NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2431, 20 January 1882, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

Fl>EB PBESB ASSOCIATION. I BLENHEIM, January 20. Destructive Fire. At midnight a fire broke out in the midst of a thickly built block situated in the centre of the town, and spread with great rapidity, burning to the ground the Lycaum Hall and four dwelling-houses olose to the baok part of Healy and Son's boot warehouse. Falconer's furniture warehouse was on fire several times, and only saved by the strenuous exertions of the File Brigade aided by willing assistants. Luckily there was no wind, or the greater portion of the business part of the town would have been swept away. The insurances are not yet obtained. It is supposed that the fire originated in Scott's bakehouse.

NELSON, January 20. Death of an Old Colonist. Captain Cross, well known as the harbormaster of this port, and who having arrived from England in the ship Whitby in the year 1841, discovered Nelson harbor, died yesterday morning. He was the first white man who stepped ashore in Nelson, and was appointed pilot for Nelson and the neighboring coast by the New Zealand Company, in whose servioe he left the old oountry as warden pilot. In 1848 he was appointed pilot at Auokland, and |in 1850 harbormaster pilot, &0., of Nelson, and from his first arrival was never absent from the oolony. He was the last survivor of the expedition men who came out in the Whitby. He was greatly respected here and by all mariners with whom he oame into oontaot. TIMARU. January 20. The Resident Magistrate. Mr Joseph Beswick presided at the Kesident Magistrate's Court for the first time today. He was welcomed by the District Crown Prosecutor on behalf of the Bar, A Juvenile Offender. A boy of twelve, a negleotod child, was committed for trial for plaoing stones on the railway so as to endanger the train. The City of Cashmere. The enquiry into the wreck of the City of Cashmere is adjourned till to-morrow. Her hull, wreckage, and stores are to be sold at auction on Monday. The crew and others are busy getting out the oargo, and surf boats are out to pick up the anohor lost when the ship first got adrift. The weather is hazy, with slight rain. DUNEDIN, January 20, Fatal Accident. A man named Thomas Hancock was killed at the Victoria Bawmills, Tapat , yesterday, by a falling tree. INYEROARGILL, January 20. The Personation Case. Judgment was given in the B.M. Court today in the caie against Daniel, the member for Wallaoe, who was oharged with aiding and abetting personation in the recent election. Three oharges were preferred, and the Court held that the evidence in each was sufficient to warrant the oommital of the defendant to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed, the amount in each case being, defendant in £IOO, and two sureties in £SO eaoh.

[from otje correspondent.] ASHBURTON, January 20. Accident. John Parham, a oontraotor, was severely kicked by a horse to-day at the Hinds, and taken to the Ashburton Hospital. Hotel Changes« B. W. Shearman, the popular landlord of the Somerset Hotel, Ashburton, has rented his premises to Fred. Hill, formerly of the Mitre Hotel, Lyttelton. Catholic Bazaar; The Catholio Church bazaar, whioh will be opened by the Mayor this afternoon in the Town Hall, is expected to be largely patronised. The Bev. Edmund Coffoy, M.A., and several ladies and gentlemen have spared no pains to make the bazaar a suooess. The Weather. Heavy rain fell last night and to-day in Ashburton and its vicinity. The change will be most welcome to gross and turnip growers, and will tend to swell the grain.