NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2372, 9 November 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

(.TER frees association.J AUCKLAND, November 8. Heaths by DrowningA man named Morgan and his stepson W. McDonald were drowned yesterday by the capsizing of a boat at Whangarei heads. Fire-

A twelve-roomed house, occupied by Mr Stone, Symonds street, was burned down. The inmates escaped by jumping from the window. The fire originated in the kitchen, but the cause is unknown. It was insured for £BOO in the Colonial, and the furniture for £2OO in the Standard.

NEW PLYMOUTH, November 8. Judge Gillies’ Opinion on the Situation

The Supreme Court was opened to-dav by Judge Gillies. In addressing the Grand Jury he said he would be wanting in his duty if he ignored the circumstances of the position of the district, in which large bodies of armed men were nowassembled on active service, and he took leave to remind them of the constitutional principle that the employment of an. armed force was only justifiable, either under the authority of Parliament in repelling armed aggression or in aid of the civil arm of the law, when that arm had proved powerless to enforce the law’s mandates. In any other case the use of armed force was illegal, and a menace to, if not an outrage upon, the liberties of the people. Ho entertained an earnest hope that the events of the last few days would have the result of maintaining peace and the permanent establishment of order within the district. Thomas Campbell, for horse stealing, was sentenced to eighteen months ; Wm. Ralph Rose, robbery, two years ; Wm. Hopkinson, larceny, acquitted. No bill was returned in the case Coyle v Gibson. Judge Gillies commented more than once on the apparent eagerness of the police to convict prisoners of crime. He said that, their object should be to obtain justice, not convictions.

WELLINGTON, November 8.

The Dissolution of Parliament.

The proclamation dissolving Parliament was signad by the Governor this afternoon. Thenew writs will be issued on Thursday. The Maori Prisoners.

The Hinemoa has left for Opunake tobring Mr Rolleston back, and probably the Maori prisoners also.

Thorough Radicalism,

Mr D. Sinclair, a candidate for the Hutt, in addressing the electors, advocated a land tax and an elective Governor, Judges, and Magistrates, but strongly condemned Sir Q. Grey as a public man. A vote of thanks was given. REEFTON, November 8. Breaking Out of Gold Fever. The excitement in the share market continues unprecedented. The “ Inangahua Herald ” estimates that the increase in the value of mining stock during the past fortnight equals £190,000. Enormous sums have been made locally. WESTPORT, November 8. A Smart PassageThe Westport left Cardiff on September 4th, and made the passage here in sixty-two days fifteen hours, exact steaming time. She touched at Bt. Helena and the Cape. She experienced bad weather nearly all the way, during which the steamer proved a splendid seaboat. The Cardiff coal brought by the Westport is not equal to the local article. A dinner was given to Oapt. Williams last night, and much congratulatory speech-making took place. DUNEDIN, November 8. A Xarcenous Policeman. John Dupree, policeman, was committed to-day to take bis trial for stealing fowls and ducks. Church Meeting. The annual district meeting of the Wesleyan Church commenced to-day, and being tho first official meeting since the Tararua disaster a resolution of sympathy with the bereaved families was passed. [fboh the own correspondent of the “ PRESS ] WELLINGTON, November 8. Tho seventh Parliament of New Zealand was dissolved by proclamation at 3 o'clock this afternoon. It was not until then that the Governor consented to sign the proclamation, although it is understood to have been in his hands since yesterday morning. The new writs will be issued, if possible, late tonight, but this ia doubtful, owing to the late hour at which the dissolution was signed. If not to-night, they will not be issued until Thursday. Thirty days will be allowed from tho issue of tho writs to the polling day. It will rest with the discretion of the Returning Officers within certain prescribed limits to fix tho day ef nomination. From the fact of the dissolution proclamation being at last signed, it may bo taken for granted that there is m> longer any prospect of a Ministerial crisis owing to the action of tho Government. Tho transit of Mercury was seen very well to-day. The weather was exceedingly fine. The Government Observer courteously favors mo with some interesting notes on the phenomena. Ho esye he obtained a good observation of the transit, notwithstanding tho want of “ definition,owing to moisture still remaining in the air after yesterday’s rain. There was a spot on the disc of the sun nearly in the centre, and as Mercury passed this spot the contrast of the intense blackness of tho planet’s disc with the brownish black of tho sunspot's nucleus was very striking. Mercury was not visible to tho naked eye, for though its diameter is nearly 3000 miles, the apparent size was very small. There was no “ peg top ” shape of tho planet owing to “ boiling ” of tho sun’s edge, which there would have been had the atmosphere been dear.