NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2460, 23 February 1882, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBB FBBBB ASSOCIATION.J AUCKLAND, February 22. Healthy SignThe annual report of the Ladies’ Benevolent Society states there has been great diminution of poverty and distress in Auckland during the past year. Mr BryceMr Bryce left for Kihikihi to-day to have an interview with Bewi, at the latter’s request. The Late Outrage at Hew Hebrides. Major Mair received a letter from Sir A. Gordon, High Commissioner, stating the Commodore had sent H.M.S. Cormorant to New Hebrides to investigate the circumstances of bis brother’s murder. DisaffectionOwing to dissension among the officers, the Auckland Eifle Battalion will probably be disbanded. Two companies are receding. CrimeThomas Simms, with half a dozen other aliases, has been arrested on a charge of uttering a valueless cheque. His career has been a remarkable one. GEEY MOUTH. February 22. Mail ServiceA petition is about to be circulated in Grey mouth and throughout the Yalley in favor of the Government establishing a biweekly service between Qreymouth and Bellgrove. OAMABU, February 22. Economising. At a meeting of the County Council to-day it was resolved that the chairman’s honorarium be not granted this year. Other reductions were made. The services of the inspector of works are to be dispensed with. The members of the Council will, however, receive as usual £1 la for each attendance, and fid per mile, less 10 per cent., for travelling expenses.

DUNEDIN, February 22. Fire. By fire this afternoon at Oavorsham four cottages were burned. Water could not be got, and the main sewer was broken open to obtain a small supply. The origin was accidental, The insurances so far as obtainable are : —Standard, £150; National, £400; Union, £6O 5 Victoria, £IOO. Influx of VisitorsAll the Dnnedin hotels are full of visitors in view of the race meeting and the approaching sale of runs. In the latter great interest is taken, and many country people will be present. FedestrianismOliver, who claims to be the champion of Tasmania, ran on Wednesday against Hill, of Shag Point, for £SO aside, three distances—--100, 150, and 200 yards—Hill receiving a start in each. - Oliver won with great ease, Hill securing the 150 yards event on sufferance. CricketThe Wanderers, from Christchurch, wore to play the Oarisbrook Club to-day, bat no local team could be got. A match with the Dunedin Club was tried, but with no better result. They play the Carisbrook Club tomorrow : the Pkcenix on Friday and Saturday. The Licensing Committee. The election for Dunedin Leith licensing district came off to-day. The successful candidates were—Messrs Barnes, Allen, Eliott, Graham, Matthews ; and the unsuccessful— Messrs Boss, Barr, Bennie, Culling, Fraser.

[fbom thb cobbespondent of thb “ PBBBS.”J WELLINGTON, February 22. The Colonial Treasurer left by the Hawea this afternoon for Lyttelton. He will travel through the South Island, and will probably be absent from Wellington about a month. As I find an impression is abroad that a Royal Commission is to be appointed to deal with the organisation, &o. of the Volunteer force, I may explain that this is not the case. What the Government intend doing is simply to act on their intention declared in Parliament last session of nominating a Board of Volunteer officers to investigate and report on the condition of the Volunteer service, but not as a Royal Commission, or with similar powers. Therefore General Davidson, Majors Pitt, Hamlin and Lean and Captain Crowe are to be a Board for this purpose. They will have rooms speedily allotted to them in the Government Buildings in Wellington. Their duties as prescribed by the Defence Minister will be to examine thoroughly into the working of all branches of the Volunteer service; to review the whole system ; to revise the regulations in detail; they will have to consider the present mode of examining and electing officers, and the principle on which the command of the various districts is allotted and the permanent staff arranged ; they will have to assume that it may not be practicable to increase greatly the present volunteer vote, and this must be borne in mind when considering tha subject of capitation allowances ; and they will have to devote particular consideration to the best mode of so limiting the number of the volunteers as to keep the expenses within dne bounds whilst securing highest degree of efficiency. They arc, in short, to review and report on every point in which improvement may be effected in the organisation and working of the force, and are to make recommendations accordingly. The engrossed parchment deed of contract between the Government and the directors of the Wellington-Manawatu Railway Company was sent South by Hawea this afternoon to receive the signature of the Governor, the finally revised draft having been signed by the Government and directors to-day. I hear that complete arrangements have been made for financing the scheme, and that it is expected a large proportion of the requisite funds will be raised in the colony, so that active operations will probably be commenced immediately. Steady reductions are being quietly made in the Armed Constabulary force on the West Coast in view of the complete peacefulness and order now established there. There is to be no sudden or alarming decrease, but those men who are desirous of leaving the force for other employment are permitted to go, and in this way the numbers have been lessened by over 100 men since Christmas.

It is rumoured here that the Budget will show an indisputable surplus of fully £IOO,OOO, as all branches of the revenue are woiking up surprisingly.

I There has been a remarkable spurt in the I railway receipts. It wag thought that the ( splendid return (677,000) for the four weeke | ended 7th ulfc. was mainly duo to the oxoep- ' tional traffic during the holidays, but subsequent returns are even more favorable, proportionally. It ig now believed that the gross receipts for the year will exceed £890,000, if indeed they do not very nearly reach £900,000, and three months ago nobody anticipated more than £875,000 would be totalled. _ The working expenses show a steady decrease in the rate, and, so far as can be calculated at present, the year’s net profit will be quite £400,000. It is rumored (but I have been unable to I verify the report) that the new loan to be I introduced next spring will be for five millions.