NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1588, 22 March 1879, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[PER PRESS AGENCY.] Wellington, March 21.

All the members of the Ministry with one exception will be in Wellington to receive the new Governor. The Premier will be unavoidably absent, owing to the necessity of his being present at the Te Kopua meeting It is expected that Mr Sheehan will be just able to get back here in time from Parihaka.

Timaru, March 21. The members of the Timaru Artillery have subscribed about J 220 towards a fund in aid of the family of the late Sergeant-Major Kerr. The Temuka Volunteers also gave a handsome donation.

Forty members o f the 1 imaru Artillery and thirty of the Temuka Rifles take part in the Easter demonstration at invercargill.

[Press Special Wire.] Auckland March 21. A telegram to-day from Waikato states that the Te Kopua meeting will be held at the end of the week. The lowest tender for the reclamation contract on the Thames-Waikato railway was The contract for the inland section was signed to day. Nelson Ireland, charged with attempted rape on his own daughter, was acquitted, the evidence being insufficient. After his dismissal, Ireland immediately went home and committed a serious assault on his wife, who had laid the information against him. He was arrested by the police. ' At the inquest on the body of Sergeant-Major 'Eraser, who committed suicide at Te Awamutu, Jni daughter, aged thirteen, deposed that her father had a revolver under his bed, and threatened her mother with it. She left the house about ten o'clock. He took the revolver in his hand and she asked him for it, but he prese-ted it at her and she ran to the door. He then placed the revolver to his breast and fired. He h»d been drinking, but was not intoxicated then. He had been bad all day, and drank five shillingsworth of brandy. He sent for more but could not get it. He had taken that quantity daily since February last. Constable Gillies deposed that deceased was a hard steady drinker, but he only aaw him once drunk, six months ago. The elder daughter said her father was not in his right mind. He was in debt and sorely pressed, and she thought his pecuniary difficulties preyed upon his mind. A verdict that ' Deceased killed himself in a fit of temporary insanity, brought on by continued and excessive drinking," was returned.

Wellington, March 21. Mr Geo. Leslie Lee has been appointed Judge of the Assessment Court, under the Bating Act, 187b', for the following districts :—Borough of Lyttelton, Courtenay Eoad District, Lake Coleridge, Malvern, Malvern East, Malvern South, Port Victoria, Eakaia, Eakaia North,

J Ellesmere, Upper Waimakariri, South Waimakariri Conservators District. Mr Alex. 1 e Urand Campbell has bnen appointed for the South Rakaia Road District, Mount Hutt, aud borough of Ashburton. Mr Caleb Whitefoord has been appointed for the borough of Rangiora. Mr Werry is gazetted Under-Secretary of tee Railway Department. Mr H. S. H. Lyall is gazetted accountant and chief clerk in the Insurance department. The return of Mr David Goldie for Auckland City West is gazetted. _ A motion will shortly be tabled in the Municipal Council to increase the mayor's salary from 4?00 to ,£3OO. A reply has been sent by the City Council to the hon. Mr. Waterhouse, stating that no more works would be commenced until the Council reduced the overdraft within the legal limits. The Council agreed to pay the owners of the Island Bay estate JJ2500 for the privilege of running sewers in connection with the drainage scheme through that property. Eliza Hodges, who sustained injuries through falling over a Corporation cutting, has given notice of bringing an action for damages. A commission dfi h'tnatic(> (ftquirendo, thefirst ever held in New Zealand is, it is said, to be held at Lower Hutt on Thursday next to inquire into the state of mind of one Charles England. The two naval brigades, Pioneer and Seamen's, recently enrolled, have arranged to amalgate and form one brigade about two hundred strong, and a deputation, representing the combined force, will wait upon the Government on Monday next. The Administrator of the Government has appointed the undermentioned gentlemen Justices of the Peace for the colony:—Messrs L. J. Bagnall (Turua), John Barlow (Clinton), j L. W. Bush (Naseby), R. Westell Capst'ick ; (Tokomairiro), H. Conned (Oa'inar'u), R. Dargaville (Dargaviile), Pa* Dlgnan (Cromwell), H. Feldwjek (Invel-cargill), R. C. Fergus. son (Tapanntt, F. J. William Gascoigne (Tarawera), W. Goldie (Port Chalmers), J. Byrt Jordan (Warkworth), F. de c. Malet (Christchurch), L. E. Nathan (Christchurch). H. Palmer (Warkworth), W. H. Phillips (Upper Motueka), G. p. Purton (St. Bathans), T. Quale (Blueskin), W. Reid (Port Chalmers), Rabt. Scobie (Clinton), C. Todd <Waireka), W. H. Wallis (Raglan). A curious incident occurred to-night. The corporation having lowered Willis street several feet, the ownbr of one of the properties commenced lowering his house to the new level. Some supports giving way, the house suddenly slipped forward about three feet, and bo much sideways as to displace the next building considerably. All the windows went with a crash, and the dojrs became fast, while the side of the first house burst open, and looked a regular wreck. Both houses are b,idly damaged. Blbnhkim, Mar h 21.

The directors of the D'Urville Copper Co» held a meeting to-day, and gave instructions for five tons of ore from the 110 ft. level to be sent as soon a 3 possible to Wellington, the r e to be smelted in presence and under the superintendence of several practical gentlemen. Dunedin, March 21. A meeting of the Otago committee of tbe Sydney Exhibition was held to-day. Mr Geo. Grant was appointed clerk to the committee. Several sub committees were appointed, and it was resolved that Professors Ulrich and Hutton be asked to give their co-operation. Two hundred and fifteen souls, equal to 185 statute adults, have been nominated at the Dunedin office for passages to the colony during the last month.

Mr Macandrew left for Wellington today. Two declarations of insolvency have been filed in Dunedin during the past week. The annual meeting of the Acclimatisation Bociety was held to-day. The report showed that the finances of the society were in a satisfactory condition.