NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2040, 7 September 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PßESS ASSOCIATION.J NEW PLYMOUTH, September 7. Wreck of the Rangitira. At three o’clock this morning, the steamer Rangitara, on her passage from Manukau to this port, ran ashore near Bell Block, and became a total wreck on a reef known as Pepperik’s Fishing Bock. The place lies about four miles from the Waitara. The cause of her making that point is supposed to be some evasion of duty on the part of the men on watch, no alarm of danger being given till the steamer was fairly on the reef. There wore eight passengers. It was a beautiful night, and there was no cause for her to, run ashore so far from the port she was making. The passengers and mail have just bean brought into town. The Rangitira was uninsured. Later. Further particulars show that the Eangutira loft Manukau at 11 a.m. yesterday, and experienced fine weather along the coast. Captain Harvey was on deck an hour before the catastrophe, and, it happening to be a fine clear night, no special danger was apprehended, and he went to his berth leaving the mate in charge of the watch. At 3 o’clock the captain and passengers wore awakened by a slight shook, like the dropping of an anchor. Immediately, however, an order to reverse the engines was given, and another and second shock was felt, and the steamer proved to be fairly grounded on the rooks. Oapt. Harvey was on deck in a few seconds after the first shock, and at once saw the danger, which it was impossible to avert. The engines were unworkable and the steamer fixed in the rocks like in a vice. The tide was half ebb at the time, and the water making its appearance in the fire compartments, the boats were lowered, and the passengers and mails brought ashore. The luggage was then safely landed. The passengers and crew received every attention from the settlers at Bell Block. At 10 a.m. this morning the water was washing over the steamer, and Captain Harvey was compelled to abandon her. Some of her cargo was got ashore. Fears are entertained that the steamer will break up by noon. The Government steamer Hinemoa left the roadstead shortly after daylight and steamed down to the scene, but conld render no assistance, as the Rangitira was in a hopeless condition. Two lighter boats were despatched to land sa mnoh cargo as possible. The cargo is valued

at £IO,OOO. The passengers by her were : For New Plymouth : Mr Ford and a Chinaman. For Wanganui : Judge Symonds, Messrs Porter, Saunders, and Turner. WELLINGTON, September 7. The SorataDr. Lemon has received the following cablegram from Adelaide : A diver has examined the bottom of the Sorata and reports a small hole on the port side. They are getting the cargo out of the after-hold. The bulk heads are all more or less damaged. The wind is increasing. AUCKLAND, September 6. The UnemployedIn response to an advertisement requiring a man for the country, out of fifteen unemployed who applied for the job this morning, only four appeared at all willing to take 15« a week and found. The others declined the pay. Court of Enquiry. Mr Hill, Collector of Customs, held a preliminary enquiry into the circumstances connected with the loss of the barque Kauri, and the result was that he resolved to send the matter to the Resident Magistrate for investigation. The Court of Enquiry will sit on Thursday next. WELLINGTON, September 6. SuicideAn inquiry was held before the of Customs this afternoon into the circumstances connected with the death of a man named Thos. Tynan, who was drowned during the passage of the barque Anne Melhuish, from Newcastle. The evidence proved conclusively that deceased committed suicide. Every endeavor was made to rescue him, and, although a life buoy was thrown near him, ho made no attempt to save himself. Hospital Enquiry, At the hospital enquiry this afternoon a report was drawn out to be submitted to the Colonial Secretary, recommending that immediate action be taken with reference to reorganising the staff. It is probable that the result will be made known in the course of a day or two. KUMABA, September 6. Complimentary Baaquet-

A complimentary banquet was given here on Friday night to Mr B. J. Seddon, M.H.B. Sixty were present, the Mayor in the chair. The mining community was strongly represented. The speeches made were in no waypolitical. GEEYMOUIH, September 6. MiningThe amalgam taken from the top plates only of the Golden Fleece Extended for the two weeks ending Saturday, 4th instant, was 5710z5. lOiwts. HOKITIKA, September 6. Body FoundThe body of the missing man Palmer was found this morning on the beach north of the Teremakau river. Palmer i» the schoolmaster from Canterbury who arrived here by coach on August 7th, and was missed suddenly on the night of Tuesday, August 10th. Criminal Sessions. The Supreme Court sittings were opened to-day by Mr Justice Williams. Denis Lynch was found guilty on two charges of larceny, and sentence was deferred. Robert Walker Cook was found guilty on two charges of forgery, and sentence was also deferred. John Sweeney, for unlawfully wounding, was sentenced to twelve months, with hard labour. Accidentally DrownedStephen Spencer Cook, a sailor on board the Spray, was accidentally drowned when attempting to proceed from the wharf to the vessel. At the inquest held to-day, a verdict of “ Accidental death ' ’ was returned. TIMAETJ, September 6. An All-ronnd Offender. At the Eesident Magistrate’s Court to-day John Pound, recently arrested in Auckland on a charge of wife-desertion, and now doing a sentence for that and wilful damage to property, was committed for trial at the Supreme Court for a burglary, committed at the Timaru post-office about two months since. Educational-

The Timaru school committee to-nigbt resolved to request the parents of ch ; ldren to pay one shilling per head per month towards incidental expenses, provided that the total amount paid by any parent does not exceed 2s 6i. If this is net done, the committca cannot carry on, owing to the reduction of the grant by the Board. The school has over 1000 pupils. OAMARU, September 6. Disappearance of Telegraph OperatorA young man named Johnston has suddenly left the telegraph office here, where he was employed as one of the operators. He left a letter detailing how his property should be disposed of, and saying that it would be no use searching for him. As he was fond of a joke it is possible that he has left the department in consequence of the recent reduction, and not for the purpose implied in his letter.

Inquest. The inquest on the body of A. V, Jones resulted in a verdict of death from natural causes. DUNEDIN, September 6. A Derelict Boat. During the passage of the ship City of Sparta to this port she came across a derelict boat, which had belonged to the steamer America, wrecked some months ago. The Waikaia Seat. Captain McKenzie has retired from the contest for the Wakaia seat. INVERCARGILL, September 6. Railway Time Table. A largely-attended public meeting was held in the theatre this evening to protest against the recent change in the railway time table affecting the Invercargill and Kingston lines. A telegram to Mr Bain, M.H.B , from Mr Oliver, was read, explaining that the change had been made by the Commissioner without Minister’s sanction, and that an investigation of the matter was going on. A resolution, moved by MrG. Lumsden and seconded by Mr H. Eeldwick, was passed unanimously—“ That the alteration is an arbitrary interference by the Commissioner in the interests of a private com* pany to l he prej udice of the public interests and diminution of the colonial revenue, and that the time-table formerly in force should be immediately reverted to.” The second resolution was moved by Mr J. T. Thomson, seconded by Mr J. Hatch, and carried without dissent—“ That the attention of the Government be called to the fact that in the haulage of goods from Lumsden in classes A, B, C, and D, the charges for 150 miles to Dunedin are about the same as for 50 miles to Invercargill, depriving the latter of traffic with its own district.” It was decided to forward copies of the above to the Minister for Public Works. Remains FoundInformation reached town to-day that the remains of a man named Edwin Richards, who went smissieg from Lumsden over twelve months ago, have been found at Round Hill-

[PEOM OtTS OWN COEBBSPONDEST. 1 WELLINGTON, September 6. Ministerial MovementsMessrs Whitaker and Eolleaton will ba passengers by the Hinemoa to Wellington. The Property TaxAs the departure of the Governor was delayed for two hours on Saturday, owing to the postponement of the steamer’s sailing, it was hoped that means might be found to hold, another Executive Council meeting and get a formal approval of the new Property Assessment schedules. This, however, proved impracticable, as the necessary preliminaries could not be completed in time. The issue of the schedules, therefore, as stated on Saturday, cannot now take place earlier than Thursday or Friday next, after the ActingGovernor has been duly sworn in. It is practically certain that the time for returning the schedules when filled up will have to ba extended till the end of October. Wellington City Council and the Governor. An attempt is being made by the “ Chronicle" to excuse the discourtesy shown by the Mayor and City Council to the late Governor on his departure by representing it as justifiable retaliation for his Excellency’s neglect to invite the Mayor to the Queen’s Birthday dinner. The “ Post,” however, explains that Sir Hercules Eobinson was barred by official and social etiquette from inviting the Mayor, as his Worship had pointedly abstained from paying the customary respect to her Majesty’s represents-

tivo by not calling at Government House. The “ Chronicle ” remarks on the Hon. Mr Gisborne not being invited, and assumes the cause to be Mr Gisborne’s supposed sympathy with Sir G. Grey on the question of elective Governors. Mr Gisborne, however, writes to-night disclaiming any such sympathy and strongly condemning the idea of the eleo'im or selection of Governors in the colony. Bankrupt Justices. It is reported to-day that the Government has issued a circular to all justices of the peace who have been bankrupt calling on them to resign forthwith. I have not been able to ascertain positively if this is correct.