NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1619, 29 April 1879, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[PRESS. AGENCY.] _ . Wellington, April 28

The City of Sydney, with tho London mails of 27th March, left San Francisco on / pril 11th, contract date. The Australia, with the March colonial mails, arrived nt San Francisco on April 23rd, one day in advance of contract date;

The following tender,s were received at the Public Works Ofll e, Wellington, for tho lnvertiel contract of the Clutha ami Gatlin’s River Railway. Accepted, George Mackie, Dunedin, £5388. Declined, G. Bain, Balclutha, £58.8 ; W. M. Morton, £GII2 ; J. Muir and Co., Kaitnngata, £95C3. It is understood that important changes will, in all probability, be proposed in the Bankruptcy Law next session, especially in regard to certificated accountants in bankruptcy, as an effort will bo made to do away with them altogether. The Government have decided to proceed immediately with tho reclamation of an additional ten acres for the purposes of sites for engine-sheds, receiving- sheds, &c., in connection with the railway, Tho butchers of the city have given up the practice of sending round carts with meat for sale, finding it did not pay. They now only send out carts one day to collect orders for tho next. [PROM OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Timaru, a pril ”28. A numerous and influential committee has been appointed to arrange for the Governor’s reception. The ball in honor is to be a grand affair, [Press Special Wire.] Auckland, April 28. Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan visited the waterworks to-day, and expressed pleasure with tho pumping machinery and general arrangements.

New Plymouth, April 28. A passenger by the s.s. Wellington for Auckland, who bad been on shore daring the stay of vessel at this port, while returning in the cargo boat, jumped overboard in a fit, but was saved. Napiee, April 28 It I as been decided to hold an inquest on the body of the wife of Roderick Hugh McLennan, who was recently captured on the Patangata ranges by the police. Mrs McLennan died at the Masonic Hotel some weeks ago under suspicious circumstancfs. The police sulho ities called for an enquiry, an a wan aof for ti.e exhumation of the body has Ikou i« ued by the coroner. The inquest will commence on Wednesday next, but wi 1 only bo a preliminary enquiry for the purpose of identifying the body prior to sending th ? stomach to the bovernment analyst at Wellington, after which the inquest will be resumed.

Wanganui, April 28. At the Supreme Court to-day true bills were returned against Alfred Luxford for horse stealing, John Ryan for burglariously entering and stealing, John Donaghay for stealing from the person, G. B. Worgan for felony, Wilson for misdemeanor, and Melchet for assault. Ryan was found “ Not Guilty” and Ponaghay “ Guilty.” The latter will be sentenced tomorrow.

Wellington, April 28. To-day’s “Post” says—“ There are some great public questions on which it is the duty of patriotic politicians to sink minor differences and unite for the general good. Such was the late European difficulty. Such are now the Affghan and Zulu wars. Such is the present Maori complication, and such is the proposal which has been made simultaneously in all parts of this colony that tho present cheapness of money in the Home market should be taken advantage of to float a new colonial loan.” The “Now Zealander” says:—“The land revenue must fall woefully short by 30th Juno next. At utmost .£900,000 will be realised out of i 11,200,000 estimated for. One circumstance causes the deficiency, the necessity which has arisen for withdrawing temporarily from sale the Waimate plains, from which .£400,000 was expected. The returns of the first six months of the land tax cannot be realised till next financial year, owing to the unavoidable delay in obtaining the valuation,” The following is the statement of Geo. Thomas’assets : —Liabilities, .£13,940. Assets —Book de! ts (rood), .£3431; do. (doubtful), .£725 ; stock, .£2276; shares, .£300; b 11s for collection, £1500; total, £8232, Deficiently, £5708. The deficiency is made npas follows : Bad debts, £5000; loss on vessels, £2500. There is no truth in the statement tb.it 'J h nnas’ failure is due in any way to undue pres uro ou the part of the Banks. The Wellington Patent Slip Company declared a dividend of 5 per cent. The first pile of ihe Railway Wharf was driven to-day. Dunedin, April 28. There are at present thirteen candidates for tho Otago University matriculation examination, which commences on Thursday. There are also i hr .e candidates for the preliminary examination in me iicine. The proposed banquet to his Excellency the Governor has been postponed sine die, on account of his suffering from an attack of asthma. Ho to-day visited our chief public institutions, and will to-night be present at the theatre.

Invercargill, April 28, _ At a meeting of the Town Council this evening, a letter was read from the Colonial Secretary’s department, stating that the position taken up by the Council regarding the appointment of trustees for toe municipal sinking fund was untenable, and that the Government had not made the appointment without full consideration.

The huez mail arrived this morning, and was despatched to Dunedin and Christchurch by express train.