NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1601, 7 April 1879, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[from our own correspondent.! Timaru, April G. r John McGill, of Cbristchurch, contractor, was committed for trial yesterday for mmag value*

less cheques on the New Zealand Bank, Olniat church.

Winter has set set in exceptionally early, and already the mountains are Covered wilh tmow. Last week a succession of heavy galea of short duration was experienced. Dunedin, April 5. The papers call attention to the fact that the capt. in of the whaler Splendid reports on November 2nd that one of the seamen named Chas. Henry fell from the topsail yard, striking the bulwarks in his fall, thence he rebounded and struck the deck. Captain Soule at once removed the poor fellow to his cabin, and after careful examination found no bones broken, although the man was very scvorely bruised, and prevented from doing duty for fully six weeks. The "Star" asks what Air. Watt has to say thereto in view of his decision in the Easterhiil case. [Press Special Wire.] Auckland, April 5. The Opera Company is considered a complete failure. All the papers notice it unfavorably. The directors of the South British Insurance Company decided to pay a dividend of 15 per cent. The Board of Education has decided to grant Mibsidies to some out district school committees to enable them to ferry school children over rivers to attend schools. Goodfellow, an Australian pedestrian, proposes to give half the proceeds of the coming sports in aid of charities. One race will be man against horse. This afternoon the cutter South Carolina ran into the schooner Columbia. The topma tof the former was carried away, and other injuries sustained. The damage is not serious. Wellington, April 5.

Letters by last mail, it is said, convey instructions to the managers of colon al branch banks, whose heid quarters are in London, that colonial securities are now considerei much sounder than some few months ago, so the London directors consider they have been too hasty in so suddenly withdrawing accommodation, and putting too much pressure on. An elderly man, named Geo. Moulds, whilst walking along the wharf to day, was struck on the leg by a plank which the wind blew off the top of a pile of boards. Ihe result was a fracture of the leg. It is reported that a Wellington storekeeper, a comparatively new arrival, has entered an action against one of the Australian banks carrying on business in Wellington for £ 10,000 for dishonoring certain letters of credit. The result of the inquiry into the case of Chas. England, a settler in tho Upper Hutt, is that he has been insane for eighteen months. It is said that steps will ba t.iken to set aside a wid he made a shoH time ago, settling all his property on one of his sons. The Rev. J. Chalmers, of New Guinea, will to-morrow night give an account of his mission work there.

The Governors of Wellington appointed the following masters :Mr Francis, of Geelong College, second master ; Mr J. Gammell, mathematical master ; Mr Merlet, teacher of modern languages. The Governor, with Lady Robinson, Miss Robinson, and suite, Colonel Whitmore, and a party of friends, made a trip by rail to-day to Featherston and back. The p irty travelled by a special by a special train of two carriage . Among the settlers brought from Jackson's Bay were a number of Italians and other foreigners, who are now at the Immigration Barracks badly off for want of clothes. Contributions of cast-oii clothing are solicited for them.

The Hinemoa left this evening for Opunake with a detachment of Armed Constabulary. After landing the men, she will return direct to Wellington. Several deaths are reported in which sickness was communicated through kissing the lips of those who died from fever and diphtheria. Dunedin, April 6.

The monthly meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Otago Educational Institute was held at the Normal school. A special committee reported in favor of the payment of teachers according to average attendance of scholars, and suggested that clause 3 of the Regulations in Council be amended by striking out ' one-half "' and substituting " three quarters." Mr Malcolm of Tokomairiro read a paper on "Latin Literature of the Augustine Era," and urged that classics should be taught in all public schools.

At the City Police Court, yesterday, William Birtles, charged with arson, was committed lor trial. B_il was allowed, prisoner in his own recognisance of £IOO, and two suretiesjof .£SO each.

The Zealandia exhibition, comprising two panoramas and two dioramas, was presented for the first time at the Prince-s Theatre on Saturday evening. The scenery is artistically painted on a 2000 ft. canvas, by J. S. Willis. _ Thirty amateur vocalists assisted on the occasion, and Willis received several calls from a crowded audience.

The cup match between eleven Dunedin C.C. and Albion fifteen was continued on Saturday, notwithstanding the inclement weather. The second innings of the Dunedin Club closed for 137, thus leaving the Albions 141 to get to win.

The annual meeting of tho Otago Benevolent Institution will be held to-morrow. The total amount expended for outdoor relief during the past year was £230 113s 7d. The total number relieved was 1436, comprising 202 men 358 women, and 976 children. The expenditure for outdoor relief was £lO5 lis lOd less than last year. Through the carnival and (Government subsidy £3448 was placed at the disposal of the committee during the past year. The Legislature appropriated £7575 to be invested for the bene fit of the institution. The latter sum was deri ed from a portion of the accumulated profits on deposits in the savings bank. Invebgakgill, April 6.

A destructive fire occurred this morning in Yarra street. An eight-roomed dwellinc-house, occupied and belonging to Mr Coiin McKinnon, suddenly burst into flames, and as a high wind was blowing, the house was totally con umed in wenty minutes. Nothing was saved There was an insurance of «£:JBS in the Norwich Union, and, it is said, .£l5O in another office. News reached town last night that the coach running between here and Riverton had stuck in the Wararuakua river. The passengers succeeded in alighting ;:11 safe, but two out of the five horses were drowned. At an inquest at Woodlands yesterday a verdict of incendiarism was returned against Patrick McMenamiu. The jury added a rider censuring insurance companies for insuring properties above their value