NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1993, 14 July 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PEBSS ASSOCIATION. [ AUCKLAND, July 14. New Zealand Insurance Company. The half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand Insurance Company was held this afternoon. The directors report that after providing for all ascertained losses and writing off £3554 as depreciation on investments, there remains the sum of £22,679 available for division, which the directors recommend should be appropriated as follows : —To payment of dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, £IO,OOO ; to bonus at 5 per cent., £SOOO ; to balance carried forward, £7679. Total, £22,679. Warrants for the dividend and bonus will be issued at the head office to-morrow, and the several branches and agencies on receipt of advices. WANGANUI, July 14. Fire. A large stable and six horses have been burned at Messrs Moore and Currie’s station, Kiaiwi. A New LoanThe Borough Council invite tenders for a new loan of £IO,OOO, secured on rents arising from the Town bolt. The money is to be spent on an additional water supply and on a new hospital. DUNEDIN, July 14. Charge of Perjury. Henry Williams has been committed for trial for perjury. WELLINGTON, July 14. Parliamentary. The House eat till 2 45 discussing the item of the compilation of a Maori history, £4500. A motion to strike it out was lost on a division of 25 to 10. Mr Whitaker then moved its reduction by £4OO, and the discussion proceeded until progress was reported. At an earlier period a vote for £4OOO for the Melbourne Exhibition was agreed to, Mr Dick stating that Dr. Hector had received strict injunctions not to exceed it. AUCKLAND, July 13. The Embracery Case. The case against Samuel Coombes for embraoery resulted in an acquittal. Totara and Jarrah. A further illustration of the superiority New Zealand totara timber over Australian jarrah, for piles, is given by a specimen of each on view at the Harbour Board Office hero. A portion of a jarrah pile which had been used at Mahurangi wharf for six years is almost entirely eaten away by worms. A block of totara, which was on Queen street wharf for fifteen years, is quite as good as when first put under water. It has been out open and the heart of the timber shows no signs of decay. The Leasehold Vote. A petition to the General Assembly is being numerously signed, praying that such alteration may be made in the Electoral laws as will enable leaseholders to vote. It will be sent to Mr Swanson for presentation. NEW PLYMOUTH, July 13. Accident. A man named Pilkington, who is working for Mr McMahon, at Waitara, had all his fingers cut off close to the palm by a chaffcutter.

WELLINGTON, July 13. Hutt County CouncilAt a meeting of the Hutt County Council to-day it was decided to take over the works

of highway and local Boards within the eounty. Orr v- K.Z. Shipping Co. The Supreme Court civil sittings commenced to-day. The case James Orr v Now Zealand Shipping Company, an action to recover damages for certain goods consigned to plaintiff by the defendants’ ship Opawa, which goods, consisting of furniture, cutlery, and so forth, are alleged to have been damaged by unnecessary storage at the Queen’s Wharf, was heard. It was not disputed that the plaintiff was entitled to damages. The question for the jury to decide was the amount of compensation that could be fairly claimed. The jury assessed the damage at £220. Trade with Samoa.

At a public meeting to-night it was decided to form the Wellington and Central Polynesia Shipping Company, to trade with Samoa, capital £20,000 in 4000 £5 shares. The prospectus will be issued immediately. KUMAKA, July 13. The Fatal Mining Accident.

Philip Cumins, one of the men injured, died in the hospital last night. The inquest commenced this morning on the body of Denis Whelan. The inspector of works in his evidence said that at all times the contractor has taken a great interest in, and done all in his power to carry out the work safely and in accordance with the specification. The inquest was adjourned until after the funeral of Cumins and Danis Whelan. A large number of witnesses’ evidence has yet to be taken. It is very probable that the body of John Whelan will be got out of the tunnel to-night, although the ground is constantly running and is frightfully dangerous to the recovering party. HOKITIKA, July 13. Westland Public Works Office-

There was a very crowded and unanimous meeting held at the Town Hall last evening (his Worship the Mayor in tho chair) to protest against the removal of tho public works offices to Qreymouth. The following resolution was carried :—“ That this meeting having learned with deep regret that the Minister for Public Works intends to remove the public works buildings and staff from the capital of the provincial district of Westland to Qreymouth, desires to express its emphatic protest against such proceeding, as being impolitic, inexpedient, unnecessary, and unjust, and a wasteful expenditure of public money ; also that the Mayor of tho borough of Hokitika be requested to proceed to Wellington, and, in conjunction with tho members for the district, use every endeavor to prevent the Government removing tho Public Works offices.” The Mayor left by the Christchurch coach this morning for Wellington. TIMAEU, July 13. Local Bushranging-

A case of bushranging on a small seals has occurred in this district. On Monday evening two men went to the Waihoa station, near Waimate, and demanded food, and on being refused presented a loaded revolver. The police were at once put on their track, one of them being arrested to-day. Sacrilegious ThiefA quantity of coin, &3., has been stolen from underneath the foundation stone of the new Primitive Methodist chapel at Waimate, which was laid on Monday. [PKOM OUB OWN COHEESPONDKNT.J WELLINGTON, July 13. The Waimate Plains. Government received telegrams from Col. Boberts to-day to the effect that he had dispatched a strong party to Major Qoring’s camp at Kaikahu to complete the telegraph line. The weather has cleared, and is now fine. Everything is qniet, and tee men are in excellent health, notwithstanding the recent bad weather. Boad making proceeds more slowly in consequence of the late rains, but on the whole makes satisfactory advance, although the completion will take longer than at first calculated.