NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1659, 14 June 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[per press agency. 1 OAMARU, Juno 14, A large number of persons went by a special train to-day to attend the ceremony of turning the first sod of the first section of the Livingstone railway, which takes place at Windsor. The affair is entirely local. Detachments of the Oamaru Artillery and Rifles have signified their willingness to proceed to Taranaki should war break out. WELLINGTON, Juno 14. The resignation of Mr Fitzberbert of his seat for the Hutt is gazetted. Private letters from (he Wanganui and Patea districts state that the Maoris offer as much as 40s to 60s for a pound of powder. The Government are calling, the third time, for tenders for the construction of a bridge across the Ramahunga. Tho first time of advertising they received no tender, and tho second time only ons. At tho parade of the Naval Brigade last night, the captain asked how many would volunteer for active service if required, when tho entire brigade, including the officers, enrolled their names as volunteers. A corps of about fifty has been enrolled at the township of Halcombe, Manawatu, in consequence of tho Natives in the neighborhood being alleged to be strongly embuod w r ith the current faith of To Whiti.

Rumored Retirement. It is understood that the Hon. R. Stout retires shortly from tho Ministry in consequence of the urgent demands of private affairs. AUCKLAND June 14. The Mayor has received an application from tho Colonial Secretary of Fiji for a supply of vaccine lymph, some coolies of the ship Leonidas having arrived from India, ill with small pox. The request will bo complied with. Tho case of Moir v Henderson has been partly heard in the District Court. The plaintiff is a merchant at Christchurch, tho defendant is of Auckland, and was formerly owner of a schooner called Wave of Life. The action is to recover £IC 3 damages on a cargo of grain shipped by tho plaintiff at Christchurch for Auckland. In tho declaration it is alleged that the vessel was owned and belonged to tho defendant. Tho defence has denied the ownership, and has set forth that the said damages were caused by perils at sea. David Gonko, a shipbuilder, deposed that it was impossible for the vessel to have carried dry cargo. The timbers were old, and her deck could only bo caulked with a pitch ladle, the oakum washing down in shreds. It was criminal to put; a dry cargo into her. The witness surveyed the vessel at the Gore street jetty, and did not know when surveying her what he was doing so for. Ho was thinking at one time of bujing her, but when he saw her deck he gave up all ;idea of doing so. Tho case is adjourned till next Court day. Fiji News.

Later Fiji nows state that the Natives oi Nacavar and certain other towns in the south end of the Island have been subjected to a singular mortality, which has carried them off like the plague. The sickness has the appearance of commencing in a fever, and then assuming the form of an aento attack of dysentery, which invariably terminates fatally in three or four days. It is supposed that upwards of seventy have succumbed during the past month. The white residents attribute the mortality to the late excessive rainfall and the swampy situation of the town. The people bare been engaged for some time past in felling and dragging out ° gß . to build canoes for Vanua Levu. Kftcr heatirg themselves with their work they have returned to wet houses and damp mate. The fever then attacks them, dysentery follows, and death ensues. The news from Brooker Island states that Jthe Natives regard the departure of the “ Comorant,” after shelling the village, as a sign of victory over the whites, anc\ are threatening all residents and The Natives are much excited. In many places they are well armed with Snidora and doublebarrel guns, and have large surplice of ammunition.

Native Affairs. The Government have ordered a good houser for Rowi, at Kihikiki township, and a school for the education of Native children. AH the disaffected Natives on the Waikato frontier have cleared out for Taranaki. Te WMti's Prophecy. PATE A, June 14. Te Whiti has informed his followers that he had a vision on Thursday last, and saw Christ, who told him that the bullets fired by Pakohas at Maoris would return and kill the white men; and that in the event of war, Christ would come down from heaven and drive all while people into the sea. Te Whiti has made a call upon the Maoris out* side Parihaka, and ho says that those who refuse to rally round him will bo killed by supernatural means. The position of affairs continues to excite the whole interest of the settlers, the only topics of conversation being drill and fighting.

[FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT,} DUNEDIN, June 14. The ship Timaru made the run home in seventy-eight days. A Cromwell company crushed 969 ounces from 480 tons of stuff. Dullness has been prevailing during the past week, the result of inactivity so far as prices are concerned, which are stationary, except in the case of sugars, which, through the non-arrival of two vessels from Mauritius long overdue, have become scarce, the prices advancing from 10* to 20s. Hennessy’s case is still in short supply and is held at last quotations. AUCKLAND, Jnne 13. News from Brooker Island, by the Rotorua, states that the Natives regard the departure of the Cormorant, after shelling the village, as a sign of victory over the whites, and are threatening'all residents and traders. The Natives of New Guinea are much ex* cited in many places. They ere well armed with Sniders and double-barrelled guns, and have large supplies of ammunition. WELLINGTON, June 13. The following are the Assessment Courts for the Land Tax District of Canterbury:— Court-house, Ataroa ; and Wascoe’s Hotel, Little River ; R.M. Courts, Lyttelton and Kirwee ; Court-house, Christchurch; Road Board offices, Sydenham; Road Board office, Lincoln ; Road Board office, Springs ; Road Board office, Templeton ; R.M. Court, Ran* giora ; R.M. Court, Kaiapoi ; Court-house, Ashburton; Borough Council chambers, Timaru ; Road Board office, Burke’s Pass ; R.M. Court, Geraldine; County Council chambers, Waimate,

The candidates mentioned in connection with the vacancy for the Hutt besides Dr. Buller and Mr Jackson, are Mr Mason, an an old settler, and Mr Fitzherbert. It is uncertain whether Messrs Mason or Buller will consent to be nominated. Attention is being called to the present and prospective inadequacy of the water supply, owing to the rapid increase in the rate of consumption. The “Post” states upon authority that the Government do not intend to propose any increase in the land tax except as regards properties which exceed £2500 in taxable value, and the question is still under consideration whether the minimum value at which the increased taxation shall begin may not bo fixed at £3OOO. The “ Chronicle” mentions Messrs Hamlin, Bryce, Kelly, and J. E. Brown, as probable candidates for the office of Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives, and says Mr Bryce is the most qualified man of the lot for the office. BLENHEIM, June 13. The case Firth v Brown’ee was finished this afternoon, the verdict being for defendant. In the case Davis v Bothwell, an action for ejectment, the verdict was for plaintiff. An application for a now trial will be made by Firth in banco to-morrow. An appeal from the Resident Magistrate’s Court will also be n AQ TIMAEU, June 13. At a meeting of the Timaru Chamber of Commerce this afternoon, Mr Rutherford gave notice of a motion to the effect that any member becoming bankruj t shall cease to he a member of the chamber. DUNEDIN, June 13.

Last night, at the Masonic Hall at Port Chalmers, a lodge of sorrow was held in memory of the late Brother John Lazar, R.W D.G.M of Westland, and formerly D.D.G.M. of this province. The building was placed in appropriate mourning. The members of Iho lodge attended in full force, and were in full Masonic mourning, and a Urge number of visitors wero present, including the R W.M. aud officers of the Cargill Kilwinning, No. 632, S.C. The whole of the ceremonies were well carried out, and some very appropriate music was played by the organist, an efficient choir lending their aid in the rendering of tho anthems. There appears to be no diminution in tho rush of objectors to the Land Tax office. Mr Macandrew left for Wellington by the Hawea to-day. The lease, for fourteen years, of the Lawrence borough endowment of 1000 acres, situated in Tuapeka county, has been let by auction, Is -id per acre was realised. At a public meeting, recently held in the drillehed in Clutha, Mr Thomson, M.H.E., attending, a petition to tho Assembly was adopted, praying for compensation for damage done to the island through the erection of tho embank meut of the Clutha railway bridge.