NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1886, 10 March 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBBSB ASSOCIATION.] NEW PLYMOUTH, March 10. Volunteering. A large meeting was held k't night to make arrangements for the purpose of according a reception to Sergeant Okey, the winner of the champion belt, on Saturday next. A committee was appointed, and subscriptions are coming in liberally. It has been decided to invite the Auckland representatives ashore, and to have all the volunteers paraded. Okey is the third Taranaki man who has won the belt. Hoskins, Painter and Okey, are the three. RICHMOND, March 10. Cavalry TournamentThere is a large attendance at the Cavalry tournament. The arrangements are good and the weather perfect. In the first contest files of two men ride a quarter of a mile, taking two fixed fences 3ft. Gin. high, and, on arriving at the 200 yards firing point, dismount and fire as many shots as possible. Time, 3 minutes. The winners are—lst, McLean and Wulkingtoa (Wairoa), with 15 centres and 10 outers, 90 points. 2nd, Howie and J. Thurston (Wairoa), 15 centres and 9 outers, 87 points. 3rd, Johnston and Aitken (Wairoa), 2 centres and 24 outers, 80 points. The other squads are Smith and Thurston (Alexandra), 63 points ; Somervi'le and Laird (Alexandra), 43 points. Somerville’s horse refused the jumps and time had almost expired when he arrived at the firing point. McLean was thrown going over the second fence, but jumped up and ran to the filing point. TAURANGA, March 10. Shooting at a Native. The case against Isaac Wilson, of ths Ohinemutu Hotel, for shooting at a Native was concluded yesterday. Wilson was committed to trial at the Auckland sessions. Bail was accepted. WELLINGTON, March 10. Local Industries CommissionMessrs. J. W. Bain, B. Wakefield, and W. Murray, M.H.R.’s, have been appointed members of the Commission to report on the question of local industries. Two others are yet to be appointed. Fatal Accident. During the passage of the barque Alaster, from London, a seaman named William Day, fell from the main topmast on to the deck sustaining concussion of the train. He died four hours later. DUNEDIN, March 10. Wife DesertionAt the annual meeting of the subscribers to the Benevolent Institution yesterday it wag resolved—“ That legislation is urgently needed for the purpose of compelling husbands, who have gone to other colonies leaving their wives and families destitute, to contribute to their maintenance.” Mr Fulton intends to take action in the matter in Parliament. A Young Larrikin. The Minister of Justice has been communicated with on behalf of the lad McElhenny, who was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment and twelve strokes with a cat-o’-nine-tails on Monday. It is not probable that the punishment will be inflicted until the case receives further consideration. The Water Supply. The scarcity of water in the city has now reached such a point that the corporation have decided on cutting off the water supply for machinery purposes. Yest erday the depth of water in the reservoir was only eight feet. There is loud grumbling on the part of councillors with regard to the Silveratream scheme. Practical men have expressed an opinion that, during the winter, a slip so serious as to bring the whole hill bodily down, would take place at one portion of race, and it was asserted that in dry weather, as at present, the loss from leakage along the course of the race would be so great as to necessitate large lengths of piping ere any dependence could be placed upon a full supply. Two Councillors said it would coat £130,000 to make the scheme available. The Council, however, ordered the calling for tenders for further worke, costing £SOOO. The Vacant Chair-

At the University meeting a letter was read from Professor Scott that he was endeavoring to induce Professor Traquar, one of the greatest authorities on fish fossils, to apply for the biology chair. CommittalAt Tapanui, George Harvey, a settler, has been committed for trial for stealing wire. The “ Daily Times-" The “ Daily Times” Company declare no dividend for this year, but carry forward £2715, AUCKLAND, March 9. Civil Service CommissionSir Robert Douglas was a passenger by the Rangaitira, for Wanganui, to-day, en route for Wellington to serve on the Civil Service Royal Commission. Cyclone in New Caledonia. Mr D. C. Oruickshank, the French Consul, is soliciting subscriptions in aid of the sufferers by a recent cyclone in New Caledonia. Hematite OreA company is being formed in Auckland to develope the Thames hematite ore deposits and other pigments in the province. The Late Dr. FoxThe late Dr. Fox, of the ship Earl Granville, was well-known in Auckland. He came out last year as doctor of the immigrant ship Maraval. The interment took place to-day. Passengers per Earl GranvilleAll the passengers per Earl Granville are progressing slowly. Dr. Humphrey Haines has been appointed surgeon-superintendent, and he is at present on the Island. The ship will bo admitted to pratique on Friday, but the immigrants will remain on the island for a week. Volunteering. At a meeting of Volunteer officers held to•night a series of resolutions were agreed to for submission to Colonel Deckle, embracing transfer from corps, capitation, new rifles, and the admission duty free of Volunteer appointments and clothing. It was stated that Captain Mowbray, of the Auckland Scottish, has at the present time £95 duty to pay on clothing recently ordered from England. Colonel Decide reviewed the Hamilton Cavalry to-day, aud complimented them on their drill. TAURANGA, March 9. Charge of Shooting at a NativeThe Resident Magistrate has been occupied all day in investigating a charge against Isaac Wilson, late proprietor of the Ohinemutu Hotel, for shooting at a Native during the recent forcible occupation of the premises by the Natives under a warrant signed by the alleged Native owners. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 9. News from the FrontThe Armed Constabulary force lately stationed at Stoney river, moved to their new camp at Runeha yesterday. The Natives made not the slightest opposition to the men coming, telling them that they could fix their camp where they liked. The chief, Te Mohi, intends making a present to Colonel Roberts as soon as the tents are fixed. The site of the new camp is about 200 yards on the north side of the old telegraph office, and is on a stream called Hauminga. There were 260 men belonging to the force there besides the working party, which consists of SO men, who will be under the charge of Mr C. W. Hursthouse. The Boyal Commission arrived in town today from Waitara. GISBORNE, March 9. Mr Ward’s Case. The alleged forgery case against Mr Ward continues. All the witnesses have been recalled. Archdeacon Williams produced the Matawhero B deed and underwent a severe

examination as to the genuineness of the signature alleged to bo forged. Mr Ward, sen., swore that he saw the deed with Dr. Nesbitt’s certificate on it on January 15th last, eight days before the date of the alleged forgery. The case is becoming very complicated. NELSON, March 9. B Bankrupt Solicitor. At a meeting of the creditors of Mr Henry Adams, solicitor, his liabilities were given at £8597 and assets at £5915. These were considered to be over-estimated, as the properties are heavily mortgaged. A number of questions were asked with reference to monies entrusted to the debtor for investment, and it was resolved not to assent to the deed of assignment, but to throw the estate into the Bankruptcy Court. BLENHEIM, March 9. The Awatere Line. Ths Hon. the Minister for Public Works, accompanied by Mr Conyers, arrived at Blenheim to-day. Mr Oliver recommended that the claims of the district should be impressed upon the Railway Commissioners when they visit Marlborough, for on their dictum the Government would have to rely in a great measure, as to whether the extension of the Awatere line should be at once proceeded with or not. Gold Discovery. Gold has been discovered in the Upper Wairau Valley, about thirty miles from Blenheim. Some forty miners are at work, making from 15s to 20s per day. A rush is deprecated, experts considering that with the first heavy rains the diggings will be flooded and the works carried away. WELLINGTON, March 9. Volunteer Statistics. The total number of Volunteers in the colony is 8247, exclusive of Cadets, who number 1901. DUNEDIN, March 9. The Christchurch ReviewThe L Battery Artillery, Port Chalmers, will attend the Christchurch review. The UnemployedMr W. D. Stewart telegraphed to the Government to-day, asking if employment could not be given on works in progress to the most necessitous cases amongst the unemployed. Insuring the Town HallSome time ago the City Council resolved to insure the new town hall for £20,000, and invited tenders from the different insurance companies. The Eire Underwriters Association have tendered at four shillings per hundred pounds, the whole sum of £20,000 to be equally divided among all offices. The matter was referred to the town hall committee.

[tbok otna own coebespondbnts.] WELLINGTON, March 9.

Executive Council-

An Executive Council meeting was held at Government House to-day at noon, his Excellency the Governor presiding. The Ministers present were the Colonial Treasurer (Major Atkinson), and the Colonial Secretary (Mr Dick), the only members of Ministry now present in Wellington. The GovernorThe Governor leaves Wellington in the Hinemoa on March 14th, so as to be present at the Hawke’s Bay races, which take place on the 15th. Messrs Oliver and ConyersThe Hon. R. Oliver, Minister for Public Work*, and Mr Conyers, Commissioner of Railways, left early this morning by the Stella. The steamer started at 3 a.m., and was expected to reach Pioton in time for the official passengers to catch the 8 a.m. train to Blenheim. Messrs Oliver and Conyers have arranged to return by a special train to Picton after inspecting the railway, and then go on by the Stella to Nelson, arriving there late to-night. To-morrew an inspection of the Nelson-Foxhill line will be made, and another departure taken in the evening for Westport. After the Westport and Greymouth railways hare been duly viewed, Mr Oliver will return to Wellington, Mr Conyers going overland to Christchurch and Dunedin, where he will probably arrive in about a week. From the Front.

The Government have received farther telegrams to-day from Colonel Roberta and Major Goring, giving excellent accounts of the Wellington “ unemployed ” contingent. Those officers also expressed their ability and willingness to take at least fifty more men at once, so that a number who are now at the barracks all ready, werejsent up by the Hinemoa, which left for Opunake and Taranaki this afternoon. The Hinemoa also took the wives of those who went up a little time ago to work on the plains at road-making. Major XempThe dismissal of Te Keepa Rangihiwinui (Major Kemp) as Native Assessor and Land Purchase Officer has been gazetted. The ground of dismissal is stated to be “disobedience of orders and turbulent conduct.” Civil Service Commission. Four members of the Civil Service Royal Commission have now been selected, and it is expected that the fifth will be appointed immediately. The four who have intimated their willingness to act on the commission are Sir Robert Douglas, Bart, Mr A. Saunders, M.H.R., Mr Thomas Kelly, M.H.R., and Mr Charles Pharazyn. The commission will probably be issued to-morrow, and in that case the commissioners will begin their labors forthwith. Conference of Insurance Managers. A conference of insurance head managers is now being held in Wellington, and has been sitting for several days. The Insurance Companies represented are as follows : —New Zealand, MrG. P. Pierce; Southjßritish, Mr A. Boardman, sen.; National, Mr A. Hill Jack ; Union, Mr W. Devenish Meares ; Colonial, Mr F. Allen ; Victoria, Mr J. W. Brindley. The proceedings of the conference are conducted in private, but the business consists in the discussion of various matters affecting insurance generally. The members of the conference waited as a deputation on the Colonial Treasurer on Saturday, to urge on the Government the hardship of insurance premiums being taxed, which they characterized as a tax on industry, and one which fell in reality on insurers and not on the companies, as the latter would have to charge proportionately increased rates to make up for the less. Major Atkinson promised that the matter should receive the careful attention of the Government, and that an early answer should be returned. Railway CommissionThe Railway Commission decided yesterday on the programme of business for the current week. The commissioners to-day make a personal inspection of the West Coast railway routes between Wellington, Johnaonville, and Porirua. To-morrow they will go to Masterton, proceeding thence on Thursday over the proposed railway route to Palmerston, via Manawatu Gorge, and then on to Foxton by rail. At each place evidence will be taken as to the land opened up by the West Coast railway, &o. The commission finally return to Wellington along the route of that line with the object of satisfying themselves by careful personal examination as to the merits or demerits of the scheme, especially in regard to the quality, extent, and capabilities of the country which would be affected by it.