NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2173, 11 February 1881, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

Obe peebs association.! AUCKLAND, February 11. A Bankruptcy CaseAt the Police Court to-day, Purcell, contractor, a bankrupt, was charged by the trustee with two offences, one ot removing goods in his estate, and the other on a charge of forging a promissory note for £3OO. The case was remanded. The City BathsThe City Council resolved to charge a penny admisiion to the new corporation baths. Grain Prospects. The grain crops in all parts of Auckland Kte unusually good.

AUCKLAND, February 10. School DissensionAt the enquiry into the oh “ r ” < ’ 9 **y Dr. Purchase against the ° f tho Auckland Grammar y. 0 ? 1 ’ Purchase withdrew against Mr Anderson, classical master, as he hoard since that Mr Anderson was abstemious as to stimulants, and expressed regret at making such charge. Mr Anderson declined to accept the apology. The Hew TaxAt the Assessment Court tho case of the Auckland Permanent Loan and Investment Society came up. In its balance sheet for 1880 tho assets of the society are stated at £82,000, and upon this the Commissioners claimed to assess. Mr Hesketh appeared for the society, and submitted--(l) That the society was not a company within the moaning of tho Act. (2) That the shares possessed no market value; that sums due to investors must bo deducted, but ns to the shares, they had no standard or market value, but fluctuated according to tho date when they wero first taken up ; that the society had no property, not being allowed to accumulate ; on the contrary, it was by law compelled to distribute its profits every year, Tho Oourt reserved judgment. NEW PLYMOUTH, February 10.

The Released Natives. The Natives recently released from prison and brought back here have gone again to Forihaka to attend tho meeting on tho 17th. Between fifty and sixty of them passed through town this morning. WELLINGTON, February 10. The Seamen’s StrikeSeveral seamen of tho steamer Manawatu, •charged wifch striking, were severely repnmanded to-day in the Police Court, and a nominal sentence of detention till the rising of the Court was passed. Stamp Duty CaseAn important case wan hoard under the Stamp Act. Messrs John P. Watt and Albert Barner being charged with a breach of the 108bh section of tho Act, by omitting to hie wifch the Commissioner of Stamps within six months from the granting of letters of administration a statement in writing in respect of the property for which such administration had been granted. Counsel for the defendants admitted the offence, which had been committed in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining the necessary forms at Wanganui, where the defendant resided. Mr Iz*rd, for the prosecution, did not press for a heavy penalty, this being the first case of the kind brought before the Court, At the same time ho wished to state that the defendants had put the Government to a great deal of trouble and expense in fcbe matter. Twelve months had elapsed since the administration had been granted. Defendants wero fined 40b each and coats.

Fire on Natives’ Property. An official telegram from the Pungarehu camp to-day reports that another large fire has occurred at Parihaka, causing extensive destruction of potatoes, fully thirty acres of this crop being totally destroyed. None of the whares or other buildings were burnt, although it was only with the greatest difficulty that the Natives were able to save their dwellings. All the men, women and children worked li 1 o horses to save their homes and personal possessions. The fire is said to have originated through the bush becoming accidentally ignited by people of the Ngatiruanui tribe, who were clearing some bush land for sowing, and sot fire to the fallen timber, the flames spreading to the forest and rapidly gaining the mastery. An Insecure Job.

The heavy wind yesterday blew over and completely destroyed the camera obscura recently exhibited here. An Industrial Failure.

The projected Hutt Industrial Company having failed to float, has been abandoned, bub the factory is to be carried on on a large scale by a private firm. O AMARU, February 10. Fire Inquest.

An enquiry was held to-day into the circumstances attending the fire at Messrs Diehl and Davidson’s mill, and the jury returned the following verdict:—“The jury find that the Otopopo mill, belonging to Messrs Diehl and Davidson, was burned down on the night of the 27th January under very suspicious circumstances, but there is no evidence to show how the fire originated. They have also to comment in strong terms on the unsatisfactory nature of the evidence as given by James Davidson, one of the partners of the firm.”

DUNEDIN, February 10. Foolhardiness.

Tho Dunedin yacht Zephyr has left Hobson's Bay to compete at the Hobart regatta. A lawyers’ Squabble. Mr W. D. Stewart having refuted to give 3xl ch apology for a statement ho made regarding tooting for business daring a dispute with Mr Townsend MaoDermott, in the Police Court the other day, as Mr Maodermott will accept, an action will bo commenced in the Supreme Court for £2OOO damages for slander, to give Mr Stewart an opportunity of justifying his remarks. Mr Oliver. The Minister for Public Works, accompanied by Mr W. N. Blair, District Engineer, and Mr Usher, visited the Otago Central Bailway works to-day. [FBOIt THE OWH OOBBBSPOWDBKT OB TUB “ PBBSB,”] WELLINGTON, February 10. Major Atkinson left for Taranaki by the Hawea this afternoon. He will probably be absent from Wellington about a week or ten days. Mr Bollestou arrived at Hawera last night, and has teen engaged in official business to-day. Ho is expected to return to Wellington about the latter end of next week.

I notice thot my figures re the approximate returns of exports for 18SO, have been slightly transposed in transmission. However, tbe correct figures are just completed, and are as follows : £6,352,467. The chief items are—Wool, £3,169,300 ; wheat, £632,943 ; oats, £169,806; tallow, £146,535,- barley, £84,783. These are the correct official figures for 1880, which have just been revised.