NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2396, 7 December 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.! AUCKLAND, December 6. Masonic. The consecration and dedication of the new Freemasons’ Hall, Princes street, took place to-day in the presence of a large gathering of Masons. The D.G. Master Bro. Q. S. Graham and Bro. the Hon. F. Whitaker took pari in the ceremony. Capsize of a Boat. Another boat accident occurred at the Bay of Islands. The occupant, named H. Either, was saved by a whale boat that happened to pass some time after the capsize, Either having held on to the bottom of the boat. Native Rejoicing. The Natives at Alexandra have feasted the Waikatos expelled from Parihaka, and seat back to the Waikato. WELLINGTON, December 6. lucky. The charges against Gladman, Smith, and Cornelius Byan, for having wilfully made false declarations under the Registration of Electors Act, were dismissed. Property Tax Trial CaseIn the Appeal Court, the case O. M, Orombie (deputy-oommiseioner of the property tax) v E. Pearce and another, trustees in the estate of the late Charles Sharp, was argued. This was a special case, stated for the Supreme Oonrt to decide wbsther the property tax for the year commencing 1860 should be assessed and obarged upon the present value of the whole trust fund and estate vested in and held by the defendants as such trustees, or only upon the present value of the life estate and interest of the testator’s widow therein. The Oonrt held that the tax could only be assessed upon the latter, and gave judgment for defendants. The Court then adjourned until Thursday, Judgment was given in the case of Boes v Barker (Napier), discharging the rule for a new trial, each party to pay his own costs. NELSON, December 6. Important Legal Decision-

An important friendly society's case was decided to-day. A man named Harris injured his left hand by a gun accident, necessitating the amputation of one finger, and he was attended at the hospital. On being discharged from there he went under the surgeon of the Court Babin Hood (Foresters), who ultimately declared him off the funds, and hii sick pay was stopped, Harris brought an action against the Court to recover further sick pay, alleging that he could not follow hia avocation of engineer. The Court stated that Harris had been engaged as a dealer and agent, and that he was able to follow those or light employments. The magistrate held that employment necessarily did not mean that employment to which a man had been brought up, and that the plaintiff was shown to have been able to carry on the work of a dealer from the time he was declared off the funds. Judgment for defendants with costs. A Long Voyage. The barque Candidate, 115 days from London, arrived to-day. When off the Cope of Good Hope she encountered a heavy gale, and. a seaman named Lundon was washed from the wheel and bad hia leg broken. Ho is now progressing favorably. On Sunday last, John Thomas, the sailmaker, died suddenly while in the act of assisting to hoist a sail. Efforts were made to restore animation, and these failing the man was buried at sundown. DUNEDIN, December 6. Tne Harbour Dredge, The Harbor Board have received advices cf the detention of the dredge at Malta, through a break down of the machinery. The repairs there will occupy ten days or a fortnight. The dredge is expected to arrive about the middle of January, Another Industry Started* A private company has started a patent chicken incubator by hot water process, at Glendermid. The thing promises to be a great success, and it is claimed that 40 per cent, more chickens can be successfully reared than by the hens’ old fashioned method. A machine is now being constructed to fatten the birds for market, as is done in America and France. Important toiPublicans, A test case was heard at the Police Court to-day against Watson, a publican, to settle whether under the new Act hotels must be kept closed on Sundays. The facts, as admitted by the defendant were, that the door was open, that there was access to the bar by that door, and that a person was behind the bar prepared to serve. It was argued for the defence that the Act contemplated keeping open for sale to travellers, &c. Judgment will be given to-morrow. Found Dead. A man named George Scbeib was found dead in bed this evening. He lived aicue, and had been ailing some time. Mr Pyke’a Memory. Mr Pyke having been reported to have said at one of his meetings that a seat in the Legislative Council was offered him, on the condition of bis retiring from the House, the Hon. J. Hall telegraphed—“ No offer of the kind made to Mr Pyke by our Government* Never heard of such an offer made by any other Government.” [rSOSI TUB OWN COBEESPONDBNT OP lEB “PBBSS.] WELLINGTON, December G. Another detachment of Constabulary, about fifty in number, will be forwarded to Opunako on Friday. They will probably be employed on the new military roads through the Paiihaka block and other lines of etratogetic communication, the construction of which h&B been reiclvod on.