NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2208, 24 March 1881, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[fbom ode own oobbbbpohdbnt. I ASHBURTON, March 24. Snubbing the Reporters. The secretary of the Industrial Exhibition refuses to admit the representatives of the Press until after the arrival of the Governor, though such a course has been hitherto unheard of, and is peculiar to Ashburton. Before his arrival is the only time a reporter from a distance can see the exhibits without being crowded, and, instead of being allowed to do work when ho could, he is obliged to lose two hours’ precious lime. Such an instance of discourtesy has never been exhibited towards Press people coming from a distance. The Governor arrived at one o'clock, when addresses were presented by the County Council, the Mayor, the Caledonian society, and the Exhibition Committee. There are a large number of exhibits, according to the catalogue, of a varied character. [PBB PBBBS ASSOCIATION WELLINGTON, March 24. £3OOO on Fire. Information has reached town that Faber’s Club Hotel, Featherston, is on fire, and is still burning. The insurances on stock and building amount to £3OOO, among the following offices :—National, United, Colonial, Union, South British, and Standard; but the individual amounts are not at present known. Later. Faber’s Club Hotel caught fire at II a.m., and was destroyed The corner block, across tha street, also caught. Mr Toogood’s store and Mr Neill’s painter’s shop and outbuildings, &0., were all destroyed. The total damage is about £BOOO. The origin of the fire is believed to be from a faulty chimney in the Club Hotel. TIM ABU, March 24. City Fathers Caught Napping. The Governor reached Timaru shortly before midnight last night. The Mayor and Councillors were suloep, and the Governor was accorded a military reception. This morning he laid the foundation-stone of the new Mechanics’ Institute. Addresses were presented from the Borough Council and the Institute Committee. His Excellency afterwards drove over the town, visited the breakwater, and then resumed his journey north by rail. DUNEDIN, March 24. Volunteers. The Volunteer deputations suggest three rifle meetings each year—one at the Thames, for the Northern corps; one at Wellington, for Wellington, Nelson, and Napier ; and one ct Dnnedin, for Canterbury, Otago and Southland. AUCKLAND, March 23. Returned to Duty. The Bev. Joseph Berry, late immigration agent, was a passenger by the Sydenham. He proceeds to Nelson, where he has been stationed by the conference. Discouraging. The Friendly Society’s demonstration, instead of benefiting the funds of charitable institutions in the city, ended in a deficit of £25, Scholastic. A meeting of the former pupils of Mr Farquhar Mackae, at the High and Grammar School, to express sympathy with and esteem for him under his present circumstances, was largely attended. Mr J. B. Graham, manager of the Colonial Insurance Company, presided. Not Lost. Bnrke, who disappeared from his claim at Coromandel, bos been found in the bush. The Native Parliament. At the Orakei Parliament the assembly was unanimously of opinion that the Government at Wellington should have printed every session their doings in both the English and Maori languages, in order that every one might be able to understand what was taking place, A resolution was carried condemnatory of the Native Land Courts under the present laws, and of the lawyers in connection therewith. It was resolved to petition the Government to complete their promise made by Mr Sheehan about the houses to be given to the Natives at Auckland and Holensville, in lieu of land taken up by the Kaipara railway. A resolution was carried that any Maori selling land before consulting a Native meeting should be fined. Welcome

Among the passengers by the Te Anau wag Mr Ralph W. E. Mclvor, who is on a visit to New Zealand, on behalf of some speculators at Melbourne, to inspect White Island as a source of sulphur supply for the preparation of chemical manures. Teetotalism. The president of the Auckland Band of Hope Union has communicated with Sir Wm Fox with a view of ascertaining if he will extend the offer of £lO as prizes given by him for competition by children in the public schools respecting Dr. Richardson's text book to the members of the Band of Hope, as the Auckland Education Board decline to permit the book to be used in the Board's schools. GISBORNE, March 23. Native Land. The Native Hand Court gave judgment today in the Waipoa block of 37,000 acres of valuable land under negotiation by Mr Bobt. Cooper. Faora Haupa and his people were declared to be the (owners. The Court was crowded with Natives. WELLINGTON, March 23. Oddfellowship. Tha representatives of the Grand Lodge of Oddfellows met (this morning, but the business transacted was unimportant. _ In the afternoon they were treated to a cruise round

taincd^l°a 6Tening th ° y WM ° * nt6r * Appointment. ft T>’ , who is at proßont matron of ■. j . °f a ? e at Dunedin, has been appointed to a similar pooition in the asylum The Asylum Enquiry. . a meeting of the Executive Council held m Dunedin last night, it was decided to extend the time of the Wellington Asylum Commission until April 19th. Rain Wanted. Rain is needed badly, ub the water in the reservoir h»a reached the unusually low depth of 25ft, This is the lowest depth registered during any previous year. Mr E. W. MillsAt a meeting of Mr E. W. Mills’ creditors this afternoon, it was unanimously resolved to grant the debtor his immediate diicharge. The s.s. Mohaka. The little steamer Mohaka, which was stranded at Blenheim recently, has been launched and brought on here for repairs. DUNEDIN March 23. The Wailara. A special enquiry was held to-day into the stranding of the ship Waitara at the Bluff. It was decided that no blame attached to the officers of the ship, whose certificates were returned. The Court held that if blame was attached to any one it was to the pilot. Business Squabble, At the Supremo Court to-day, in the oaso of M’Kay v Proudfoot and others, a motion for an injunction to restrain Messrs George Fenwick and George Proudfoot, attorneys for Mr David Proudfoot from dealing under power of attorney with the accounts of the late firm of Proudfoot and K’Kiy, the judge refused to grunt the injunction with costs. The Governor. The Governor inspected the Harbor to-day, then attended the Caledonian sports, and left for Timaru at 4.16 p.m. [FROM THE OWH OOBEKSPOKDENT OP TUB PKESB.”] WELLING lON, March 23. I am indebted to the officers of the Property Tax Department for a return of the amounts received at the chief offices throughout the colony on account of the property tax, the total to date being £172,954. This does not include the receipts at the different country post-offices, which are not expected to come in for a few days. The sums received in individual offices ars as follows Auckland, £28,505 ; Hawke’s Bay, £10,120 ; Wellington, £29,244 ; Nelson, £6872 ; Canterbury, £46,892 ; Waitaki, £5978 ; Otago, £38,973 - y Southland, £6370 ; total, £172,954. It is now confidently expected that over £200,000 will be got in by the end of the month, I hoar that it is net intended to appoint a Commission in reference to the petition regarding the conduct of the Christchurch Asylum, os the complaints refer to past matters, and affect only Mr Seager, who is now absent from the colony on leave. The inquiry could' not fairly be held during his absence, and no complaints are made as to the present management of the Asylum.