NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2405, 20 December 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[FKB PBRBB ASSOCIATION. | AUCKLAND, December 19. AdvancementIt is stated that about twelve new telegraph stations are to be opened in the province. A Hopeful Sign. Ninety thousand shares have now been subscribed in the Rotorua railway project. The Fracas between Sporting Men. Legal proceedings have' been instituted by the editor of the " Observer" against Weston the bookmaker for the late assault. A Maori Thief. The Maori Heti, arrested in the King Country for horse stealing, haß been committed for trial and lodged in Mount Eden gaol. A Russian Thief. While a party of Russian liberty seamen were in the Greyhound Hotol to-night, one was discovered robbing a bedroom. He was seized by Mrs Darby, the landlady, but escaped. The room was found to have been completely ransacked, and £6 worth of jewellery was missing. Before the police were informed and oould reach the wharf, the culprit had got ojff to the Africa by one of the ship's boats. It is stated that his surrender will not be asked, but a representation will be made to the Admiral, who will deal with the offender. The Africa sails tc -morrow morning. NAPIER, December 19. Sporting. Nominations for the Napier Handicap, Railway Stakes, and Handicap Hurdles for the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's autumn meeting close to-morrow night, at eight o'clock. WELLINGTON, December 19. New Buildings. It is expected that the new post office and telegraph office will be commenced early in February. Crime. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court open on January 3rd. Only five cases as yet are set down for hearing, and none of them are of a serious nature. The Race Sweeps. This afternoon informations under the Gaming and Lotteries Act were laid against some of the gentlemen who wore engagod in sweeps on the Hutt racecourse on the 30th ultimo. Sir W. Fitzherbert, Speaker of the Legislative Council and president of the Wellington Racing Club is, it is understood, one of those summoned. The cases will be heard on Friday. HOKITIKA, December 19. Man MissingCredick Biin, the Corporation messenger, has been missing since Thursday laet, and ali [efforts to discover some trace of him up to the present time have proved unavailing. There is no reason for his disappearance.

The Murray. It is expected that the Murray, which Is stranded on the South Spit, will be got off to-morrow. BEEFTON, December 19. Forged Telegrams. Charles Mirfln, editor of the Inangahua " Herald," was brought before the Magistrates this morning on a criminal information, charging him with having forged the name of Mr Jones, solicitor, to five telegrams. Mr Jones was chairman of Mr Weston's election committee, and it is alleged that defendant, on the polling day, presented for transmission five telegrams purporting to be signed by Mr Jones, and addressed to Mr Weston's principal supporters at Brunnerton, saying that Mr Weston's return was impossible, and asking the receivers to do their best for Mr McLean, an opposing candidate. After hearing the evidence for the prosecution, defendant was committed for trial at the next sittings of the District Court, bail being allowed. The West Coast Railway. The Christohuroh and Greymouth Bailway Commission arrived here last night, and are gathering information upon the coal, timber and land resources of Inangahua. DUNEDIN, December 19. A Brute. William Gawne, at the Police Court today, was committed for trial for a brutal assault on his wife. The evidence disclosed very brutal treatment. He looked the doors on her and struck her severely about the head and face. He was drunk, but knew what he was doing. [feom thb own oobekspondent of thb " PEESS.] WELLINGTON, December 19. It is understood that three of the Judges of tho Supreme Court will shortly meet in Wellington to frame the rules respecting the costs, practice, trial and procedure in regard to election petitions; also, as to oosts, and certifying and reporting on petitions and trials in accordance with section 14 of the Election Petitions Act, 1880. It will be seen from that section that very important and comprehensive functions have to be exercised by the Judges in this matter, and as several petitions are expected to be preferred on this occasion against the return of candidates, it is, of course, imperative that no time should be lost in preparing the necessary rules, the sth section of the Act requiring the petitions to be presented within twenty-eight days of the declaration of the poll, and that in most cases would require the petition to be sent in by the 9th proximo. The Chief Justice has already arrived, and two other Judges will be in Wellington almost immediately, for the purpose of doing all that is required in the direotion above indicated.

Sir Arthur Gordon and Lady Gordon leave to-night by the Hinemoa for Lyttelton upon a private and unofficial visit to Canterbury. A meeting of the Executive Council was held at Government House to-day at noon, the Governor presiding, and moat of the Ministers being preaent. The business, although mainly of a formal character, included several items of considerable legal importance. The Premier leaves on Friday for the South on his way to his home station, where he purposes spending Christmas with his family, returning to Wellington shortly after the new year. Mr Bryca also spends the Christmas holidays with his family at his countty residence near Wanganui. Major Atkinson and Messrs Rolleaton, Johnston, and Diok remain in Wellington over the holidays, but little official business is likely to be done outside of mere routine work during the next fortnight. A rumour was afloat this evening that several appointments to the Legislative Council were about to be made. I find, however, on enquiry to-night, that the sole foundation for this report is as follows : —Sir Francis Dillon Bell did not resign his seat in the Legislative Council when he went home as Agent-General. He has, however, now written out tendering his resignation as a Legislative Councillor. As he was an Otago member, and as Otago is considerably under represented in the Council, it was deemed advisable that the vacancy should be filled by another Otago man, and accordingly the vacant seat has been offered to Mr George McLean, the late member for Waikouaiti. Mr MoLean has accepted the offer, and will be called to the Upper House immediately.