NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2407, 22 December 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, December 21. Scholastic-Eifty-fonr boys and thirty-eight girls have entered as candidates from the public schools for the sixteen scholarships of the Board of Education. A Sign of Progress. A movement has been commenced for lighting Cambridge, Waikato, with gas. Mayoral-', Mr J. M. Clark, Mayor, was installed today for the second term. Ho gave a banquet in the evening to the members of the Council and officials of the Corporation. The Maori King’s Factotum. Te Ngakau, Tawhaio’s private secretary, paid a visit to the Hon. P. Whitaker this morning in company with Mr Sheehan. A long conversation took place, in which Te Ngakau declared plainly that in a short time matters between the Maoris and Europeans would be as they were thirty years ago, that they would bo as one people. After the interview the Kingite dignitary drove round the town with Mr Sheehan, and expressed pleasure at the prosperity and advancement everywhere evident. He leaves town in a couple of days. In connection with his visit it is stated to be quite on the cards that Kawhia Harbor will be opened shortly. Sporting. Libeller is scratched for all hie engagements at the Auckland meeting. Land Item. The Hon. P. Whitaker and Mr Sheehan have left for the Thames, it ie presumed to complete certain Upper Thames Native land purchases. PATE A, December 21. Customs PenaltiesThe Collector of Customs at Wanganui prosecuted here in three oases under the Beer Duty Act yesterday. William James Gibbons, brewer, was fined £2O and costs for not using a stamp, the magistrate bolding that the penalty imposed was a fixed one, but re commended a rebate. Francis Muller and James O’Sullivan, publicans, were each fined 20s and costs for using wrong stamps. WELLINGTON, December 21. The Weather and Crops. It is feared that the crops in a portion of the Wairarapa district will suffer from the heavy winds whioh prevailed here during the present month. John’s Friends. In response to a requisition, the Mayor has convened a public meeting to discuss the question of the recent conviction of Chinamen for playing fan tan. The Hutt Flood. The flood in the Hutt river has subsided, and no serious damage is reported. Sale of Coastal Steamer. The steamers Jane Douglas, Stormbird, and Manawatu, belonging to the Wellington and Wanganui line of steamers were sold by auction to-day. The prices obtained were : Jane Douglas, £3OOO ; Stormbird, £SOO ; and Manawatu, £250. An Official Reply. A reply has been received through the United States Legation and Foreign Office to the address of tho House of Representatives of New Zealand on the death of President Garfield. Mr Lowell, addressing Lord Granville, says he has been directed to request hi# lordship “ to transmit to tho Parliament of New Zealand the heartfelt acknowledgments of the bereaved family of the late President Garfield, and of the American people, for a telegram of tender sympathy received from that distant colony, which is especially appreciated in this hour of grief.” OAMAEU, December 21. Death by Drowning. A little girl, named Jessie Ferguson, was drowned through falling into the Wait&ki river on Tuesday. Our Industries.

It is proposed to increase the capital of the Oamaru Woollen Factory to £50,000. and to place a number of shares on the Victorian market, from which place promises of support have been received. DUNEDIN, December 21. The New SteamerThe Union Company received a cablegram to-day that their new steamer Manipouri, was successfully launched at Dumbarton yesterday. The Drink Again. Mary Ann Weston alias Smith was arrested by the police for drunkenness. They found her in the streets at a lato hour wi f h a dead child in her arms. She Has remanded pending an inquest. Singular Occurrence. A serious gas explosion occurred to-night in Spedding'e auction stores. Princess street south. It is believed to have occurred from rsts having gnawed the gas pipes, and the effect was that a sheet of flame hurst out. Two windows in the first floor were blown out, and the pannelled ceiling on the ground floor was shattered to ribbons, whilst a table containing a quantity of fancy goods was thrown down. Two of the employes were knocked down but not hurt, and one carrying a case had it sent spinning out of his hands to a distance of ten feet. The flames were quickly got under. Breaking In. One or two burglaries have occurred in Bond street warehouses lately. The offenders are not yet caught.

INVERCARGILL, December 21. Our Coal Product The Nightcaps Coal Company have received an order from the Government to supply from thirty to forty tons per week for the use of the locomotives. [FBOM THB OWN OOBBB3PONDBNT OF THB pbbbs 3 WELLINGTON, December 21. It is practically certain that Parliament will not be called together before May. No valid reason exists for inconveniencing the country by an earlier meeting, and the precedents laid down by May and other authorities are conclusively against the premature assembling of Parliament after a general .election, especially when no political question ‘is at issue or submitted to the country. A telegram has been received by the Government from Mr Wray, Commissioner of Crown Lands at Patea, to the effect that sixty-one applications were received yesterday, nineteen at £1 15j, twonty-two at £2, and twenty at £2 ss. Every section was applied for yesterday except section 30, block 14, which was applied for to-day. There were only fourteen sections opened on deferred payments, tor which there were sixtytwo applications. The upset prices of the deferred payments lands ranged from £1 15s to £2 5s per aero. It will be remembered that it was found impossible to legislate for the extradition of certain offenders between the various Australian colonies without an Imperial Act being passed empowering such course, which, in the absence of thet authorisation, would have been ultra vires, and therefore void. However, the Government has now received from the Secretary of State a copy of the Fugitive Offenders Act, passed by the Imperial Parliament last session. This Act removes the difficulty hitherto existing in the way ot the extradition of offenders, as between the various Australian colonies, by enabling their respective Legislatures to authorise such extradition. I hear that a communication has been received from the trustees of the Gilchrist Scholarship, to the effect that the next examination will be held in June, 1882, and thenceforward every two years. It is also intimated that the examinations must not be under the management of the Now Zealand University or any public body of the kind, as it will be recollected was proposed to bo arranged, but that the examination mbet be under the supervision of some independent person appointed by the Governor.