NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2145, 10 January 1881, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[FEB PEBSS ASSOCIATION.] GISBOBNE, January 10. The Oil Wells. Mr Kendall, the m&nager of the Poverty - Bay Petroleum Company, returned from Sydney on Saturday, bringing improved tubing and machinery for oil boring purposes. The survey of an important oil spring block near East Cape is now about completion. The native owners are anxious for the title to be determined, to enable them to deal at once with European investors. WELLINGTON, Jaiuary 10. Rumours are current that a well known getter up of sweeps, who recently drew one for £2OOO on the Wellington Cup, was passenger by the last outward mail steamer for San_ Erancieco. He left per Hawea, his fa-uily having previously left under an assumed namo per Botorua. The drawers of horses are in despair. TIMABU, January 10. Incendiarism. William Gosling, a farmer at Mount Horrible, had a large bay stack burned last night. Incendiarism is suspected, and the p >lice are now looking out for the suspected parties. »» D NEDIN, January 10. Fire Brigade. The Eire Brigade Conference will be attended by three delegates from Christchurch, two from Dunedin and Naseby; Bangiora, Port Chalmers, Waimate, Morning- - ton, Oavertham and Napier one each. INVEBGABGILL, January 10. The Knife Again. Early on Sunday a brothel-keeper in the suburbs, named William Curran, otherwise Morris, was severely stabbed near the abdomen, the left shoulder, and the right arm, by a respectable young man named William Sarjgster Curran, who was a few months ago sentenced to imprisonment for wounding a man in a house of ill fame. H-Z. Irish Land LeagueAt a meeting on Saturday a branch of the Irish National Land League was formed, and . office bearers were elected. One speaker said the Irish colonists were not of so much benefit to their country as might be, through their having year after year to send money home to support their parents, who under proper bind laws would not require suoh aid. They intend to hold a public meeting in connection with the League. AUCKLAND, January 8. Wreck Sale. The wreck of the Lady Don has been sold to Mr Cairns for £25 10s and the cargo of totara piles to Mr Mitchelson for £2O. Good Templary. At the Good Templar Conference, the political committee's report recommended that, in view of an early general election, a grand electoral deputy be appointed, with district electoral deputies in each centre of population, to concentrate the political power of the Order, so that any candidates who vote for the popular control of the liquor traffic be adopted and supported. The report was adopted. Store Eobbery. The store of Mr Charles Bell, near Ohuroh Hill, Waikato, has been robbed of £IOO worth of drapery. It is supposed by Natives. WELLINGTON, January 8. New Gold Eeef. The Commissioner of Crown Lands has been applied to for and has issued a protection license for a quartz reef prospecting olaim on Tararua ranges, near Palmereton North. The applicants are experienced miners, who have been prospecting for some time and now think that they have hit a payable reef. DUNEDIN, January 9. Pedostrianlsm. Edwards the pedestrian completed his 180 miles walk in forty-eight hours on Saturday night. [fboh thb ovw cobbbbpohdent of thb "PBBBS."J WELLINGTON, January 8. Oar Masters. In consequence of the decision that the Colonial Secrotary shall be the New Zealand representative at the Sydney Intercolonial Conference Mr Bollcßton is unable to attend his Excellency the Governor on bis Northern tour as intended, as so many Ministers (Messrs Whitaker and Oliver also being absent) could not be spared at one time from the seat of Government. Mr Bolleston therefore remains in Wellington, the AttorneyGonoral receiving Sir Arthur Gordon at Auckland, and acting as Minister in attendance during his Excellency's stay there. The Governor has authorised the Premier to summon the Executive Council and preside during his absence. The Convict Wharepa. The papers relating to the case of Wharepa, the Chatham Islands wife murderer, have been sent on to Auckland, where a meeting of the Executive will be held to decide the fate of the prisoner. The Conference. Mr Dick left last night on his journey to * Sydney to attend the Intercolonial Conference. The principal subjects of interest to be brought before the conference will include proposals to establish an Intercolonial Court of final appeal, federation of the Australian colonies, with a Federal Council, intercolonial legislation with a view to the enforcement in one colony of judgments of Courts in another

recovory of debts, damages, &e,,on judgments obtained in another colony, arrest of persons charged with misdemeanours or wifo desertion (the present power of extradition extending only to charges of felony), promotion of intercolonial free trade, and a uniform tariff among the Australian colonies, Chinese Immigration question, granting of patents in one colony giving protection for all colonies, naval and military defenco of the colonies, postal and telegraphic matters, and several questions whose interest is confined to the other Australian colonies, such as the border duties, diseases of stock, and vines, railway extension, &3. One point of much importance to New Zealand will be to procure if possible the abandonment of the present prohibitive Australian duties against imported oats, so as to admit those from New Zealand, and a strenuous effort will be mode in this direction. The Poor Pensioners. In reference to the protest made by the Imperial pensioners in Now Zealand against the impost of a penny per quarter to which they are subject through a penny stamp being required to the receipts to their pensions, the opinion of the Solioitor-Generul has been taken on the legality of tho impost, that opinion being that the law did not exempt Imperial Pensioners from liability to a ponny tax on their receipts.