NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1964, 10 June 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBBSB ASSOCIATION - .] WELLINGTON, June 19. The Property Tax. At a meeting last night a political association was formed for the purpose of endeavoring to have the property tax repealed. A deputation was appointed to wait on the city members this afternoon, representing the views of the Association. KUMAEA, June 10, Important Discovery. . A most important discovery of gold has been made in the course of the construction of a long tunnel. They have been two and a half years bringing in the tunnel through the reef which exists between Dunedin Fiat and Teremakau river, and have just broke through into the wash dirt, which for thirty feet averages one grain to the dish. This is 130 feet below the ■urface a As the lowest ground at present worked has been forty feet, this discovery is very important, as all the ground below this depth 'is workable by ground sluicing, which ; means nearly the whole of the goldfields. DUNEDIN, June 10. Pedestrianism-Twenty-two entries have been received for the twenty-four hours’ walking match next month. TIMAEU, June 10. Judge Johnston on the Sale of LiquorAt the criminal sessions Judge Johnston, addressing the Grand Jury, expressed a hope that the Legislature would so amend the laws relating to the sale of drink as to prevent licensed persons having a pecuniary interest in drunkenness. The Criminal Sessions. The criminal calendar contains fifteen cases against twenty-two persons, including shooting with intent, forcible entry, arson, forgery, and robbery. INYERCAEGILL, June 10. A Rahhiter PoisonedA rahhiter, name unknown, was found dead in the woolshed of Woodburn station, on the Waiau. Poisoned wheat was found on the ground and traces of it in his mouth. It is ■supposed that he committed suicide or was inadvertently poisoned. The Pride of the SouthIt is feared that the Stewart’s Island boat, Pride of the South, is lost. She left the island on Friday, and has not been heard of since. The crew consisted of three men under an old resident known as Bob Davidson. [PEE PBE33 ASSOCIATION SPECIAX WIKB.J AUCKLAND. June 9. Mad with DrinkA Maori named Tikey was burned to death at Omaha. He was mad with drink, and is believed to have set fire to his whare and hanged himself. NAPLES, June 9. The Beer Duty. It was known on Tuesday morning by a merchant at the Spit that the beer duty would be imposed, and he cleared out his stock to an hotelkeeper. A brewer also got an inkling of the state of affairs, and acted accordingly. The duty saved by one hotelkeeper alone was £6O. At a meeting of licensed victuallers held before the statement was made, the tax—the amount of which was known —and the question of who was to pay the tax were discussed. This morning a worse blunder was made. The police had received intimation early in the evening that they were to hold themselves in .readiness for extraordinary duty. They regained up all night, but no further instrac-

tiong came. It was not until ten minute* to ten o’clock that they received official intimation of what they had read in the papers three hour* before, and the brewers were not slow to take advantage of the delay. All the cart* in the town were employed in carting beer, and the whole duty collected did not exceed £250, WELLINGTON", June 9. A resolution was unanimously pasted at a meeting of all the brewers hero that the duty be added to the price of beer, and collected on delivery, TIMAED, June 9. Supreme Court Sittings. There are twenty-two prisoners for trial here. The offence* comprise larceny, robbery with violence, forgery, arson, horse stealing, forcible entry, and shooting with intent. The criminal sessions are likely to occupy nearly a week, after which a number of special jury cases will be taken. The District Court. Owing to the illness of Judge Ward, the District Court had to be adjourned to-day. DUNEDIN, June 9. Railway Matters. The “ Star ” says it has reason to believe that no such changes in connection with the management of our railways as are authmitatively stated in to-day’s “Daily Times ” are likely to be effected. Mr Conyers will continue in charge of the Middle Island railways, but will in future be known as the General Manager, while Messrs Grant, Hannay, Arthur, and Back will probably receive their proper designation, viz, Traffic Manager*. Mr Armstrong, at present locomotive engineer in Dunedin, is to be transferred to the North Island, where he will have charge of a station. As to the Bailway Telegraph Department it is generally known that that branch of the service has already been taken [over by Dr. Lemon. The Beer TaxConsiderable consternation has been expressed by the brewer* at the imposition of the beer tax. Early this morning the Custom-house officers inspected the breweries and took stock. In the country districts the police have been instructed to act similarly.