NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1819, 19 December 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

INVERCARGILL, December 19. A Municipal Loan. The Town Council last night decided to ask the approval of ratepayers to a further loan of £20,000 for general purposes. AUCKLAND, December 19. Rewi. Rewi is recovering rapidly. He holds a meeting of the Ngatamaniopoto on Saturday. Fatal Accident. The steward of the g.s. Tangihua, named George, was drowned at Aratapu, by falling overboard. The Melanesian MissionThe Melanesian schooner Southern Crossi arrived from tko Islands after an eight months’ cruise. She left Bishop Solwyn and party at Norfolk Island; all well. Passengers —Revs. Godringtan and Outr>ro : tiß. Parliamentary. WELLINGTON, December 19. The Council met at 10 and adjourned till 11, when Mr Whitaker said that as to the railway lines which bad been struck out on the previous rrght, the Council was placing the Government in a difficulty. Some of the lines were authorised by the Railways Construction Act of last year. He proposed now to so far meet the views of the Council as to frame the schedules that their application should be confined to contracts already accepted. He would however, agree to the item, East and West Coast from the main line to a junction with the line from Nelson to Greymouth or Hokitika being struck out, as it was a new line. A shore discussion followed. The B'll was then recommitted. Clause 21, exchange of land in Oamaru with Messrs Lees and Moore, was struck out on a division by eight to nine. , In the first schedule the following alterations were made : —Authorised railways—The 1 line from Waikato to Taranaki was struck out. On the Nelson to Greymouth line, the sections Nelson to Roundhi'l and Greymouth to Nelson Creek, with harbor works at Greymouth, were inserted. In the Picton to Hurunui line, the Blenheim to Awatere section was inserted. In the Waitaki Hurunui line, the section Amberley to Waikaii was inserted. All these sections arc already under contract. The Bill was read a third time, and the Appropriation Bill passed. The House met at one o’clock, when The Premier explained the Council’s amendments in the Public Works Bill, and moved that they be agreed to. Mr Gisborne moved—“ That the House disagree with the omission of the Waikato to New Plymouth line.” Ministers said they regretted its excision, but thought the matter of not sufficient urgency to justify disagreement. After discussion in the House a motion to agree to the excision of the Waikato to New Plymouth line was carried by 22 to 15. The ProrogationOther arcendmentsmadebytheCounoil were then agreed to, and the House adjourned till three, when the prorogation took place. AUCKLAND, December 18, Tlie Dempsey Cases. At the conclusion of the Dempsey cases today, on the question of costs, tbs Magistrate said he must allow a guinea. Dempsey appealed to the Court. He had been to Wellington at some expense, and thought it unfair that bis misfortunes should be turned into a harvest for solicitors. The Labourers’ Aid Society. At a mooting of the Laborers’ Aid Society a letter was read from Sir G. Grey, that the Government had not had time to enter into the matters referred to by the unemployed. The prospectus of the Southern 00-oporative Land Association, received through the Mayor, was under consideration, but owing to the terms not being explained clearly enough in the prospectus, it was resolved to defer the matter until fuller details were received. NAPIER, December 18. The Trial for Wife Murder. McLennan’s case was concluded this evening. The Judge occupied three hour* in a masterly summing up. The jury retired for about an hour and, contrary to general expectation, returned a verdict of “ Not Guilty.” The Judge merely said Prisoner at the bar, it is now my duty to discharge you.” On leaving Court prisoner was immediately arrested on a charge of forgery. WELLINGTON, December 18. Bank Holiday. The 27bh December has been declared a Bank holiday throughout the colony. AppointmentMr W. N, Searancke has been appointed an interpreter under the 12th section of the Native Lands Act, 1873. Land Slip. A slip occurred on the West Coast railway now in course of construction, burying three workmen. Two managed to extricate themselves. The third, a young man named Coleman, received severe contusions on the back and limbs, the tendons of his legs being also injured. Supposed Drowning CaseIt is feared that a young man named Seager has been drowned while crossing the Aohanga River. He had been employed at Glencoe station, and was crossing the river, when ho was swept from the horse. Nothing has been seen of the body. St. Just McKay, who recently attempted suicide by taking chloral, has been discharged. NELSON, December 18. SuicideA strange case of suicide occurred at Oollingwood the other day, A man named W. O. Smith, who recently lost his wife, was on the way to give evidence in a case against a medical man. Smith called at the house of Mr Boggis and complained of being ill. Boggis thereupon went to Court to explain Smith’s absence, and on his return found him dead, with a piece cut out of his throat with a pocket knife. At the inquest a verdict of temporary insanity was returned. Found Drowned. To-day a married woman named L. Wilkins, aged forty-three, was found in the Matai river, Trafalgar street. She had been missing since Saturday, but little notice was taken of the circumstance, because of her eccentric and intemperate habits. An inquest is being held. DUNEDIN, December 18. Distribution of PrizesThe annual distribution of prizes at the Girls’ High School took place to-day, Bishop Nevill presiding. The Board of Governors’ gold medal was taken by Miss Flora Allan. Railway Employes’ Benefit Society. A deputation from the three price.pal orders of friendly societies waited on Mr Conyers this morning for the purpose of bringing under his notice the injury inflicted on friendly societies by the clause in the railway rules and regulations which compels all persons joining the service to become members of the Railway Employes’ Benefit Society. Mr Conyers admitted the justice of what was advanced by the deputation, and said the clause had not been enforced by his authority. New rules were being drawn up, and a clausa would be inserted embodying the principles suggested by the deputation. Harbour Board. There was a special meeting of the Harbor Board this afternoon, to consider the question ef ways and means and several departmental reports sent in in advance, owing to the approaching holidays. The Board went into committee at a very late stage of the proceedings. It was reported that the Sank balance at date was £32,009. OAMARU, December 18, InquestAt an inquest held to-day, regarding the fire which occurred on the night of the 13th inst. in the shop of Russell, saddler, Thames street, the jury returned an open verdict,

V TIMAEU, December 18. Journalistic. A meeting of the proprietors of several newspapers in the colony wss held here today, at which representatives of the following papers were present: Herald,” " Anekland Star,” '‘Wellington Post/*“ Lyttelton Times,** “ Timaru Herald,** “Dunedin Star,** “Dunedin MorniigHerald,” and “Otago Daily Times.” The business transacted was of a confidential nature. The special wire question was fully discussed. The conference meet again tomorrow morning. INYEROARGILL, December 18. The first annual distribution of prizes in connection with the Girls’ High School took place this afternoon. About sixty children were present, and there was a fair attendance of their friends. Professor Black was amongst the speakers.