NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1708, 11 August 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[per press agency.] WELLINGTON, August 11. Prorogation of Parliament. Parliament was prorogued by commission this afternoon Very few persons wore present. This Season’s Teas. The Now Zealand leas per Benmuir comes to Wellington direct per s.s. Wakatipu, which leaves Sydney on the 15th instant. The Sydney Exhibition. The Sydney Exhibition has boon fixed to open on tho 17th of September. Postal Arrangements. A cable message received from London states that a deputation of merchants and owners waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer on tho question of tho mail service. A result of this action has been that tho Orient Steam Company have expressed their readiness to carry the Australian colonies mails (a fortnightly service). A Presentation. The clerks and messengers of the House are going to present Mr O’Rurko with a hand some illuminated address in recognition of his services in procuring them half pay during the recess. On the Stump. The Premier and the Native Minister will visit Nelson in a few days. It is understood that tho Premier will start his electioneering campaign there.

Mining News. - - Samples of quartz broughtin from Makana have yielded a fair percentage. Silver tests on a more extensive scale will be made. The Elections. Writs for the new elections will be issued w Ithm tbe next four days, and made returnable by the 17th September. EBOU OUB OWN OOEEESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN, August 11. Electoral. Judge Ward does not intend contesting any seat. Mining News. _ Good finds are reported from the Waike;i diggings, near Clyde, but nothing to wrrrant any rush. INVERCARGILL, August 11. The steamer Star of the South is discharging at the pier. The weather is very wet. A Free Thought Lecturer. Tierman, the free thought lecturer, delivered his first discourse last night, in the Dee street Theatre, to a large audience. His text was “ What hope have the wicked beyond the grave,” and upon it he discourse! for nearly two hours against the doctrine of eternal punishment. Ho is a vigourous and voluble speaker, but is rather inclined to be common-place and barren in words. Of his earnestness there can bo no doubt, but, judging by his first discourse, he compares somewhat unfavourably with Charles Bright and Mrs Britten. He was frequently applauded last night. O AMARU, August 11. Mr John Douglas, of Mount Royal, has purchased the Waiho estate, near Waimate, of 93CD acres. The price has not transpired. AUCKLAND, August 9. Mr J. M. Clarke, a candidate for the City East, has issued an address declaring his intention of supporting triennial parliaments and manhood suffrage with a residential qualification, and that he will sink minor differences with the view of working together with Auckland members for the good of the North. The “Freeman’s Journal ” is a Roman Catholic organ, and in an article on the election asks Catholics to sink altogether their claims on the education question at the present time, in order to return candidates pledged to support Sir G. Grey, as by pressing their claims they might embarrass and weaken him, which the “ Freeman ” considers would be a serious calamity to the colony. Mr Moatt, for the Opposition, contests Rodney against Messrs Seymour George and Farnall.

WELLINGTON, August 9. Grace and Harry Evans, who came out in the Paeroa, and had been only one day married, were arrested for obtaining money under false pretences. The magistrate blamed the man for leading the girl into trouble, and sentenced him to three months’ hard labor, and the woman to one month. An unfinished house at Waiwelu was burnt down last night. There was a builder’s risk of £2OO on it in the Northern Insurance Company. A requisition signed by 460 persons, the largest ever known in Wellington, was presented to Mr W. H. Levin, and he consented to be nominated as a candidate for the city. He holds that property sheuld be taxed as well as land.

Mr Gisborne will he opposed for Totara by Mr Grimmond, the Mayor of Ross. August 10. A largo anti-immigration meeting was held last night. Resolutions were passed to the effect that no more immigration should be allowed unless the immigrants paid their own passages. The meeting was very noisy. Another public meeting resolved that a plebiscite should bo taken to endorse the raising of £130,000 for augumenting the water supply of the city. Mr Greenfield, who is coming out for the city, will be largely supported. Ho is antiGreyite in politics. NELSON, August 9. Mr H. B. Huddleston, of Christchurch, who is about to remove here, will contest the Oollingwood seat with Mr Gibbs. A handsome bronzed iron lamp pillar and drinking fountain, erected in Trafalgar street as a memorial to the late John Symons, merchant, by a number of his friends, was finally handed over to the Corporation to-night. OAMARU, August 8. {For some time past sixty Maoris, who settled on the Omarama run on the Waitaki river, have been killing numbers of sheep. The Government have at length determined to remove them, and with that object, twelve mounted troopers left Oamaru to-day, armed with carbines and revolvers. Should the Maoris refuse to leave, they will be arrested and brought down to gaol. DUNEDIN, August 9. Mr Simpson, R.M., is greatly reducing some of the city valuations under the Land Tax Act.

Mr Stout will address a public meeting next week in support of the liberal cause. At the Police Court to-day T. C. Eeid was chared on remand with forging the name of J. O. Eeid and Co. a bill exchange for £67 10s on 17th January, 1878, Inspector Mallard conducted the prosecution, and Mr Denniston defended. While Mr Leary, the liquidator of the Colonial Building and Investment Company was being examined Mr Denuistou complained, and said that any professional man would have accepted the suggestion he offered in the first instance, viz.—have placed the gentleman in the box whose signature was said to hare been forged, and asked him whether it was genuine. Inspector Mallard said he was not going to have the inquiry burked. He stated at the outset that he was about to go into the matter elaborately, and expressed his willingness for adjournment, but was met with objection. Mr Deuniston “ I object to the childish way in which the prosecution is being conducted, Ho professional man would hare followed such a course.” John Chalmers Eeid, insurance agent, said—“l hare been managing my brother’s farm at Timaru. I entered on occupation of the farm in October, 1876. I ceased managing it about Juno 24th last.” Inspector Mallard wished the witness to sign his name, to which Mr Denniston objected. Inspector Mallard complained that ho was treated with harshness. Mr Denniston admitted that ho had used strong language, but it was in reply to an attempt by a zealous and ignorant officer to get in by a side wind evidence which was not admissible. Inspector Mallard—“ I must retort that I may be ignorant, but I claim that I can behave with decency,” His Worship “These bickerings must not be continued. If there be no legal objection to witness signing his name he may sign it.” Mr Denniston —“ I care nothing for these ridiculous retorts. I treat them with contempt. Of nil the objectionable, ludicrous, and ridiculous requests made in a Court of Justice, I have never seen so direct an attempt to discredit a witness without grounds being first shown for so doing. We will never have any decency in this Court until we get a Crown Prosecutor.” The witness then signed his name John 0. Eeid, and said ho did not know whether the signature to the bill of exchange was his own or not. Mr McNall, manager of the Bank of Australasia, said the formation of the letters was like those usually written by accused. Mr Leary swore that John O. Eeid, when shown the signature at Timaru, said it was a forgery, and threatened to prosecute his brother, whose signature he said it was. Judgment will bo delivered on Monday. The same prisoner was afterwards brought before Mr Watt, charged for that being a dire, tor of the Colonial Building and Investment Company, Limited, he did fraudulently take and apply to his own use and benefit certain property of the body corporate, to wit the sum of £5Bl Is 93, namely, £Bl Is 9d, £IOO, £l5O, £IOO and £l5O. The same offender was further charged with haying appropriated a further sum of £O7 10s, the preperty of the Colonial Building Company. Mr Denniston asked for a remand. Inspector Mallard made a statement as to his reasons for arresting prisoner late at night. He had been making enquiries at a shipping office as to the faro to England. His Worship—" I seem to bo called upon to express an opinion oa the action of the police in arresting Eeid at the hour of one o’clock in the morning, looking at the fact that the police were not called upon to take action until nine o’clock the preceding night, and that four or five people were acquainted with the matter, an information having been laid, I think, that Mr Mallard, as chief officer for the district, had a right to him at the earliest possible moment as, if Mr Eeid had escaped he would have been justly blatneable. I think, under the circumstances, the police wore perfectly justified in arresting the accused as they did.” Inspector Mallard

thought bail should not bo accepted under two sureties for £IOOO each and prisoner himself in the sum of £2OOO. Mr Denniston thought the national debt might just as well bo suggested. His Worship fixed bail in the prisoner’s own recognisance for £IOOO and two sureties for £SOO each, the charges to bo heard on Saturday next. To-day was the date fixed for the nomination cf candidates for election to serve on the Otago Harbor Board, vice Mr Mills, resigned. One candidate only web nominated, Mr Guthrie, who was declared to bo duly elected.

A *• efial meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held to consider what steps should be taken in connection with a decision of the Supreme Court to the effect that all appointments of more than one trustee iu an estate, elected under the Debtors and Creditors Act, 1876, are invalid. Telegrams were sent to the city members asking them to introduce a short Amending Bill. The chairman of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday received the following telegram from Mr Stewart, M.H.R., Mr Macandrew, the Minister of Justice, and Mr Oliver—“ Ail agree that nothing can be dona this sssfion. Facilities will bo given to bring in a Bill early next session, about six weeks hence.”

The ceremony of conferring the diplomas of the degree of B.A. of the New Zealand University on two of the successful competitors, took place in the Library of the Otago University at noon to-day. There was a very large attendance. After the ceremony was concluded the Chancellor presented Professor Ulrich with a spectroscope on behalf of Yiotoiian friends.