NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2455, 17 February 1882, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

[PUB PEBSB ASSOCIATION.J AUCKLAND, February 16. Picnic for the Destitute. The Te Anau to-day took the children of the Charitable Institutions of the city to Motutapu for the annual excuriion. Four hundred and fifty persons embarked. Missionary Work. A local auxiliary to the London Missionary Sooiety has been formed. The Premier. The Premier has returned from the North, and was interviewed by the Northern settlers as to the prosecution of some sections of the Northern Trunk Line from Helensville to Wangarei. He replied that nothing oould be dore by the Government till a new loan was raited, and suggested the construction of railways under the Railway Construction Aot. The Inevitable Deputation. A deputation from the Board of Education waited on the Premier re providing playgrounds for the city schools, and in regard to educational matters generally. The Premier replied th»t Auckland claims would be fully considered when the next vote would be allocated. Stops the Way. Mahanui refused permission to Reiesbok, a German naturalist, to visit Mokau. NAPIER, February 16. A Wretch. A Woodville settler named Neill Thompson has been committed for trial on a charge of dreadfully mutilating with an axe a bull owned by his neighbor, a widow. The oause of the aot seems to have been revenge. A Spurions Medico. A man named Lawrence, of some education and good address is in oustody on charges of obtaining money under false pretenoes, and practising as a medical man, he not being qualified. The Bible Question. The oircular returned to the Bible in Schools Association give 521 parents, reprec en ting 1241 children in favor of the Bible, and 116 parents representing 306 scholars against. Racing. Acceptances for the principal events of the Jookey Club's autumn meeting olose on Thursday evening. Sew Stock. Archibald McLean has imported from England six mares, specially adapted to improve the breed of hacks and to produoe weight carriers. Precautionary. A movoment is on foot to obtain a second steam fire engine for Napier. The publio have subscribed liberally, but want the Borough Council and Insurance Companies to do likewise. Objections to an Assessor. Objections are made in the Waipawa County to the appointment of Mr St. Clair Inglis, brother-in-law to the PostmasterGeneral, to the post of Assessment Judge, as he is also clerk to the County Counoil. One of the properties objected to is the Hon. John Johnston's Takapau estate, occupied by Mr Walter Johnston. WELLINGTON, February 16. Scarcity of Labour. Mr Saunders, a well known contractor, has sent to Sydney for a large number of laboring men, and they are expected to arrive here by the next trip of the Wakatipu. The wages he offers are higher than in Sydney, and hours shorter. It is also stated that several other contractors are Bending to New South Wales for men. Sculling'. Hearn, the champion Soulier of New Zealand, has accepted Messenger's challenge to row a match for £IOO aside and the championship. The distance to be three and a half miles, and the raoe to take place in five weeks hence. Declared Clean. The necessary documents in connection with revoking the proclamation declaring Sydney an infected port have been signed by his Exoellency, and will take effeot from the date of publication, which is expooted to be to-morrow. The Volunteer Claims. The Royal Commission to investigate the Volunteer claims was approved in Counoil to-day and duly signed by his Exoellency, the appointment to be gazetted almost immediately. The s.s. Wakatu. Captain Bendall, surveyor to the Underwriters' Association, telegraphs from Patea—"Steamer Wakatu has three holes and several dents in bottom. We may endeavor to launoh her over the breakwater, but it is just possible to have to heave her off to the seaward about Sunday, for which I prepare. I am not sanguine. The former process is the most roliable." Ike Riflemen. The Wanaka will, on the 24th, await the arrival of the Botomahana from the South, in order to oarry the Southern competitors for the llitlo Association on to Nelson. TIMABU, February 16. Getting Ready. The Chamber of Commerce are exarting

themselves to seoure a strong representation of the resources of this district at the Ohristchuroh exhibition. The "Weather. The weather is fine and harvest operations are going on briskly. Ntw grain is coming in in good order. DUNEDIN, February 16. Fever in School. Typhoid fever has been prevalent in the Industrial School during the last three months. There have been fifty cases, and three deaths of ohildren. The master's son, aged twenty-four, a Government teacher, has also died from it. There are 246 ohildren in the school. The entire expenses in connection with the school Bhows the oost per head to be £l4 17s 61 per year. Resignation. Mr Wm. Christie, of the Colonial Bank, at Wellington, has resigned his appointment. Sale of Merinos. An important sale of merinos took place today at Clinton. They were the stook of John Anderson, of Wyndham, who is going to Napier. Amongst the purchasers were Mr B. Miller of Napier. Sixteen guineas was the highest prioe obtained for a single ram. INVEROARGILL, February 16. A Youthful Criminal. A youth named Angus Muir, aged fourteen, was to-day oommitted for trial for criminally assaulting a married woman at Edendale. fJPBOM THE OWK OOBBBSPONDHNT O* THB " PRESS."] WELLINGTON, February 16. The Government have reoeived official information that there has been no reourrenoe of smallpox in Sydney sinoe the 20th ult. ; that no private houses are any longer isolated on aocount of infection; and that tho only cases of the disease still existing are those at the quarantine station or in the sanatorium. The Government therefore have under consideration the propriety of withdrawing the proclamation by whioh Sydney is declared an infected port. Mr Rolleston will leave Wellington tomorrow evening by the Arawata for Napier, on his way to Auokland via Gisborne. He will attend the session of the University Senate in Auokland, and will be absent from Wellington about three weeks. The Colonial Treasurer goes South on Monday by Te Anau. Mr Thomas Maokay, the newly-appointed officer on 'the West Coast, has arrived iu Taranaki and commenced operations. His ohief 'duties are to arrange the satisfactory leasing of the Native roserves set apart by the recommendation of the Boyal Commission. |I hear that the leases will be readily taken up by Europeans at good rents, and that the Natives are exceedingly anxious to have the matter put in train, as the arrangement will make them very well off, and, in fact, quite wealthy. The Maoris appear rapidly getting over their Te Whiti oraze, and are eager to begin enjoying the good things which they are shrewd enough to see will flow toward them under the new regime.