NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2205, 21 March 1881, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBB EHBBS ABBOOrA.TIOH.] ' WELLINGTON, March 21. LO.OP. i A number of officers and representatives of tho Grand Lodge of 1.0.0. F. of New Zoai land arrived here yestorday to attend the annual ■ ss'o", whiob. opans this morning. Their arrival was made the occasion for a special reception service at tho Masonic Hall last night, when an address of welcome was ■ presented to tho Worthy Grand Master, Wheeler, and representative of the Grand Lodge. Pressman in Distress. Henry Anderson, jo jrnalist, threw himself off the wharf this tEorniog. He was rescued with difficulty, in an exhausted state, and wae taken to the Hospital. He had been depressed in spirits for some time. Oddfellows. The Grand Lodge session of Oddfellow* opened this morning. The following lodges were represented :—Pride of Newton (Auckland), Pioneer and Lni'h (Dunedin), Alfred (Oanmru), Star of Canterbury (Timaru). Mount Ida (Nasebv), Unity (South Dunedin), Bavensbourae (Barernbuurrie), Southern Dross (Wellington), Avon and Addington (Ohristchuroh), Pioneer (Southland), Invorcargill (Invercsrgill). Beports lrom the Grand Master, secrotary, and treasurer were read and submitted to a sub-committee for consideration. KELSON, March 21. An 111-Omened Seer. Mr Hursthou'e addressed his constituents at Waimoa West on Saturday night. He expressed tho opinion that there will be fresh taxation imposed n»xt session unless the exemption under the Property Tax be reduced. Ho rectived a vote of thinks TIM ABU, March 21. After Many DaysAt the Po-lieo Court, lhis morning William Gardner, conk «t Hamilton's boarding house in the year 1877, was charged with tho robbery of prop-rty v;!u<d at £4. Accuoed returned to Timaru on Silurday last, and was immediately rec.ignieed by Deteotivo Kirby. Gardner was remanded until Wednesday. He denies the charge DUNEDIN, March 21. Qnid Fro Q,uoThe officers and volunteers of this district have decided not to tuke part, in Queenstown, but will c-.mp out in North Otugo if Goverament supply tents. Warning' to Systematic InsolventsIn the Supreme C ourt to day Judge Gillict astonished counsel by r-'t'using to grant disin cases where th re were :;o as/eti unless tho application wju suppjrted by u resolution of tho creditors. It has been the custom here to grant a discharge as a in t l er of course whore no opposition was offered.

AUCKLAND, March 19. The Children's HomeDr. nnd Mrs Harvey, the master and matron of the Home for Neglected Children, hove written to the committee, asking_reconsideration of tho recent notico terminating their engagements. A Native Gathering. The Orakan Native Parliament is exciting little interest. HAWEBA, March 19. Good Work. The Catholic bazaar realised £144. Yet Another PresentationThe Bev. Mr Fairclough, Wesley an minister, who is going to Southland, was presented last night with a marble clock. DUNEDIN, March 19. The "Waitara" Trader. The damage done to the Waitora, which struck a rock at the Bluff, consists of a small hole in the second streak on tho starboard aide. She also shows several small places where she grazed the rooks, but tho damage is not at all serious. The Widows and Orphans. The Kaitangata Belief Fund paid £l4lO during the year to sufferers, and carry forward £4OO. Caution to BoysWilliam Forbes, aged eight years, died in hospital from a kick from a horse, whioh caused fraoture of the skull. He was playing in a paddock at Forbury, and flipping the horse with a switch, when it struck out. Very Unlikely. It was rumoured in town to-day tha*, intelligence had been reoeived that Mr J. F. Jones, of the Grand Panifio Hotel, who was reported to have committed suioide at the Ocean Beach a month ago, has been seen in Melbourno. Tho rumor is sent for what it is worth. _ , ■ OAMARU, Maroh 19. AccidentLast night as an hotel keeper named James Campbell was riding in from the raceoourse he lost control over his horse and was thrown off. He fell on his heod, causing a fraoture of the skull, and died to-day. An accident also happened to the driver of a coach by his vehicle capsizing. His leg was broken, and one of the passengers also had a narrow escape. Fire. Last night a stack of wheat was set fire to at Boundary Creek. The inoendiary was seen to run away, but was not recognised. The stack was insured in the New Zealand office for £SO. f>BOM THE OWW OOBBBSBOKDBKT OF XHB " PBB8B."J WELLINGTON, March 19. I have been courteously furnished by the property tax officers with a return, made up : from telegrams this afternoon, of the amounts ■ reoeived ny to this morning on account of that tax, tho total to dato being £124,449. It is believed that nearly as much : moro is still to come in, although it is doubtful whether it will all be oollected by the close of the month. Still, the second ' moiety is not due till the 22nd instant, and it < is clear that there must be some large sums ' yet to come from Otago particularly, whioh ' continues to hold oat third place, following < Canterbury and Wellington. It may be doubted whether more than £200,000 in all ' will be got in by tho end of tho month, when < tho financial year ends, but every effort will he used to collect as much as possible. The returns up to to day were as follows : —Auok- < land district, £21,182 ; Howke's Bay, £7876 ; [ Wellington, £23,428; Nelson, £4880; Conterbnry, £33,811; Waitaki, £5978; Otago, £23,054; Southland, £4240 ; totol, £124,449. Tho news from the West Coast represents the state of Not! re feeling es quieter than for ft long time past. Te Whiti is known to have declared to one visitor that his words had formerly been misrepresented, ond that there would bo no more f enoing or other obatruo- ] tion on his part. I learn, moreover, that a process of gradual but steady reduotion in 1 tho number of the Armed Constabulary is quietly going on. All discharges are granted direotly they are applied for, [ and tho vacancies thus cheated are not < filled up. Any casual vacancy in the regular police force is at once filled by a ' transfer being made from the Armed Con- ' ■tabnlary. In this way a very appreciable • reduotion in the expense is in course of ope- ' ration,but in a quiet undemonstrative manner, ' to as not to suggest to the Natives any idea that the force on the West Coast is being at all weakened. In fact, the present force is probably ample for all requirements, even if active service in the field should be needed, whioh happily seoma now a more remote probability than ever.