NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1682, 11 July 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[from ops own correspondent.] DUNEDIN, July 11. Three papers support Mr Stewart’s candidature. Mr James Shand’s homestead at Outram was totally destroyed by fire early this morning. The estimated loss is £4OOO. It was partially insured, but in what offices is at present unknown. DUNEDIN, July 11. Eight insolvencies, mostly small estates, were filed this week. There were exceptions as to size, however, viz , the insolvency of John McNeill, commission agent, |Bilelutha, no particulars given, and that of Mark Dale, Tokomairiro, former, liabilities, £6166 ; ssssts not ststod. The Union Company lose £ISOO, half of which is ro-irsured, by Shand’s fire. MERCER, July 11. An Extraordinary StoryThere is extraordinary excitement at Pokeno. Mr Austin, of Pokeno, who died, as was supposed, on Monday, and on whom an inquest was held before the Coroner, Captain Jackson, when a verdict of death by heart disease was returned, is reported as still alive. The burial was to take place yesterday, at Pokeno. A largo number of friends gathered round, when the party were agitated by the statement that Mr Austin could not bo dead, as his joints are supple, his muscles are pliable, his skin quite healthy looking, and there is not the slightest taint nor least discoloration of skin. The face is quite natural looking, with a fresh blooming complexion, although not a movement of limb or muscle is visible. The wife and family are in a most painful state of suspense. The mourning paity have gone home, the body being left in the coffin. A doctor has been sent for from Auckland. Native Affairs. NEW PLYMOUTH, July 11. Titokowaru with his followers precedes to Parihaka on Monday. Enoka, who stole the purse from Parihaka, has confessed. Judgment is deferred till Tuesday, WELLINGTON, July 11. Sentences will not be passed in the Supreme Court until Tuesday. Mrs Phillips is being tried for arson. The case will occupy the Court all day. Wellington Water Supply. The City Council has decided to raise a loan of a hundred and thirty thousand pounds for the purpose of increasing the water supply. Bleniieim ConvulsedBLENHEIM, July 11. Mr Doherty, late schoolmaster at Wellington, held a meeting last night, to refute slanders respecting himself and the two girls. Ho denounced the Education Board and the school committee as political bodies, and stigmatised Mr Robinson, secretary of the Board, Mr Hodgson, the Inspector, and Mr Fell, the chairman of committee, as forming a political parly, governed by the clique which had forced him to resign. But all this was nothing to what followed. Having carried the meeting with him, he proceeded, amidst cheers and partial hisses, to read a series of letters between himself and the two girls, heaping accusations against one man, who was the guardian of the girls, of the most filthy character. Protests were made by several men who were, however, hissed and hooted down, and at tho close of the meeting, Doherty was carried off his feet by tho excited crowd who supported him. Later on he was arrested on a charge of sending intimidating letters demanding money from Mr Earle. The letter was simply disgusting, and asked for money to be settled on the girl, or he would expose and ruin him. Doherty was brought before a Bench of six Magistrates in the morning, and the case was adjourned till two in the afternoon. Bail was accepted. The meeting was the largest ever held in Blenheim. [peb press agency. 1 NELSON, July 11. Political. At their request Mr Acton Adams, M.H.B , met last night several of the leading members of his election committee, who wished to consult with him re the rumor that the Attorney Generalship hod been offered to him. The decision arrived at was that, in view of the failure of the present Government to commend tho public works authorised by Parliament to be continued in this district, they would prefer that he should not accept a seat in the Grey i 5 inistry, or move or second the address in reply. The Maori Prisoners WELLINGTON, July 11. Mr James Mai k ty visited the twenty-nine insubordinate Maoris" o-day. When brought oat of their cells he told them that they had brought the punishment on themselves, but that if they behaved'them selves quietly, they would be well treated. Underclothii g and other necessaries were issued out to them,and the Chief Wakawira is put in solitary confinement, ore smoko a day being allowed him. The land tax objections are being heard again to-day. All the revis ;d valuations are uphold without a single exception. Legal objection will be hoard next Wednesday. AUCKLAND, July 10. The Waste Lands Board, at the request of Sir G. Grey, has reserved from sale the Takapuna block, near Wbangarei, of 27,527 acres for a contemplated settlement of vine-growers. The block is reported by a commissioner to be moat suitable, having fine sunny slopes of good land. Isabella Haynes, who fell into a culvert at the bottom of Franklyn street, died from the shock. A man named Thomas William Brown last night broke into the room of a fellow-lodger at the Governor Browne Hotel, named Jane Roundtree, and committed u raps. He was brought up ut tho Police Court, and remanded. HAWEEA, July 10. All is quiet, and expected to be so until after the Parihaka meeting. A meeting of settlers last night appointed Messrs Lyaaght and McGuiro to wait on the Government re local affairs. Reinforcements of the Armed Constabulary are wanted. People are leaving tho district daily, many of them being volunteers. WELLINGTON, July 10. Tho proceedings at the opening of Parliament to-morrow will be purely formal. Members of the House of Representatives will be directed to elect their Speaker, then the House will be adjourned till Tuesday, when the real ceremony takes place. It is understood that the address in reply will be moved by Mr Goldie, of Auckland, and seconded by Mr Shanks, of Mataura. In addition to the names mentioned, the Hon, J. Wilson will probably bo appointed one of the commissioners for opening Parliament to-morrow. Tho eleclion of Chairman of Committees is not likely to come off till Tuesday or Wednesday. It is said that '.he vacant portfolio will fall either to Mr Oliver, of Dunedin, or Mr Thomson, of Olutlia. The constabula :y who arrived today with Maori prisoners from Pfttoa, will go back there to-morrow. WELLINGTON, July 10. It is reported that the Governor’s speech, which has been printed for some days, was an unusually copious document of the kind, and contained matter of such a nature that his Excellency suggested the propriety of making some alteration, and that in consequence the speech to be rend next day will be a very modified version of that first drawn out. It is stated that tho Banks are getting much more accommodating, and that business is improving in consequence. The ill effects however of ever speculation in land are still felt. In view of tho coming struggle daring the session, the Opposition are counting upon considerable accession of strength from Otago and Auckland, while the idea of Mr Gisborne exercising any influence over the West Coast members is treated with ridicule. If tho Government does not soon take some decided steps for the capture of Hiroki and Te Whiti, it is thought an effort will be made through Parliiment to compel some such steps to be taken. It la well known that tho Premier is against any such course, and early opportunity will be taken by mean* of sympathisers o I showing that the Natives have been treated in the most scandalous manner by previous Government*, and that the political ploughmen are really deserving of sympathy sn their endeavors to easort their n " DUNEDIN, July 10. At the ordiuary monthly meeting of the Otago University Council to day, tho VicoChancellor reported that tho finance commit-

tea had failed to raise the loan for payment of contractors, and requested that power be granted to pay them as soon as the funds permitted, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Professor Scott, complaining of the action of the Council in haring refused to place him on an equal footing with the other professors, and also protesting against the Council haring allowed full reports of the discussion to appear in the papers, while his letter of application was withheld from reporters. At the Harbor Board a letter was received from the Government re the appointment of Arbitrator to confer with the Board’s representative to assess the amount due to Board for land for railway purposes, and nominating Mr Blair, and also dealing with the position of the Government towards debenture holders. An exhaustive draft reply having been read, several members regretted that the personal references which usually pervaded the Board’s communications to the Government were not wanting in the draft replv just read. Mr McNeil expressed the opinion that there was evidently in the report a latent spirit of antagonism towards the Government, which it was desirable to have eliminated. Ho agreed that there were grounds for complaints, but did cot approve of so much personal feeling as had been shown. On Mr Walters’ suggestion, the proposed reply was referred to Messrs McNeill, Mills and Fish and the chairman, to revise and forward same to the Government. The sixth annual report of the Female Befuge is published. There are at present eight women in the Befuge. Nearly all of them are steady, industrious and well conducted, and some have become trusted helps, lu addition to these, eighteen women have been inmates for longer or shorter periods during the year. Three of them have left to go to service and are giving every indication of reformation, and one of these has been comfortably married. Of the remaining fifteen, the committee can give no good accounts. A shilling subscription has been started by admirers of Mr Wm. Green, the antispiritualist lecturer, to purchase a souvenir. INVERCARGILL, July 10. Mr Crombie, of the railway department, who is leaving for Dunedin to manage the tramways there, was presented this evening by his fellow railway employes with a diamond ring and handsome marble clock. Mr Bowen, of the Customs department, who is under orders to leave for Wellington, was presented with a testimonial this evening by a number of his friends. The school committees of the Southland district have expressed an opinion relative to the Bible reading without comment in the public schools. Out of thirty-seven committees, thirty-throe are in favour of it and four against it. TIMARTJ, July 10, This afternoon some person unknown abstracted a cashbox from the shop of P. W. Hutton, in Main street. Fortunately it only contained a small sum of money. There were no nominations whatever to-day for four vacant seats in the Timaru Borough Council. This is the second time that the nomination has been advertised without any result. The Waimate school committee have instructed the master to furnish a list of all children who do not attend regularly, with, the view of enforcing the compulsory clauses of the Act. It is stated that the Timaru school committee intend resigning in a body, owing to the Board’s action re the appointment of second master.