NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1590, 25 March 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PEB PBES3 AGENCY.] Auckland, March 25. A Libel Case. Mrs Major Croker has instructed Mr Eochfort, solicitor, to enter an action of libel against the “Herald” for .£SOOO damages. 'Jhe “ Herald” bus retained Messrs Whitaker and Hesketli to defend the esse. The Ed ; cation Question. Pressure is being brought upon Mr McMinn, member for Waipa, to induce him to explain his vote on Mr Curtis’s Bill. The Bay of Islands Roll. The Bay of Islands electoral roll inquiry is proceeding. Both sides are hunting up evidence. Witnesses have already sworn that their names were placed on the roll without their knowledge. The Native Meeting at Te Kopua’i he Native meeting at Te Kopua wall probably be delayed another formight, awaiting the arrival of the Ngatiraukawa contribution of food. TeNgakail is engaged threshing wheat and grain, which will be conveyed from M aimgataritira to Te Kopua. A large number of Natives have already arrived, and contingents from all parts of the country are putting in an appearance daily. The chiefs in Auckland are awaiting Sir G. Grey’s arrival, and are becoming impatient. Auckland, March 25. Bnttona, an Italian, and a woman named Ellis wore arrested charged wiih robbery on a large scale. Alfred Searlc, assistant Government Engineer at Kawakawa, was drowned while bathing. Ihe tender of J. J. O’Brien is accepted for the contract of the Thames-Waikato Bail way. Blenheim, March 25. An unoccupied house at Shakespeare B*y, the property of Messrs Syms and Conolly, was burnt down last night. It is insured in the Standard for .£2OO, A bush fire has been burning in the neighbourhood for some days. Wellington, March 25. Large Land Purchase. The Government have concluded the purchase of one million acres of land from the Natives in Manawatu, along the proposed line of the Wel-lington-Foxton railway. Wellington, March 25. The German residents of the City celebrated Inst niglt by a ball tbe anniversary of Emperor William’s birthday. The Commission on Higher Education will got > Nelson by the first steamer. The barque Albert arrived from New York after a passage of 1137 days. Fine weather all (ho way. Ballinger, the winner of the champion belt, is to be entertained at dinner. New Plymouth, March 24. The Native Question. The surveyors have been driven off the Wairuea Plains to-day by a Maori named To Mawa, who some time ago committed an outrage at Opiui’iki, biting off' the finger of Mrs Bart et\ landlady of the > nanaki Hotel. The instrumen s and camp fittings belonging to Sheet’s party have been brought by Maoris in drays neto43 tin Waingongoro river, and the drays have returned to bring all ’he othei’ survey parties off the plums. Information < f this proceeding was r ceived here officially this morning. Te Whiti is thought to bn unconnected with it. Ms j >r Brown is expected at Hawera to-morrow, and will, it is hoped, bo ab.e to put mat ers right. [from our own correspondent.] Oamaru, March 25. Nearly five hundred pounds have been collected here for tbe Kaitangata Pelicf Fund. Dunedin, March 25. A boy named Paisley killed himself at the Valley yesterday while out rabbit shooting.