NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1777, 31 October 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

PER PRESS AGENCY. WELLINGTON, October 31. Parliamentary. In the House last night The Land Transfer Act Amendment Bill went through Committee. The District Courts (1858) Amendment Bill was read a second time. The other business was of little interest. The House adjourned at 1.20 a.m. The Mayoral Allowance. The attempt to reduce the Mayor’s allowance has been defeated. The City Water Supply. It being found that the water supply of the city is scarcely adequate, the Corporation are very watchful to prevent waste. Gazette NoticesMajor Atkinson is gazetted Commissioner of Stamp duties. The 10th November and the Ist of December have been proclaimed Bank holidays throughout the colony. A Too Fond Parent. A parent sought to recover £2O from a schoolmaster for severely beating his boy while at his school. It was shown that the boy had misconducted himself all morning, and that while the master thrashed him over the shoulders with a cane he hit the boy accidentally on tho head and neck, through the boy jumping about. Judgment was given for the defendant. School Accommodation. The want of sufficient school accommodation for children in tho city is attracting attention. Departure. The Pareora has cleared for London, with a cargo valued at £43,797. [PROM OtJR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] KAIAPOI, October 31. Railway Affairs. Intense indignation is expressed here at tho Railway Commissioner’s report against the siding from the Northern line to the river. A public meeting is expected to be held in reference to this and tho question of railway arrangements here generally. In addition to £IOOO due to the Borough Council for embankment, landed interests have been damaged by tho railway protective works to the extent of more than £20,000, and the townspeople are exasperated with the delays of the Railway Department. They propose to bring matters to an issue, unless the promises to the Council and to the Harbor Board receive fulfilment.

DUNEDIN, October 31. The Fatal Fire.—Further Particulars. About half-past nine last night an alarm was given. Tho fire proved to bo in tho house of Michael O’Brien, milkman. Great King street. Great excitement prevailed amongst tho crowd, it being rumoured that two children were supposed to have perished in the flames. The report was unhappily true. Tho building was soon gutted, and when the flames were subdued the Brigade entered and found the bodies of the two children lying side by side in the place where they had been left by their mother. The children must have died from suffocation, as they were not burned very severely. The father and mother were away from home looking for some cows, and a kerosene lamp had been left

burning on the table. From the rapidity with which the fire spread, it is believed it was caused by the bursting of the lamp. A very painful circumstance occurred in connection with the fire. When the bodies were being removed the father of the children ran to see them, and probably tried to lay hold of the bodies. One of the Brigade pushed him roughly, and another called out “Take that man in charge,” and someone struck him several blows in the face. Milling News. The Cromwell Company's four-weekly crushing has resulted in 733 ounces of gold from 655 tons. AUCKLAND, October 30. William Orackford was to six months for brutally kicking his wife and breaking her ribs. She went to a public house at midnight to bring him horns. Larrikins. Juvenile offenders are multiplying. Two were ordered a whipping to-day. Mr Hurst and his Constituents. A memorial, expressing a hope that Mr Hurst will take no notice of the adverse resolution passed at the meeting of electors, is being numerously signed. WANGANUI, October 30. A sharp shock of earthquake was felt this morning at 2,25. > Ferdinand Darcy, for house breaking and robbery, got three years. John Burke, for receiving stolen properly, got six months. Tawana, a Native, for manslaughter, was found “ Not Guilty.” James MoOallum, for selling arms to Natives, was found “ Not Guilty.’’ WELLINGTON, October 30. Removal of Railway Commissioner. The Government have come to no decision as to whether the Railway Commissioner shall he removed to Dunedin from Christchurch. Sheep Statistics. The following is a return of the sheep and sheep owners on 31st May in the Canterbury district :—Owners, 1534 j merino, 1,080,940 males, 1,259,082 females ; long wool, 36,571 males, 72,909 females; crossbred, 365,420 males, 556,982 females ; total, 1,482,931 males, 1,888,973 females. The number depasturing on freeholds was 2,015,017, and on Crown lands 1,356,887. The total number of sheep was 3,371,904. TIMAEU, October 30. £2lB, representing between 4000 and 4500 people, were taken at the show gates yesterday. Land Sale. At the sale of a portion of the Eeadown estate to-day, 1409 acres were sold, realising a total sum of £15,325. The attendance was very large, but the bidding lacked spirit. The Jewish Bazaar. Ths Jewish bazaar closes to-night. So far over £3OO hare been taken. Appointment. The High School Board to-day appointed Mr A. L. H. Dawson, M.A., of Melbourne, rector, and Mr W. S. Stewart, 8.A., second master. The appointment of the lady superintendent was deferred. There were no less than ninety applications for the three situations. DUNEDIN, October 30, The Harbour and its Board. At the Harbor Board to-day the engineer and harbormaster submitted reports controverting tbe statements made against the harbor and bar by the Fort Chalmers people in their memorial to the Government. The Lofcus Troupe The “ Star ” and “Herald ” have refused to publish the Loftus troupe’s advertisements. INVERCARGILL, October 30. Arson Cases.

The remanded Mataura arson case was held in the Police Court this morning. Fourteen witnesses were examined, including some of the principal residents of the district. Constable Freitwell, swore to the footprints about the house seen after the fire, being identical with the boots worn by the prisoner Whiddon, who, on being arrested by him and Detective Tuohy, admitted having fired the building for monetary consideration, at the request of Duncan Cameron. The latter was charged with being an accessory, and when arrested also admitted his guiltiness, stating that he received his instructions from D. McKay, who was also charged with being an accessory. At the first hearing of the case Whiddon and Cameron pleaded “ Guilty,” and McKay “Not Guilty.” Evidence was given to show to-day that McKay purchased the building for £2O, removed it for something like £3O, i and insured it in the New Zealand office for £176, but for only two months, the policy taking effect from the 4th of September. The case was further adjourned for eight days in order to allow further investigation. Bail was applied for, but refused. Joseph Weston was charged with setting fire to the stables of the Waimea Hotel, Dumsden. It appeared he was put into the stable when drunk, and he set fire to some straw. The case was remanded.