it was at first feared that the whole street would go. The brigades deserve great praise for confining the fire to the premises. The outer wall wore left standing, but were, however, afterwards pulled down for the safety of pedestrians. The lower storey was not thoroughly destroyed. There was an insurance of <£6io on the building in the Imperial office. All the furniture, billiard table, &.C., was insured, and .£SOO of insurance covers a mortgage held by Messrs Brown and Campbell, of Auckland.

Duneuin, Mar -h 20,

A strang? affair happened on Tuesday night near Oamaru. A person of the name of McAllister, when partly under the influence of drink, had a dispute with his wife, and attempted to burn down the house, which belongs to her. He has been remanded for a week, and bail refused.