NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1747, 25 September 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[per press agency..] WELLINGTON, September 25. Frank Armour, storeman to Smith, Turnbull and Co., has been committed for trial for stealing £l2 worth of goods from the store. Political. At a meeting of the Opposition this morning thirty-three attended and ten more were represented, making a total of forty-three. It is certain that the Hen. John Hall will be unanimously elected leader. After some discussion on genoral questions of policy, it was agreed on all sides that the party would be prepared to carry measures of Electoral Reform, Triennial Parliaments, He-adjustment oE Bapresentation, but the first step should be to insist on a change of Ministry. The decision as to the mode of bringing forward a motion ot want of confidence was postponed until after the Governor's spoech. From information afforded to the meeting, it was understood that several doubtful members are willing to join the Opposition on the basis then agreed upon. The Hinemoa has arrived with the Napier members. The Bankruptcy Laws. The Chamber of Commerce is discussing the necessity of obtaining an alteration in the bankruptcy laws. It was moved that their solicitor be requested to frame a bankruptcy law, to be introduced this session. It was then suggested that a petition asking for the alteration would have mora effect than a draft Act from the Chamber. It was finally left to a committee to take ftction,

Ihe Liberal Association. The Liberal Association held a meeting and determined that the society be made a permanent one, and that a strict watch be kept over the action of members of Parliament to see that they adhered to their hustings pledges. It was resolved that the Wellington association places itself in communication with other Liberal Associations throughout the colony, and arrangements were made by which delegates from other ports of the colony could be invited to attend meetings to be held hereperiodically. Threatened Action for Libel. The " Turakina Advocate" announces this morning Mr McMinn, the editor of the paper, has instrncted his solicitor to demand an apology and the withdrawal of certain statements in the "Wellington Chronicle," which are alleged to contain certain malicious defamation to be false, otherwise proceedings will be taken. The Messenger. NELSON, September 25. The Messenger has broken up, and is a hopeless wreck. She will be sold by auction on Saturday. HOKITIKA, September 25. Fatal Accident A sad accident has taken place at Greek's Gully, Arahura, by which two boys named Wilson, aged respectively six and eight yepra old, lost their livos. They were playing on a teirace forty-six feet high, when the bank gave way and they were buried by the fallen earth. An hour and a half elapsed before they were extricated, when life was found to be extinct in both of them. AUCKLAND, September 24. An important report on the prevention of fires was submitted to the Council to-day by Inspector Hughes, of the Fire Brigade. He expressed the opinion that success in the prevention of fires is largely dependent on the proper administration of the building laws, so far as the laws themselves are concerned. A dangerous class of buildings, with walls so insecure that they will scarcely sustain their own weight, is one active agent in spreading flames, while at the same time they threaten with instant death any fireman who may be venturesome enough to enter. He spoke of iron columns as being exceedingly dangerous unless cased in cement, because in case of fire, as soon as the flames become strong enough to heat these iron columns and cold water strikes them, they will snap like a carrot, and down ■j comes the structure, burying those in the premises beneath the burning debris. He > cited a case in which the inability of cast iron to resist the action of fire was demonstrated, quoting the opinions of Fairburn and Captain i Shaw on the subject. Referring to Dunedin fire, he thought if the walls of the building ' had been otherwise constructed, so as to act as a fire preventative, the melancholy conse- ' quences of the fire would not have ensued. Mr Ormond intends to move at an early date for a return showing in detail the expenditure on the Napier-Kopua railway , during the last two years. He thinks that, unless there has been great extravagance, the money alleged in the Public Works statement, to have been spent in the provincial district > cannot really have been expended. The return will be looked for with some curiosity. WELLINGTON, September 24. Henry Anderson, editor and part proprietor of the " Chronicle," has instructed bis solicitor to commence an action for libel against the proprietor of the " Bangitikei Advocate." A new racing club is to formed here. The programme the club lays down for itself is to give two days' racing of five races each day - and a consolation race, but the amount of prize money not to exceed a £IOO for any one race. j The proposed new post-office and telegraph buildings are to be erected on the site on t which the present offices stand. The buildings are to consist of three flats, and a clock tower with four faces is to be a prominent feature in the design. The total cost is not to exceed £17,000, exclusive of architect's fees, clerk of ' the works, and other like contingencies. The f materials to be used are Portland cement, concrete foundations, and brick walls. The following letter appears in to-night's " Post'': - " Levuka, Fiji, September 7th.— To the Editor of the " Evening Post" —Dear I Sir, —Having lately left Wellington, I was asked by several persons in the building trade, principally carpenters, to write, and let them l know how times are in Fiji. There is no work at all going on here, and no prospect of any so far as I can see. Every one seems to [ be afraid to do anything until the question of the removal of the capital is settled, and any i one with £IOOO would do well here at forming. By publishing this you will oblige me, > and perhaps save others heavy expense in j coming here. I am, &c, C. Skkeidak." The expenditure on the Hinemoa is said to be £SOOO more than was authorised.

It was reported about town to-day that the "New Zealand Times" had been sold to some person in the South. WANGANUI, September 24. The inquest on the fire resulted in an open verdict.