NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1833, 7 January 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBBSS ASSOCIATION.] GEAHAMSIOWN, January 7. Inquest on a FireAn inquest ia now proceeding upon the fire at Driacoll'a public-house, whiob. was burnt under suspicious circumstances on Friday night. The Norwich Union denies having renewed the policy last month, while Driscolf swears that he paid the premium. Mining NewsBy tho pump lately bought by the Moanatairi Company standing still, it is said that it is the intention of the owners to depreciate the value o£ the adjourning mines, which are to be sold by auction this month. A Land As ociation. A meeting of persons desirous of forming a Land Association was held last night. The chairman was instructed to apply to the Government for an area of land. The Thames Railway. It is rumoured that the Government do not intend forming the railway at the Thames. A publio meeting will bo called to express dissatisfaction.

AUCKLAND, January 7,

Land Tax Defaulters.

The G-overnmsnt are issuing summonses against the Land Tax defaulters.

Sir W- Manning. Sir Wm. Manning, senior judge of New South Wales, arrived in the Zaalandia, and makes a tour of this colony.

A Heavy Shipment. The Bank of New Zealand ehipped £20,000 worth of gold to Sydney yes'erday. Defence of Colonial Harbors-

Colonel Scratchloy, who arrived from Sydney yesterday, goes South in the Binga rooma to-morrow. At tho request of tho Government, ho will inspect Lytlelon and Dunedin harbors, with reference to their defence, and will return to Auckland. WELLINGTON, January 7. Criminal Sessions

Tho Native lad, Toko Mace, convicted for horse stealing, has been sentenced to two years in Burnham Reformatory, and Mark Bryott, for forgery te two years.

Bankruptcy Court. In the Bankruptcy Court, the certificate of John Owen, formally of the Melbourne Hotel, was suspended for four months, through hia neglect to keep booki. The Centre of Attraction. Fifteen families, principally miner*, who landed at Kelson from London recently, with the intention of proceeding to the west Coast, have refused to go there, and arrired here this morning, en rente for Chrittchurch. [from ottb owk oobebsbohdbht.] DUNEDIN, January 7. Criminal SessionsThe Criminal Sessions concluded last nightA Chinaman received eighteen months for forgery. The Telegraph Strike. The telegraph strike is ended here. St. Mathew's BazaarThe St. Mathew's bazaar realised £6OO. CricketTho final aelection for the Otago eleven is : Cargill, Clark, Collinson, Conway, Cooke, Crawshaw, Haskell, McLennan, Paramor, Spring, Vernor; emergency, Parker. It is considered a week team, and Canterbury should have no difficulty in disposing of it. AUCKLAND, January 5. Mr Blewden has commenced forming a site for the railway workshops on the land purchased by Mr Macandrew at Newmarket. The body of Mr Thomas' son, two years of age, has been rec in the Waikato Eiver. He was accidentally drowned on the 21st ult. The ''Pinafore" Company. The Eiccardi Opera Company has been completely re-formed, and includes Meeßrs Eiccardi, Harding, Grain, Leopold, Love, and Misses Leaf, Teague, and Leopold. The company opens in Auckland on Monday in Giroile-Girofla. The Governor-

His Excellency the Governor returned last aight from Waikato, and left the Manukauin the Hinemoa for Wellington this afternoon.

Sporting.

It is reported that Sir H. Robinson has offered 500 guineas for Walters* colt Libeller. It is not thought Walters will sell him, as he is in very light for the Dunedin Cup. A Chiniquy Lecture-

Owing to information received, GrandMailer Bartons ordered a picked detachment of Orangemen to proceed to Otahuhu to the Ohiniquy lecture to-night. They left in drags and on horseback at 7.30. A detachment of Constabulary has also gone there. Later. The Chiniquy lecture at Otahuhu passed off quietly without disturbance. One hundred Orangemen from Auckland, duly equipped, were distributed in the hall, also twenty-fire constabulary under Superintendent Thompson and Sub-Inspeotor Pardy. The constabulary returned to Auckland at midnight by special train. It is believed these measures effectually dispelled any notion of violence, if it ever existed. Borough Councilors on the War PathA disgraceful scene occurred at Parneil Borough Council. The councillors nearly came to fisticuffs. Councillor Melton got up to speak, but found he was speaking to air, as the Major and councillors had left. GRAHAMSTOWN, January 6. Nothing further is known as to the origin of the fire. Driscoll states that his insuranoe on stock, £SO, is not sufficient to oover the loss. The remaining £l5O is on furniture. Bennett's stock was insured by Owen and Graham in Auckland for £3OO. Bennett was burnt out at the same spot some years ago, the fire on that occasion originating in an hotel adjoining .his store. An inquiry into the cause will be held in a few days. Templary. The sixth annual session of the Good Templar Grand Lodges of New Zealand North commenced its sittings to day at the Templar Hall, Thames. About thirty from subordinate lodges in different parts of the oolony were present. The G.W.O. Templar, Sir W. Fox, is prevented by serious illness from attending. In his absenoe the chair was occupied by Wm. Johnson, the G.W.C Councillor, from Wellington. A meeting of the Templar Grand Lodge of the North Island opened here this morning. A large number of delegates and members were present.

NAPIER, January 6.

The Crops-

It is alleged that rust is not nearly so common as is generally supposed, and that only a few fields of wheat and oats here and there have been attacked. Barley is quite free, and heavy crops are anticipated. A Startliug Theory.

Dr. Hector has formed an original and somewhat curious theory of the reason for the exceptionally wet season. He thinks that the Gulf Stream, which passes from equatorial regions to the south af the Auckland islands, has changed its course and, passing through Cook's Straits, has enveloped the colony. As it flows to the eastward, it carries with it a great quantity of moisture which, meeting the prevalent easterly wind, is condensed and descends on the land in the form -of rain. As a confirmation of this theory it is mentioned that some fishermen outside Wellington Heads canght some strange fish. They took them to town, when the fish were recognised as belonging to the equatorial seas. Some few days sgo shoals offish, declared by some to be entirely strange to this coast, were caught in the Napier Harbor, and it is suggested that they were of the same family. WELLINGTON", January 6. Fraudulent Bankruptcy. At the police court, G. W. Bear wan charged with concealing portions of his estate from the creditors* trustee. Accused was committed for trial. The CorDoratioa Mulcted. At the Compensation Court to-day the Corporation web mulcted in damages for injury sustained by several property holders, owing to the Corporation lowering Willis street. Dual Voting. William Hales, charged with dual voting, was found " Guilty " of the offence; but with no wilful intent. His Honor inflicted a fine of £2O, the fine not to be estreated until the opinion of the Appeal Court had been obtained on several points of law raised by defendant's counsel. NELSON, January 6. Sad AccidentsEarly yesterday morning James Brown, e. little child under three years of age, whose parents reside in Toi-toi Valley, obtained possession of a box of matches, and was playing with them outside the house, when his night dress caught fire. The child's screams caused the father to run out, who got his hands much burned in extinguishing the flames. The child died from the effects of the burns this morning, although medical aid was procured. A boy named Hamilton was seriously Bcalded while sitting on the wharf fishing alongside the Taiaroa. Lowe, the second pilot, was showing a party the steam windlass. On starting it the boy, who was opposite the steam pipe, was blown back on the wharf. His face, chest, abdomen, and legs were all severely scalded. BLENHEIM", January 6. Gas in BlenheimThe Borough Council to-night aceepted a proposal for establishing gasworks in Blenheim, made by Mr Hutcheson, C.E., of Dunedin. DUNEDIN, January 0. The Harbour BoardMr Keith Ramsay was today elected chairman of the Otago Harbor Board. The Dunedin HandicapperAt a full meeting of the committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club on Monday evening, the action taken by the stewards of the Ute meeting in calling upon the handicapper, Mr Mooro, to resign, was reported to the committee, and fully discussed. After a number of motions were discussed, the following resolution was passed :—"That the committee, whilst endorsing the action of the siewards of the late meeting in dispensing with the duties of the handicapper, are cf opinion that it was not within their power to appoint a permanent handicapper to the- club until the end of the financial year." Between £I3OO and £I4OO were taken as gate money at the Caledonian gathering. The Jockey Club have re-appointed Mr Caleb Moore handicapper. Mr James Hailett, vice-president, has resigned in consequence.