NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2220, 7 April 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[FEB FBBBB ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, April 6, Fine Arts. The Society of Arts’ exhibition was opened to-day. Unimportant. The choral competition in the Exhibition resulted as follows —Ist, Master Williams, Napier ; 2nd, Master Clayton, Parnell; 3rd, Miss GK Purchase, Auckland,, Sporting. Owing to the absence of Mr Bayers, the owner of Golden Crown, the Auckland Racing Club has postponed the investigation into the charge of dark riding till Friday, when it will be proceeded with whether the owner is present or not.

The stud mares Sister Agnes, Mersey, and Clytemnestrn, purchased by Sir Hercules Robinson for the Auckland Stud Company, were landed from the Rotomahana in good condition. Miss Wilmot in a New Bole. Three Frenchmen from New Caledonia were tried at the Supremo Court Criminal Session for gum stealing. Dapramont and Giovanni got eighteen months, and Picard was acquitted. They were not political deportee. Thomas Codlin, charged with rape, was acquitted. True bills (four charges), forgery, were returned against Edwin Hunt dagger, also John Purcel (four charges), uttering, and two indictments for breach of the Fraudulent Debtors Act. At the commencement of the case against Codlin the Court was ordered to be cleared of ladies. Madame Wilmot proceeded to the gallery, and sent a note to the Crown Prosecutor requesting to stay as a special reporter. The crier was subsequently ordered to remove her from the gallery and lock it. She then reluctantly withdrew. The Sham Company. In the prospectus of the Haven Goldmining Company circulated in London the name of H. E. Rice, as a Thames goldfields mine proprietor, appears frequently. The only gentleman of that name who ever was at all well known on the Thames was a Mr Rice who, in partnership with Mr Mainwaring, at one time R.M. at Waikato, carried on business as a Native interpreter on the Thames during the great scrip mania about 1869 70. When times became dull, Mr Rice left, some said for Japan, but possibly he has turned up in London to give the valuable advice referred to in the prospectus. The local press suggests that owners of property supposed to bo included in the sham company, or the Chamber of Commerce, should telegraph to London exposing the imposition. WELLINGTON, April 6. Extension of Time.

The " Gazette ” contains a proclamation extending the operations of tho Maori Prisoners Act, 1880, for a further period of three months. A Supposed Absconder. Edward Garton, secretary of the Wellington and South Pacific Loan Society, is believed to have absconded. It appears that the society is an association of working men, who club together to invest their savings, each paying a certain sum weekly, and the money is then invested at the market rate of interest. The accounts were duly audited about a fortnight ago, when serious discrepancies, amounting to between £2OO and £3OO, were found to exist. Garton was communicated with, and asked for an explanation. He replied that he would put things right on his return, which was to have been on Monday last. However, he did not return, and the rumor gained currency that he had decamped by the steamer Norfolk to Sydney on Thursday last. The police are investigating the matter. The Catholic Chief.

The Bight Rev. Dr. Redwood, Bishop of Wellington, returned to-day from his visit to Rome, and met with an enthusiastic reception from his numerous parishioners. On landing from the steamer he was heartily congratulated on his safe return. After reaching the Cathedral, the Bishop having taken his seat on the throne, Father Harden, on behalf of the clergy, read an address of welcome. This was followed by a number of others, among which were one from the Catholics of Wellington, and another from the Hibernian Society. The Bishop was then presented with an illuminated address and a purse of sovereigns. Addresses of welcome were also presented from the Catholics of Blenheim and Nelson, each being accompanied with a purse of sovereigns. A number of congratulatory telegrams from all parts of the colony were read, and other addresses are to be presented to-morrow. His Lordship, in responding to the kind and enthusiastic reception received, spoke in general terms of the pleasure it afforded him to receive such protestations of good will and sincere expressions of loyalty to the Church. His Lordship spoke at some length of his visit to Rome, and his reception by Leo XIII, The proceedings were brought to a close by the choir singing the Te Deum. DUNEDIN, April 6. The Property Tax.

The Property Tax received at the Dunedin office yesterday amounted to £6500. Educational-

The returns from eighty-six schools in the principal parts of Otago show 2966 parents, representing 10,255 children, in favour of the introduction of the Bible into schools; and 432 parents, representing 1175 children, against it.