NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1633, 15 May 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBE PBBSB AGENCY.] WELLINGTON, May 15. There is not the slightest truth in the report which has obtained currency that Mr Mansford, R.M., of Wellington, will change places with Mr Bathgate. Sergeant Fair, editor of the "Police Gazette," has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant-Major. The present occupants of Government House have been elected hon. members of the club. The Wellington Water Supply. The results of a further analysis of the Wellington drinking water, made by Dr. Hector, shows that while the water is simply muddy after wet weather, after dry weather it is discolored by the influence of organic matter, chiefly infusoria,, but which he says will do no harm unless allowed to accumulate and petrify in the filter, and injuriously affect the water subsequently passing through it. According to an elaborate return extending over a period of nine years, the water supplied to the city has rapidly deteriorated from its natural purity to be very impure. All danger will, Dr. Hector remarks, soon be at an end, but at the first abundant rainfall the water should be run off at both dams to get rid of the swarm of infusiroal life. All cattle should be excluded from the drainage area, and the surface of the ground including that round the dam should be closely planted and allowed to become covered with rank vegetation. Sport in Wellington. A pack of drag hounds is being got up, and will be run twice a week during the cold season. The Star Boating Club contemplate ob« taining a boat for the special use of ladies. PATE A, May 15. A melancholy accident, resulting in death, occurred at Patea breakwater, about dusk yesterday. Richard Dickenson, contractor, whilst assisting at the works fell in front of the crane, used for shifting concrete blocks, when one of his legs were taken off, only a small piece of skin being left hanging. Two doctors were at once sent for, but Dickenson died in five minutes after they arrived. The occurrence has cast quite a gloom over the town. The inquest will be held to-day. [fbom oub own cobbespondent.] DUNEDIN, May 15. James Kerr, aged ten, was drowned in Lake Wakatipu, through falling out of a boat. His brother, two years older, made several plucky attenjpts to rescue him. Messrs Oargill's wool telegram is dated the 12th inst. The tone of the market is very firm. Prices are unchanged. TIMARU, May 14. At the Board of Education to-day the following report was adopted :—" That in case of districts applying to be constituted school districts, the residents of such districts to give the Board a guarantee that, as long as the average attendance of the proposed school is under forty, they will pay into the hands of any school committee to be appointed from time to time as a supplement towards the teachers' salary, the difference between £l4O and whatever sum the Board, on the basis of the average attendance may contribute, such differential ' sum in no case exceeding £3O per annum ; that after the proclamation of such district and erection of school buildings, the school committee pay into the Board a half-year's estimated amount as above calculated, before the Board will take any steps to procure a teacher, and that subsequently such estimated half-yearly differences be paid regularly and in advance. In case of school districts where teachers are already appointed, or in which they are about to be appointed, and the average attendance of whose schools does not and is not expected to come up to forty, the committees be informed that within three months from this date they will bo required to forward to the Board a half-year's deficiency, between £l4O and the Board's annual contributions on the basis of average attendance, and that thereafter such sum be paid half-yearly."

William Payne, who was crushed between the surf boats yeoterday, is still alive. After boing in terrible agony all night, he became unconscious this morning, and has remained so ever since.

It was reported to the police this morning that a man named Hart was lying on the beach, near the foot of North street, and in a very weak condition. It was found thafh* was bleeding profuseh/ from a bad wound in the sido of his hip, but he coul'd not say how it was caused, having been driakiog heavily oyer wight.

[Press s2>ccml Wire.]

AUCKLAND, May 14. I Last night a special train conveyed Sir Gk I Grey and party from Oh aupo to Ngaruawahia, | and a special of twenty carriages came from f Auckland to carry the Ministerial party and Natives to that city. The body of an infant child was found in a water closet to-night. Suspicion rests on a girl living in the house. A serious case of insubordination occurrod on board the English barque Tamaya this afternoon. The crew refused duty, set on the officers, and brutally assaulted them. The four ringleaders were arrested. The Volunteers are holding bi-wockly parades, preparing for the review on the Queen's birthday. NAPIER, May 14, Patrick Leahey, charged with attempting to set fire to the Napier District School building, was discharged. The case occupied the whole day. Miss Julia Latham, a young lady who was housekeeper at Mr Powdrell's, has been missing since Monday evening, when she left Mr Parson's house at Papakuru, a little after dark to return to Mr Powdrell's. She was on horseback, and the last that was seen of her was as she passed Mr Cunningham's place. The horse was found on Tuesday morning with saddle and bridle on. A search for tho young lady having been instituted, footprints supposed to be hers, were discovered on the banks of the Tutakuri River. Orders have been given to drag the stream, but the result is not yet known. The Napier Chess Club was established last Saturday evening at the Athenreum, and promisei to be highly successful. Over twenty members have already joined. WELLINGTON, May 14. The contractors for the Masterton Railway are said to be making rapid progress, especially during the last month. It is notified that Lady Robinson will receive visitors every Friday afternoon between three and four. The space between the Thorndon Breastwork and the first transverse row of piles of the new Railway Wharf is to be filled in by reclamation, and the Q-overnment has brought up an engine from Dunedin, which is now being fitted up at the Petone workshop in readiness to be used in this work. The pile driving for the wharf itself is making excellent progress. During the laßt fortnight, in addition to the ordinary traffic, the Wellington and FeatherBton railway conveyed 1660 tons rails to Feathereton without any inconvonience being experienced. The railway authorities are languine of being able to carry as much traffic over the Fell inclines as is ever likely to offer. A reward of £2OO is offered by the New Zealand Fire Insurance ar;d Underwriters' Association for such information as will lead to the detection and conviction of any person concerned in setting fire to premises in New Zealand. Mr Gordon Allan is going to move in the Supremo Court for a writ of liaheas corpus in the case of Frederick Gleich, the defaulting Adelaide bankrupt, on the ground that the Magis rate had no power to remand Gleich to Adelaide under the Foreign Offenders' Act, 1863. The following further meetings of creditors •were held to-day:—Wm. Isaac, baker, Foxton; Cecil Rodly, of Makara, farmer; Thos. M'Lelland, of Wellington ; James Cotterell, hotel-keeper, Kaiwarra ; F. Bond, builder, Wellington. G. R. Farley, clerk, and Christopher Emmett, both of Wellington, have filed declarations of insolvency. J. W. Norman, carter, filed a deed of assignment. The Hon, J. Ballance was elected president of the Chess Club. Thomas Martin, barman at the Post-office Hotel, being suspected of dishonesty, the proprietor placed the matter in the hands of Detective Browne, who by means of marked coins entrapped Martin, who when arrested was found with the coins in his pockets. Further search showed that Martin was posgessessed of £4O, of which he admitted £3O belonged to Mr Monk, the landlord.