NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1671, 28 June 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[feom oue own coeeespondent.] Coursing. O AMARU, June 28. The coursing is postponed to Monday, owing to the heavy and continuous fall of rain. Hokitika and Greymouth Railway. HOKITIKA, June 28. Yesterday was observed as a general ho day, to celebrate the inauguration of the Fast and West Coast railway communication, by turning the first sod of the Hokitika and Qrtymouth line. Heavy Rains in the Northern Districts. AMBERLBY (Noon to-day). The Waipara is in very heavy flood. The coach with the mails had to return to Amberley tb ; s morning. The Kowai is rising very rapidly. The cellars of McLean’s Hotel are swamped, and the main road in front is one sheet of water. The creek through the township is bank high and all the culverts are covered. Tho rain is still falling in torrents. R ANCHOR A (Noon to-day). Heavy rain fell all last night and this morning. The old gully is quite full. King and John streets are being flooded. It is still raming heavily. KAIAPOI, 2 p.m. The Hurunui, Waipara, and Ashley are rising. The Waimakariri is still low. The Bathgate Banquet. DUNEDIN, Juno 28. The Bathgate banquet was a decided success. In his speech, Mr Bathgate said that it was not generally known that his appointment as Magistrate was unsolicited and wholly unexpected. When an offer was made by the then Premier, he refused to accept unless the whole Cabinet without a dissentient voice approved. Out of 18,C90 cases brought before him during his five and a-half years’ magistracy, only twenty-five cases had been appealed against, and of twenty-five appeals, the Supreme Court had upheld him in eighteen. He had had no holidays, save a week at Christmas during that time, and he thought he had earned his lengthened holiday. Dr. McDonald, the rector of the High School, showed himself to be an excellent speaker. [PBB PEESS AGENCY.] Trade Union Congress. AUCKLAND, June 28. Mr Hielop, secretary of the Auckland Labor League, has received the following letter from the Labor Council of New South “ Sydney, May 22nd, 1879. “ Sir,—The above Council are taking steps for the purpose of holding an intercolonial trade union congress at Sydney while tho International Exhibition is open here, as it is believed that, amongst the numerous visitors, there will be a goodly number of members of trades, a fact which would, to a certain extent, facilitate the enterprise, I shall, in a few days, be enabled to forward two official invitations, and I seek your co-operation to render the projected congress a success. My object in writing to you upon this occasion is to obtain from you any addreesjor addresses of trades societies in Auckland or New Zealand which you may have in your possession. Would you kindly furnish me with them, so that I can communicate with them. I enclose a copy of a proposed programme, which must at present be considered final or unalterable. Trusting to hear from you soon, believe me, sir, to remain, “■Your obedient servant, “ Wm, Royance, “ Secretary Trades and Labor Oounc’l, N.S.W. " Hyde Park Hotel, Bathurst street, Sydney, N.S.W.” Tho following are the subjects proposed by tho Council for discussion at the Congress : (1) Immigration, both Asiatic and otherwise ; (2) the eight hours’ system, its extension and consolidation ; (3) legalisation of Trades Unions; (4) encouragement of native industries ; (5) the laws affecting the mercantile marine; (6) the propriety of holding an annual Intercolonial Trades Union Congress; (7) the factory and workshop regulation law; (8) co-operation ; (9) education. It is proposed that each society shall bo represented by one or two delegates, and each Trades and Labor Council by two delegates, and that each council shall pay its o'sn delegate or delegates’ expenses. The Native Crisis. WAITARA, Juno 28.

Messrs Shore and Jones were warned off Mokau to-day by Te Wetere. A steamer has been chartered to bring Mr Shore and family away. The whole of the district is in a disturbed state.

It is reported that the Maoris arc ploughing at North Waitara. Fifty constabulary arrived to-day, and have just reported ploughat Mokau.

HAWERA, June 28. Yesterday the Maoris did not recommence ploughing here. A gentleman from New Plymouth, coastwards, reports meeting over one hundred Maoris for Parihaka, with a number of drays with flour. The Natives were very friendly. They have recommenced ploughing the Government paddocks at Opunake. PATE A, Juno 28.

A Native ploughman, at Hawera, was given in charge yesterday for stealing a pair of trousers and a vest from a storekeeper. He was sent here by coach and tried this morning at the R, M. Court. The prisoner admitted the theft, and said that ho had no reason for stealing the things, but that ho was a thief. He did not attempt to leave the store, but waited till the police arrested him. He was sentenced to sir months in Wanganui Gaol. He was tried at daylight this morning so as to be sent by the early coach. _ It is believed that there was some political significance in the theft in order to try our power. The rumor that the Maoris are ploughing Mokau is untrue. Nj Natives being there yet. NAPIER, June 27.

Yesterday four candidates were nominated for election for the East Coast Maori Electoral District for the seat vacant by tho death of Karaitiana. The candidates were—Hcnaro Matua, Honare Tomoana, Henare Pukeatua, and Hans Tapsell. The show of hands was in favor of Tomoana. A poll was demanded by Henare Matua. There was an omission in the telegysphic summary of Mr Ormond’s speech, which he wishes rectified. While he objects to the land tax on the ground that it was unw:'si to impose a special impost of this nature, which was calculated to disturb tho confidcn o of

English capitalists, bo advocated its replacement by a general property and income tax. Telegraphing Mr Ormond’s speech was one of the best pieces of work yet performed in the colony. Mr Millar, of Napier, was sent to Waipawa, and he put the whole message through at an average rate of thirty-five words a minute. The Waipawa wire was for the occasion connected with the special wires, so that the message was wired direct.

WELLINGTON, June 27. An extraordinary explosion occurred this morning in a house in College street. The fire had been lighted as usual, the coal being from the West Wanganui mine. Suddenly a tremendous explosion took place, blowing the whole fire right ouOnto the room, and bringing down all the plaster from the chimney. Two children who were right in front of the fireplace a moment before had just moved to one side, or they must have been either killed or seriously injured. Mrs Binns received a severe blow on her face and sustained some bruises, one of her eyes too being injured. Mr Binns himself was slightly struck. When tbe smoke and dust cleared away the copper case of a dynamite cartridge, which evidently had been intended for use in the mine and accidentally left in the coal, was picked up on the floor. Tenders are called for the construction of the Grey town branch railway. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Wellington Terrace, will be formally opened on July 30th by Dr. Stuart, of Dunedin. The Wellington ironmasters and engineers have given notice to their hands that a reduction in wages will come into force after the expiration of the present week, on account of the dullness of trade. The reduction is about 15 per cent, in the rate of pay, while the shorter hours proposed will bring it up 20 per cent. The men have called a meeting to consider the position, and decide whether they shall agree to accept the reduction. Many of them, recognising the fact that work is very slack just now, will be willing to accept it for a time until business improves, but they will resist any permanent reduction. They also complain that only three days’ notice has been given of the intended reduction. One of the provisions of the latest Juries Act is that a special jury need only consist of four men, but up to the present time the number has never been less than twelve. At next civil sitting of the Supreme Court the case of Turnbull v Masemore will bo heard by a special jury of four. The dwelling-house of Mr Robt. McDonald, contractor, at Wangaroa, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday last. The building was insured in the National Company for £4OO. When the deputation were informed to-day by Mr Macandrew that the cost of the new public offices would be about twice the amount voted, £17,000, both Sir George Grey and Mr Macandrew said it would be a very difficult matter to get the Legislature at present to grant any more money for public buildings. Sir George Grey expressed his wish, howe rer, to see the plan adopted at Homo followed hero, and all public offices gathered into one largo building. His wish had been to see a building in Wellington which should show that they had some taste in architecture. Attention has been drawn to the fact that, while the kerosene hulk is made fast to the wharf, there is no provision for scuttling the vessel should she get on fire. Squires, landlord of the Metropolitan Hotel, who was fined some time ago through a mistake in a summons, was charged to-day with' selling liquor after hours, and was cautioned to be more careful in the future management of his house. All the ironmasters of Wellington notify their employes of the proposed reduction in wages next week. The men meet to-night to consider the matter. ASHBUETON, Juno 27. The Mammoth Minstrels gave an entertainment to-night to a capital house considering the weather. The performance was excellent and the audience delighted. The company have had a most successful season in South Canterbury, the business in Timaru being the largest ever done. TIMARU, Juno 27. A fatal accident occurred to-day to a man named Richard Bartlett. *He was engaged in excavating an embankment near Shear’s brickyards when several tons fell, completely burying him. When dug out he was found te be terribly crushed, and many bones broken. He leaves a wife and large family. E. W. Mills, contractor for supplying water pipes for the Timaru waterworks is hare. The water pipes have arrived in the Renfrewshire, but the Borough Council has not the wherewithal to pay for them. Mills is likely to have some difficulty in getting his money for the pipes, as there is not a sixpence with which to pay the claim, owing to the £40,000 loan not being floated, on account of the debentures being informal. INVERCARGILL, June 27.

Cummock, late sub-librarian of Dunedin Athenaeum, was brought up this afternoon and remanded to Dunedin.

The grain and produce show at Winton today drew a large attendance. The exhibits, however, were not very numerous, but good.