NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1710, 13 August 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBB PEESB AGENCY.] AUCKLAND, August 13. Electoral. Mr Goldie refuses to come forward again for City West. Messrs W. Buchanan, Robert Graham, and Dr. Wadis are already announced. WELLINGTON, August 13. The Native Minister. Mr Sheehan leaves for the North on Sunday. He contemplates tan or twelve days’ absence, and will pay a visit to the Thames. A Charitable’Aid SquabbleThe Hutt County Council yesterday resolved to contribute no more money towards the Benevolent Society for charitable aid purposes, consequent upon that body refusing aid to persons outside the town limits. The Hutt and Johnsonville districts have, consequently, resolved to support their own poor without applying to the chief bodies at all. Electoral. A requisition is being got up, asking Mr Walter Johnson, the present member for Manawatu, to stand for Wellington. The requisition is being rapidly signed. It is uncertain whether Mr Johnson will stand for the city, as a large number of people in the Manawatu district are anxious that he should stand against the local candidates, Messrs Halcombe and Snelson. Mr Darrell’s Difficulties. The writ for £2OC 3 damages, at the suit of the proprietors of ths “Saturday Advertiser” against Mr Geo. Darrell for libel, has been placed in the hands of Mr Travers, who defends the one action against Darrell, and proceeds with one for £SCC3 against the proprietors of the “Saturday Advertiser.”

[FEOST OTJB OWN COEBESPONDENT.] Something Like a Bankrupt. DUNEDIN. August 13. The trustee’s report in the case of J Chalmers Reid’s estate shows that therg was a deficiency at the date of the bankruptcy of £7075. The value of the assets was grossly over-estimated. The trustee thinks that the estate will not realise more than four-pence in the £l, AUCKLAND, August 12. The Waikato train last night ran over a cow. The engine and two trucks passed over the body. About a dozen trucks were thrown off the track, but sustained no injur j. The passengers and mails were forwarded to their destination in the two coal trucks which had passed over the cow. The Bay of Islands Coal Company’s report shows that 19,813 tons of coal were sold for the half-year. Mail steamers now use the coal. A dividend of 10 per cent, was declared.

Captain Murphy, of the English ship Minister of Marino, was charged at the Police Court to-day, in conjunction with Robert Robertson, mate, that he did violently assault one Alfred Cole, articled seaman, by placing him in irons, then and there striking him about the face and body with their fists, kicking him, gagging him, and otherwise ill-treating him, with intent to do him some grievous bodily harm. Cole made a long statement, alleging that the captain and mate had confined him in a small compartment, ironed, had gagged him by forcing a piece of rope in his mouth, and had hoisted him off his feet by his hands ironed together at his back, leaving him suspended fifteen minutes. He also charged them with keeping him without food, and otherwise blueing him. A largo number of witnesses will bo examined.

The North Island association carried a resolution in favor of free trade in Native land, to be submitted to a public meeting. Mr Dargaville gave notice of his intention to move at the same time time —“ That tho people of the North Island are fully competent by their representatives to deal with questions of Native policy, public works, and immigration within their own borders, and that the time is at hand when it will ba expedient for them to take that course.”

Fiji news per Meg Merrilies reports the prevalence on one plantation of a disease o£ the coffee leaf. The Government have taken active measures to eradicate it.

Mr Hobbs divided a £IOO of his honorarium amongst four charities. Mr Tolo intends to distribute his among the libraries of the Eden electorate.

WELLINGTON, August 12. The Loch Oree, which arrived from London lately, brought a quantity of life-saving apparatus for the Wellington Fire Police. The news that the Loan Bill had passed was cabled to the Agent-General and Crown agents, and the Government have received a reply from them to the effect that no difficulty is likely to bo experienced in floating the new loan, and that any amount required, in anticipation &f the loan being placed regularly on the money market, can be readily obtained.

Mr Hutchinson, the Mayor, has received a requisition from the electors of Hokitika, urging £him to stand in the Liberal interests for that constituency. Mr Hutchison has replied, thanking the requisitionists, and rcgrett ng that his engagement to Wellington electorate prevented him from serving the interests of his party in Hokitika. Mr R. C. Reid, of the “New Zealander,” has also received a requisition to stand for Hokitika.

A miraculous escape from death took place last night to a young lady travelling by the tramway. The engine was stopped but for a second or two, and before the young lady had time to alight, and while she was holding on to the rail, started at full speed for the railway station, dragging her on her back some 2CO yards, her in the mud, and tearing her dress to pieces. She was picked up all but unconscious. The erection of the railway workshaps at Petoni is proceeding steadily. The contract includes a carpenter's shop, machine shop, fitting and engine shop. The total number of locomotive engines now in use on the New Zealand railways is 163 —namely, 58 in the North Island, and 105 in the South Island. They are distributed as follows:—Christchurch 50, Dunedin 31, Wellington, Auckland and Invercargill each 16, Wanganui 13, Napier 7, New Plymouth 4, Naipara, Grey mouth, Nelson and Picton each 2, total 163. Rumors were flying about to-night to the | effect that there had been an outbreak of the Maoris on the West Coast, but Mr Sheehan says the report has not the slightest foundation. In fact, so far from that being the case, or there being any likelihood of such a thing, affairs on the West Coast have not been so tranquil for some time. Not a single official message has been sent from the West Coast to the Native Minister for the last four days.

A very large meeting was held at the Arcade to-night, for the purpose of forming a Wellington Liberal Reform Association. The proceedings were of the most orderly character throughout. The following series of resolutions were carried unanimously:— The first resolution was moved by the Mayor—" That in the opinion of this meeting the time has arrived when associations should be formed among the people of New Zealand for the of supporting Liberal principles in Legislation.” The second resolution was—- “ That such an association should now bo formed in the Wellington provincial district, and that its principles should be shortly as follows:—1. Shorter duration of Parliament. 2. Extension of the franchise, so as to place the electoral power upon the broadest basis. 3. Ee-distribution of the electorates, with a view to make representation as nearly as practicable proportionate to population. 4. Rearrangement of taxation upon a fair and equitable principle. 5. Laws for the sale and management of Crown lands and land held by natives, such as will promote settlement and prevent monopoly. 6. The vigorous prosecution of public works.” The third resolution was of the following gentlemen, with power to add to their number, whose duty it shall be to frame rules for the management of the Association, and to arrange for the establishment of similar associations in the district, and further to take such steps as may be deemed necessary for the well-being and advancement of the association, and to bring up a report at a future meeting.” The committee consists of about eighty persons, who put their names down at the conclusion of the meeting. Twelve Armed Constabulary and twentyfire tents will be sent off to Patea to-morrow morning.

DUNEDIN, August 12. _ A meeting of the Bible in Schools Association was held here to-day. It was resolved to issue a manifesto calling upon electors to support those candidates who will pledge themselves to effect an amendment of the Education Act, so as to allow daily Bible reading in the public schools. The association's manifesto is to be widely circulated. The Benares inquiry was continued to-day. The deputy harbor-master, the second and third mates, and the boatswain of the Benares, and the coxswain of the pilot boat were examined, when the Court adjourned until to-morrow. A man was found dead near the Stuart street railway crossing this morning. Deceased was evidently in very poor circumstances, and it is presumed that he died from exposure, 88 Monday night was terribly cold and wet. The committee appointed by the City Council to inquire into the action of the baths committee in the purchase of the hulk Industry, have brought up a report blaming the committee for not having attended to the matter themselves, but exonerating Councillor McEennan from any special blame in the transaction. The Land Tax assessments are being largely reduced. One of £6OOO odd was reduced to £2OOO. INVERCARGILL, August 12. Captain Hankinson, one of .the candidate 8 for Riverton, has published an address. Mr J. L. McDonald, merchant, is also mentioned for the same seat.