NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1782, 6 November 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[fEOM OtJE COEEESPONDHNT.] PORT CHALMERS, November 6. The Floating Dock. The floating dock at Port Chalmers was unmoored to-day and taken to Dunedin, after a ten-years’ stay in tho port. It is anticipated that an increase of business will result from the shift. A strong S.W. gale is blowing. WELLINGTON, November 6. ParliamentaryThe first part of yesterday afternoon was wasted by a most absurd resistance, led by Sir George Grey, to a demand by the Government that an important motion, made by Mr Hamlin, as Chairman of the Native Committee, should be given notice of and thus the Government have an opportunity of inquiring into its merits. On pressing it to a division, Sir G. Grey found himself in a minority of 26 to 46,

Mr Hall then gave notice that at 7.30 he should move to go inter Committee of Supply for the purpose of asking authority from the . House to ester into certain contracts which i would place- the Government in a position to ' let contracts that would provide immediate employment for the many persons at present unemployed. In reply to Mr Saunders’’ question, the Colonial Treasurer said that, although all sides- of the House agreed that £190,000 had long been due to the local bodies of Canterbury, he was unaware of any provision having been made for it* payment. Its payment could not be made until'the five million loan had been raised. Sir George Grey rose to make a personal explanation,, but only complained that the question had been allowed to be put, and offered no attempt at explanation as to why he had made a statement so utterly at variance with all the facts of the case to the Christchurch electors. A Bail BreakerDennis Anglin has been committed for trial for perjury. The prisoner had been committed for last January sittings, and the grand jury returned a true bill, but he did not surrender to his bail. He had since been' at large until within a few days ago, when he was arrested in Christchurch, fully identified, and remanded to Dunedin. The Cook’s Straits!CableThe sea and wind in the Straits is unfavourable to completing the cable, rendering operations difficult. The Agnes still lies in Worach’s Bay, awaiting a favourable time. She has eighteen miles of cable on board. Its condition is as good as new. The conditions required to make a successful job are that she should start from the White’s Bay end, paying out against the flood tide over the new route, which has been surveyed to (avoid the bad ground where the previous cable was destroyed through chemical action. It is probable that the Agnes may have to remain where she is for a day or two yet. BALCLDIHA, November 6. Robert Houliston, settler at Te Hoka, who met with an accident by the upsetting of his spring cart here on the 26th nit., died during last night from the injuries he had referred.’ AUCKLAND, November 5. At a meeting of the Pumping Association held to-day the balance sheet showed liabilities of over £4OO, assets nil. It was decided that tho Moanatairi Company keep pumping until Ist December, when a further meeting will be held. The Contractor and his MenDempsey, the contractor for the reclamation, paid his employes’ wages in full this morning. He has further promised to take on again tomorrow morning as many as he possibly can. November 5. The Cook Straits Cable. The steamer Agnes did nothing to-day. The final repairs are expected to be made tomorrow. The Court of AppealThe Court of Appeal opens on Monday next. Appointment. Arthur Cooper, son of the Drier Secretary, is said to have been appointed secretary to the Chief Justice. Sporting; Mr Bed wood’s Grip and St. George have gone to Christchurch by the Taiaroa. Local Industries. Deputations of the Local Industries Association will wait on the Government and Corporation relative to the manufacture of railway carriages, drain pipes, and other articles capable of being manufactured in the colony. The Chamber of Commerce is moving in the matter of tariff revision. Reported Government Proposals. It is reported that tho Government intend to repeal the land tax, increase tho stamp duties, impose a property tax, re-impose the duties on tea, sugar, and flour, and increase the duty on spirits by 2s a gallon. Mr Montgomery’s Amendment. It is stated that the Government will accept Mr Montgomery’s amendment to abolish plural voting. NELSON, November 5. Attempted Suicide. P. L. Lawrence, fruiterer, in Trafalgar street, had a row and exchanged blows with his wife this afternoon, and then tried to poison himself with aconite liniment, supplied to his wife for neuralgia. The consequences were not serious. He is now in custody. WESTPORT, November 5. A respectable looking young man named Norman MacKeuzie, long resident in this district, was committed for trial for an indecent assault on a little girl' aged ten. A boy aged nine, second son of a widow named Maddison, has been missing since Friday. His cap was found in the river, under the staith. DDNEDIN, November 5. The ex-pupils of the Dunedin High School have determined to present to the school a portrait in oils of the late Sir John Richardson. Lucky Greymouth Men. The winners of the first prize in Cameron’s £6OOO sweep on the Melbourne Cup are the engineer of the Despatch, a man named Splaine, employed on board the same boat, and Mr J. Casey, all of Greymouth, A Prodigal Presbytery. The Dunedin Presbytery met to-day. It transpired that the Presbyterian Synod has granted sums in aid of churches, &c., amounting to £13.500, while there is only £2500 to meet the expenditure. The Hard Times. At Tapanui the Pastoral Society has abandoned its show for this season on account of the scarcity of money. The SynodThe English Church Synod passed a resolution in favor of grants in aid of public schools. INVERCARGILL, November 5. Joseph Wislin was charged at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, on remand, with fire raising at Lumsden, and was further remanded.