NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1712, 15 August 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBB PBBSS AGENCY.] WELLINGTON, August 15. The English Mail. The City of Sydney, mail steamer, with London mails to 17th July, left San Franoisco on the 14th instant, her due date. The mail steamer Australia, with the July Colonial mails, arrived at San Francisoo on the 13th instant, a day in advanoe of the due date.

The Dissolution. _ The Governor has issued a proclamation dissolving Parliament, which is prorogued to the Ist of September. The Unemployed. It is estimated that four hundred men are out of employment. Electoral. The question is being largely asked as to whether Mr Fisher, being in the Government service, oan legally stand for election. DUNEDIN, August 15. Serious Case of Embezzlement. There was a proposal under consideration to amalgamate the Commercial and Union Building Societies. Hawkins, secretary to tbo latter, was requested by his directors to furnish a list of liabilities and assets. This was not forthcoming, but yesterday he called on the Union Company's solicitors with a statement showing a deficit of £I4OO, and at the same time handed te him a box containing strychnine, which he had contemplated using. As a result of an investigation of the books by the directors, he was locked up. It transpires that he is a defaulter to the Kaitarjgata Coal Company and the Church Society. The charges of embezzlement were partially gone into and bail was refused. Insolvencies. Ten insolvencies have been filed this week. All are smsll estates except that of John B. Lucks, hotel-keeper, Dunedin, in which the liabilities are £4162, and the assets £4584. A Charge of Forgery. A warrant has been issued against Alex. Grant, a clerk in the Crown Lands Office for forgery. Electoral. Mr Hogg, president of the Tailors' Operative Society, is a candidate for Dunedin in the working man's interest. AUCKLAND, August 14. Mr Weston, an old settler who died, bequeathed £IOO each to six Episcopalian charities and churches. GISBOBNE, August 14. A large number of residents met Mr Bobt. Cooper when he landed here, to congratulate him on his safe return from his trial at WolI lington for a breach of the Arms Act. ! WELLINGTON, August 14.

Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan will addrees the members of the Liberal Association on Saturday evening. About seventy men are now employed breaking stones for the corporation. The Commission of Enquiry into the charges made against Captain M'Kereie, late commander of the Q-orernment steamer Stella, has concluded its labors, and sent in a report. The precise nature of its contents has not yet transpired, but it is supposed to generally favorable to Captain M'Kersio. BLENHEIM, August 14. A conference of sheep owners held this afternoon was largely attended from northern Amuri, Clarence, and Wairau districts. The object was to consider the advisability of applying to Government to extend the period of cleaning runs and amend the Sheep Act 1878. Besolutions were carried—" That the meeting respectfully requests the Government to take the necessary ips to cause the Governor to suspend the operation of sections 23, 25 to 29, for as long a time as the Act allows in Marlborough and Amuri; that the interpretation of the word ' run " in section 5 should be altered so as to mean any sheep station, farm, or part thereof being substantially fenced; in clause 33 to take away the arbitrary power of the inspector, and enable a magistrate to inflict a penalty on the owner, having a minimum of £lO and a maximum of £500." The meeting adjourned till evening. TIMABU, August 14.

Moss Jonas, of the firm of Jonas, Hart and Wildie, auctioneers, intends commencing an action for £2OOO damages against the proprietor of the " Mercantile Gazette," for having published on August 9th certain matter calculated to damage his credit. The paragraph makes it appear that Jonas made an assignment of furniture, &c, for the benefit of his own wife, whereas it should have been an assignment of the furniture of a bankrupt named B. Scarf, in trust for Mrs Scarf. Between one and two feet more snow fell on the back - country during Tuesday night and yesterday. . DUNEDIN, August 14.

Matthew William Hawkins, aooountant, &c, was received into gaol to night, under remand till to-morrow, charged with embezzling moneys to a very large extent, the property of the Union Permanent Building Society, also monies of the Kaitangata Coal Company. Beport states that the amount embezzled is upwards of £4OOO. Hawkins was manager of the Union Building Society, and also of the Kaitangata Coal Company. The Benares inquiry has at length concluded. Among the witnesses to-day was William Stanley Lucas, schoolmaster at the Kaik, who said—" I was on Harrington Point when the Benares was rounding Pulling Point in tow of the tug. I went on to the point below the pilot station, and heard a voice from the tug asking—- " Are you past." Then I distinctly heard a voice from the ship—" Let go the hawser." I heard nothing more, and went away thinking the ship had got over the bar all right. Judgment will be given on Saturday. A meeting of the Otago University Council was held to-day. The Hon. H. S. Chapman wrote, stating that hie tenure of office as Chancellor expired to-day, and he did not offer himself for re-eleotion owing to the state of his health.

At the sale of Crown lands to-day the competition was spirited. The amount of land offered was, however, small. The runs offered were released to the original holder, the Hon. B. Campbell.