NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1647, 31 May 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PEE PEE6S AGENCY.] AUCKLAND, May 31. To-day was the date on which applications for space in the Sydney Exhibition closed. Only twenty applications have been received, but, as the Committee have the privilege of sending exhibits direct, five weeks longer are available before the final closing. In Graham’s case resumed to-day in the Police Court, the Native MinUter gave evidence that Graham had occupied lands near Rotorua without the authority of the Government in defiance of an official notice. The case is proceeding, Mr Sheehan, Rewi, and other important chiefs visited the “Star” office to-day. WELLINGTON, May SI. The “New Zealander” says —“ A man on whose word we can rely, informed us late last night that he had brought to town several ounces of alluvial gold found in one of the up-country districts.” It says it is not at liberty to mention the name. Hares are open to be hunted within the l counties of Wuikouaiti, Maniototo, Vincent, Lake, Peninsula, Taieri, Bruce, Clvtha, and Tuapeka between the Ist of Juno and theSlst of July, both dsjs included. The Kinross case occupied the Resident Magistral ’s Court to day. The evidence of the Maori witnesses was taken in Maori and English. The case is adjourned to the 10th of June. Gleich, t he Adelaide defaulter, was released this morning from gaol. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 31. The Governor, Premier, and Colonel Whitm re iai ded from the Hinemoa at noon, and were received by a guard of honor and a large number of settlers. The Vice-Regal party will bo entertained by Mr Caverhill during their stay. [FROM OTJE OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN, May 31. A case of very unusual features is set down for the City Police Court next week. On t! e 13th a man married, but discovering the same night that his wife was enciente, he ti raed her out of the house. A week later she was confined, and she now seeks to recover the moans of support from the child’s father. '>■ Motions are tabled in the Chy Council for dispensing witu the city health officer, aiid completing the drainage and permanently disposing of the ew.ig • The vital stai-sucs for the month are— Births, 149 ; marriages, 39 ; deaths 55, an increase ot 70 per cent, on the corresponding month of Let yea . The revenue is £2l 832, a decrease of £?80Q oq th* corrtepondiug month ot last ye#?,'

[Press Special Wire.] AUCKLAND, May 30. Mr Robert Graham was charged to-day before Mr Birstow, R.M., with being unlawfully in possession of land at Rotorua, known as Tekoutou, for which negotiations had previously been entered into on behalf of Her Majesty. Defendant pleaded “not guilty.” Owing to the illness of Mr Brookfield, the Crown Prosecutor the case was adjourned. A fire occurred in Victoria street in Simpeon’s drapery shop. The brigade quickly arrived, hut the contents of the shop were mostly destroyed. The promises were insured in the Royal for £250, and in the Colonial for £IOO. The racehorse L ilia Rookh was offered for sale to-day. The highest bid was £IOO, and the horse was withdrawn. Ores wick and Allen intend to commence a series of readings cn Monday. WELLINGTON, May 30. To-night’s “ Gazette ” contains regulations under the District Railways Act, 1877, and the District Railways Act, 1877, Amendment Act, 1878, for taking the votes of ratepayers and owners of property, in substitution of certain clauses in the regulations published in the “ Gazette,” No. 68, of 11th July, 1878. The following lands have bfen brought under the Public Domains Act, 1860, and the necessary powers delegated to the respective Boards, viz. :—West Melton Recreation , Ground, Greendale Recreation Ground, Kim- 1 berley Recreation Ground, Otokaia Recrea- < tion Reserve, Templeton Recreation Reserve, 1 Sheffield Recreation Ground. Officers holding advances of public money are required by Gazette notice to pay to the Public Account at the nearest branch Bank of New Zealand the total unexpended balances in their hands on or before Monday, the 30t,h 1 day of June, so as to close absolutely all advance accounts on that date. Notice of motion will be given in the City -j Council that it is advisable, before the Council irretrievably pledges itself to any of the rival j drainage schemes, that the whole question bo t submitted to a Board of competent engineers, T who will decide as to the merits of each ques- r tion, without reference to any body. i A “Gazette” has been issued calling i Parliament together for the despatch of business on 11th July. 51 REEFTON, May 30. B A return is being prepared here under the direction of the County Council, to show the Government the number of idle quartz mines in the Inangahua which contain abundance of Btone proved to average from five to fifteen t pennyweights of gold per ton, but which j cannot be worked at present owing to the a high rate of wages, provisions, &c., due to s the want of railway communication. Con- f currently with this, a monster petition ia 0 being gob up for presentation to the As- 1 Bembly, urging the immediate construction of the Nelson-Greymouth railway via Buller and Inangahua. I HOKITIKA, May 30. r At the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day Mr E B. Dixon, head master of the State Bchool, was charged on three informations with unlawfully assaulting a pupil named £ Peter Helming, aged fourteen, by beating him with a stick on the 16th, 20th, and 23rd r instant. A number of witnesses were examined for complainant. Without requiring r evidence for the defence, the Bench dismissed p the information, each party to bear their own r costs. Notice has been given of appeal to the o Supreme Court. s The annual meeting of the shareholders of t the Hokitika Gas Company was held last Jj evening. A dividend was declared of 7s 6d per share. DUNEDIN, May 30, t The postal officers throughout the colony c subscribed as a body to the Kahangata relief a fund, and the sum so raised amounts in the aggregate to over £2QO. a Of the Dunnotar’s crew at Port Chalmers, twenty in number, eighteen deserted. Mr Hodgkins, revising officer, held a Court to-day at the City Council Chambers. The names of a very large number of persons who had either loft, sold their properties, or were dead, were expunged from the lists. The p revising officer made large additions to the a roll. The registration officer, Mr A. R. Ure, t laid before the Court several lists received by £ him from various clerks, some of which had o been very carelessly prepared, and others u were not sent in in time. The consequence is that a number of ratepayers who would )- have been otherwise entitled to be placed on J the roll have been omitted. Very little ” interest seemed to be taken in the proceed- f ings of the Court, probably owing to c th© fact that sufficient publicity has not { been given to the list of objections, f Few people personally claimed to have their i names placed on the roll, and several names i were struck out, but as many of these appear s on the ratepayers’ roll, they will be dnlv re- i instated in proper form. One gentleman ! 1 stated that he had been objected to on the | ground that he was dead, but the revising £ officer seemed satisfied with his existence, and immediately restored him to political life. While the case of a ratepayer at Hastings £ was under consideration, the returning \ officer mentioned that the clerk to th«f] borough of West harbor had failed to supply ( him with a list of ratepayers who paid j rates before March 31st last, as required by J the Registration of Electors Act, 1875. Referring to this matter Mr Hodgkins said, “ I think, as Registration Officer, that it is your duty to bring the matter before the proper authorities, as at the first blush it seems to have been a dereliction of duty, and the consequence is that a number of people ‘ who ought to have been on the roll are de- ( prived of their franchise.” I The formation of a Carbine Club, for the ■ purpose of holding a series of handicap 1 matches during the winter months, has been suggested. Several gentlemen representing < the Dunedin Artillery and Naval Brigade met te make the necessary arrangements, and ( a general committee was elected. The object i is’to keep up carbine practice during the \ winter. I „ A To-night’s “ Star ” says “We hope that Mr Fisher will wake up and make his term 1 of office memorable by at least one useful 1 work, the initiation of a parcel post.” It ia pointed out that Mr Wood, of Victoria, found the revenue derived by the department ( from the carriage of newspapers so inconsiderable that it is not worth while to continue it, in view of the greater facilities '■ for the dissemination of public journals , throughout the colony which would be afforded by the abolition of the charge. It has been found that the steps taken under the Land Tax Act are not legal. Clause 23 provides expressly that the valuation lists of counties shall be deposited within the counties ; instead of which, the whole of the county valuations have been gazetted. An Order in Council will probably issue to make it all right. INVERCARGILL, May 30. A draught match between Invercargill and Waikiwi, fifteen players a side, came off this evening in the Athenamm, After an exciting contest Waikiwi was declared -winner by twelve games. There was a terrific frost last night and this morning. At the meeting of the Harbor Board today a discussion arose about the condition of the new lightship. The harbor master reported that she leaked slightly, and Mr Kemp expressed an opinion that she would sink at her moorings. It was decided to appoint someone to examine her, in conjunction with the harbor master. The latter was of opinion that the leaks would close up after the vessel had been in the water a bit. She is only ju # t off the stocks^^^^^,