NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1756, 6 October 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[from oub own coerespondbnt]. POBT CHALMERS, October 4. The immigrants per Forfarshire have been transferred to Quarantine Island, the gale having subsided. Tho schooner Salloy Bayley, for Hobart Town, nearly foundered off Haywarda Point last night. Tho sea swept clean over her, and she was fast drifiirg up when the tug went to her assistance. It was considered imprudent for tho tug to go alongside, but Captain McCallum, Deputy-Harbour-master, instructed the master of the schooner to get under way and follow the tug to sea. This was eventually done, and the Salloy Bailey once more started for Hobarttown. DTJNEDIN, Octaber C. Judge Williams' ChargeJudgo Williams, in his charge to the Grand Jury, merely explained the law of the cases on tho calendar, and congratulated the jury on the marked absence of such staple cases as forgery, theft and the like, notwithstanding that the past winter had been one of severe; depression, during which the working classes might have been expected to be ovorcomo by temptation. Tho offences on the calendar were committed by men who wore consider* ably beyond the reach of absolute want. Q»i previous occasion at Christchurch, he had

taken occasion to observe that in good times, when wages wore high, work plentiful, and there was great material prosperity, crime became very prevalent, because, though the industrial classes were law-abiding, they were in such times unable to resist the temptation of excessive drinking, whence crime became rampant. Hawkins has pleaded " Guilty" to embezzlement. Sentence is deferred till tomorrow.

Richardson, for robbery, has been sentenced to six months.

The Rotomahana. Over 2000 people went into port to inspect the Rotomahana yesterday. One train left town with twenty-seven carriages, drawn by two engines.

[JFEB EBSSa AGENCY.] WELLINGTON, October 6. Criminal Sessions. The Criminal sittings of the Supreme Coart opened to-day. The Chief Justice, in his charge, said there was only one person in the Calendar who could not read and write, so that it was not ignorance or poverty, as in some communities, to which crime was attributable. Referring to the Poverty Bay cases sent here, the Chief Justice said that some fixed rule should be laid down to which com mitting Justices should adhere. It should not be at the will or instigation of any person that a trial should take place elsewhere, unless with the sanction of the Supreme Court. The Opunake Affair. A Normanby correspondent writes : —" I have heard, on good authority, that orders have arrived to march to Opunake, and that an important movement is about to be made. The fact of the contractor having forwarded a cargo of supplies to that place confirms the report." The Hon. E. StaffordInformation has been received here by letter that Hen E. Stafford intends to'contest an election by an Irish constituency for a seat in the House of Commons on the Home Bule interest. Political. The " New Zealander" says—" If Sir G. Grey retires it would be the death-blow to tbe Liberal cause. It must not be that Sir Geo. Grey should retire altogether, though, perhaps it may be the ultimate result of a difference of party opinion that he may be asked to resign the leadership and hold a portfolio." In the event of the above course being adopted the " New Zealander" thinks Mr Macandrew would be tbe leader most acceptable to all parties. AUCKLAND, October 4. Wm. Denham was committed for trial for stealing £4ooo]worth of securities from Singleton, a recent arrival. The chief evidence direetly connecting Denham with the money was a pound note, which he had changed at the Occidental Hotel, and which had a name on the back.

GBAHAMSTOWN, October 4. A fire broke out at 4 a.m. in a threeroomed cottage at Parawai, occupied by a man named Davies, a bushman, and owned by a person named Savage. The man was absent and the house was in charge of his daughters. The chimney had a wooden foundation, and this must have been burning some time when discovered by Mr Roberts, who was returning home. He alarmed the inmates just in time for them to escape. A few clothes only were eared. WELLINGTON, October 4. The trial of the Maori prisoners is set down for Monday, but a special sitting of the Oourt will be applied for on their behalf, and agreed to on behalf of the Crown. It is reported that very fine samples of coal have been picked up within a short distance of Featherston. It is intended to obtain permission from the owner of the land to prospect for the seam, which it is expected will be found not far from where the specimens were picked up. The Golden Point Mining Company at Picton hare commenced crushing to-day. A number of Maoris are petitioning Parliament for a grant of £1,000,000 and a million acres of land, as compensation for certain wrongs which they consider hare been inflicted on them. The Customs' revenue collected at the Port of Wellington for the week ending to-day amounted to £4395 3s Id. The Stella is now laid up for repairs. TIMARtT, October 5. The horße parade yeßterday showed an improvement in the number of entries, but hardly in the quality of the horses. The weather is very bad, and a heavy sea is running outside. DUNEDIN, October 4. The Cromwell Company obtained 5790zg. gold from 629 tons of quartz. The baths committee of the City Council purpose asking the Harbor Board for a site for fresh and saltwater baths. Efforts are being made to raise funds for the relief of the sufferers by the late fire. There is no organisation in the effort at present. R. C. Jones, of this city, claims to have invented an instrument that will give warning immediately on the outbreak of fire in any apartment in which it is piaced. At Gore an unoccupied house belonging to Mr McKay was burnt this morning. It was insured. The Lawrence Hospital committee will probably ask the County Council to take over that institution. The committee cannot obtain funds to carry it on.