NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1744, 22 September 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[Pbb Pbess Agkncv. I DUNEDIN, September 22. Mysterious. In eonnection with the fire at Deans' stables at Two Rivera Hotel, Waihimo, it has been reported to the police that a servant girl on leaving the hotel the same night, was seized by a man in disguise, gagged and bound, and her clothes set fire to. The man returned, extinguished the fire, and then ran away. WELLINGTON, September 22. Political. The " New Zealander " says the Ministerial and Opposition parties will each hold a caucus to-morrow, to settle preliminary arrangements regarding the session. It says the address will not differ materially from that of last session, nor are any new measures likely to be introduced by the Ministry until the Triennial Parliaments, Readjustment of Seats, and new Electoral Bill have been disposed of. There is no foundation for the rumor that the Premier will retire when those measures are carried. A Ship in Banger. The ship Matilda, which has all the plant from the Hydrabad on board, has anchored outside the Heads in a dangerous position. It appears the captain did not signal for a pilot. The wind is blowing on shore and the glass is falling rapidly. It is feared that if the vessel is not towed in soon she will be driven ashore. Later. The Matilda is dragging fast towards shore. Instructions are being sent out to the pilot to go off to her and endeavour to ship her cables and bring her in. NELSON, September 22. There is no further newajof the Messenger boats. The steamer Lady Berkley went out last night to search, and the naval brigade started in their boat this morning for the same purpose. Extraordinary Rainfall. There has been tremendous rain here since Saturday, causing landslips in all directions. There has been sin of rain between six on Saturday night and nine this morning. NEW PLYMOUTH, September 22. Edward Evans, a respectable settler residing in the bush, wont home intoxicated on Saturday night, and fired three barrels of a revolver at his wife and family, but did them no injury. He was brought before the Resident/ Magistrate, and remanded till tomorrow. [PEOiI OUS OWN COBBEBPONDENT.] DUNEDIN, September 22. The Case of Waters. On the charge of arson against Waters being called on at the Police Court, Mr Dennißton demanded that it should bo gone over de novo, but Mr Watt, in the prisoners absence, ruled that the case could not proceed. Subsequently at the gaol the depositions taken before the coroner were read over and a remand of a week was granted, to consider whether it was r.ecessary to go through all the evidence again. AUCKLAND, September 20. A public subscription is proposed to pay the fine and costs imposed on Captain Trayte, yesterday, for a breach of the Custom's regulations. Colonel Eraser addressed a crowded meeting of electors at Coromandel last night. A vote of confidence in him as a fit and proper

person to represent the electoral district of the Thames was carried. An amendment wag proposed, but it was disallowed, as the proposer was not an elector. WELLINGION, September 20. The gold recently extracted from the quartz found in the Wairarapa is stated to be of a richer quality than the Thames gold. The hotel employes have adopted a code of rules. The principal provision is that no member of the association shall knowingly acoept an engagement in on hotel or on board a steamer where Chinese labor is employed ; that no member of the association shall give any information to a non-member concerning any situation which he may know to te vacant; that the association shall undertake to supply hotels and steamers with cooks, waiters, &c.

The Wellington Klein? Club are about to discuss the advisability of having a day's racing during next session. It is stated that another member of the Civil service got a severe rating for alleged electioneering activity, but he stoutly denied the truth of the allegation. Moore, the prospector, not having received sufficient encouragement at the hands of the Wellington public, is going to leave this district for Nelson, but he Bays ho will be willing to return at any time, should he be assured of sufficient support from tho residents. The Masonic lodges in this district aro taking steps to found some scholarships which shall be open to competition to the sons and daughters of Masons.

The immigrants of the Sakaia, being mostly agricultural laborers, are going off more rapidly than was anticipated. All the single women were engaged almost immediately. Only sixteen are now left at the barracks. The sale of the N.Z.S.S. Company's plant having been irregular, the whole will have to be put up for saie again. The following are the cases set down for hearing at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, which commence on Monday, 6th October : —David Solomon, alias Thomas Cook, robbery; Walter Thomson, false pretences and embezzlement; Abraham Walmsley, housebreaking; George Snook, larceny; O. J. Walsh, larceny ; W. Matheson, larceny: Walter J. White, embezzlement; Morton Quinn, embezzlement ; Cornelius Fißher, killing a cow and several sheep; George Brighting, housebreaking. A very influential deputation of citizens waited upon Colonel Pearce to induce him to reconsider his determination not to stand for the mayoralty. Colonel Pearce adhered to his original determination, but the deputation urged the matter so strongly that he agreed to take further time to eonsider and reply definitely on Tuesday next. A serious accident occured at the Hutt, by which two persons were severely injured. Mr Henry Collett and his son Albert were engaged in the erection of a house. They were raising the frame work, but having omitted to take due precaution for its security, it suddenly fell down on both the father and son, who were buried under the mass of falling timber. The son sustained severe fractures of both thighs, and the father had one of his legs broken below the knee. His back was much injured, and it is feared that his spine may have received permanent damage. It is doubtful even whether he will survive the day. Both are much cut and bruised. Another of the sons, Charles, was also struck by the falling timber, and a good deal bruised, while Miss Collett, who was standing near, escaped almost by a miracle with no worse damage than a bruised shoulder. September 21. Collett, who was injured by the frame of a new house falling on him at the Hutt, is in a very weak state to-day, is barely sensible, and faintly recognises his friends. It is not thought his hack is broken, but as he is sixtyfour years of age and his other injuries are very serious, his recovery is doubtful. The son, whose legs are broken, is getting on favorably, the other son and daughter are all right. TIMABTT, September 20. The police received intelligence this morning that two men had been drowned in the Biver Ohau, Mackenzie country, on Thursday. No particulars as to names, &c, are yet to hand. DITNEDIN, September 20. At the Caledonian Grounds this afternoon a programme of sports was gone through, including a five mile race betwoen Burk and Henderson for £IOO. The following were the results:—Maiden Plate, 100 yards, for all who have never won an advertised prize. Bun in two heats, the first and second in each beat to run off. Skitch, 1; Eenner, 2; Hore, 3 ; time, Hi sees. Grand Open Handicap, 120 yards; first prize £5, second £2, third £1; run in two heats ; Martian d (8\ yards), 1; Skitch (8 yards), 2 ; Seanlan (8J yards), and Stanbrook (4 yards), 3. Allen entered, but the Caledonian Society games committee, who superintended to-day's proceedings, refused to allow him to run until he had explained the suspicious circumstances connected with his recent match against Brookes. Claxton continued his walking to-day at the Garrison Hall. Owing to his slightly spraining his left ankle a fo w days ago he was not in the best trim for performing what he specially desired to accomplish, namely, to cover 110 miles in twenty-four hours. Otherwise he was in fine condition. At the start he went away at a smart pace, and kept at it till 2.30 this morning, when he had covered thirty miles in the five hours and a half. He then had three-quarters of an hour's rest, after which he returned to tho track, and keeping up almost the same rate of speed had at nine o'clock covered sixty miles. Then he had an hour's spell, and recommenced at ten o'clock. It was now evident that bis lame leg was going to seriously interfere with the pedestrian's object, for he walked very painfully, and seemed a good deal distressed. The following notices, among others, are on the City Council order paper for Tuesday : " That in consequence of the overcrowded state of many lodging houses in the city, this Council considers it desirable to make such by-laws as to limit the number of inmates according to the size of each house ; that the legislative committee be instructed te draw up such a by-law as will meet the requirements ; that the building by-law be so amended as that when brick and stone buildings are erected the internal parts of such buildings, such as partitioning, be more in accordance with the outer walls, with a view to check the rapid spread of fire ; that two horses be procured at once for the use of the Fire Brigade, and two paid men be constantly in attendance at the Fire Brigade station." A brush, fibre, and broom factory has been commenced in Dunedin. The Volunteer officers will on Tuesday next consider Colonel Whitmore's circular re uniformity of clothing for Volunteers. September 21. Claxton failed to make his 110 miles. He only covered 102 miles.