NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2487, 27 March 1882, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

fPBB PEBSS ASSOCIATION.I AUCKLAND, March 25. Fire-

A dwelling-house on Symonds street, occupied by fl. Cooper, carpenter, who had the medicated baths, was burnt to the ground this morning, nnd the house next door, occupied by a stonemason named Blair, was completely gutted. Cooper’s furniture was insured in the North British for £l5O, and both buildings were insured for £IOO each in the South British and £SO each in the Standard. It was the property of the City Council. “Bad for the Coo-” A goods train was thrown off the line by a cow a little beyond Fapakura this morning. The engine of the 8.30 train from Auckland rendered assistance, and the line was soon clear. The unfortunate animal was fearfully mangled and dragged some distance. Accident. The carriage of Mr Hugh Lusk, solicitor, was overturned through the horse shying. Master Hugh Lusk was seriously injured. Mr Lusk and two other of his children were slightly injured, A Lively Meeting. A public meeting of the ratepayers of the Karangahape district to-day, to decide on the future form of self-government, ended in great disorder, March 26. The Native Minister. The Hon. Mr Bryce proceeded to the Upper Thames River on Saturday. ImportantThe natives have now agreed to have the snags removed which have interfered with the navigation of the river for a long time past, WELLINGTON, March 26. Frozen Meat Trade. A meeting of the directors of the Wellington Frozen Meat Company was held yesterday, when it was decided to procure a Haelam machine, similar to those ordered by the Christchurch and Dunedin companies. It is expected the machinery will arrive during the spring, and that the company will be able to commence operations during the season. TIMARU, March 25. The Grand National. At a general meeting of the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Club this afternoon it wos resolved to hold the annual races at Christchurch during the Exhibition season instead of Acnburton. Why is this thus? At the annual meeting of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association the balance sheet showed a debit balance of £246, The Alhnry ExtensionAt a meeting held at Fairlie Creek it wa» resolved to urge the'Government to complete j the Albury railway extension and telegraph to that place. The Albury railway is the best paying one in the colony, and owing to the non-completion of the lino to Fairlie Creek largo quantities of wool and grain from the back country arc drayed into town. DUNEDIN, March 25. The Dunedin Dredger. March 26. The first trial of the now steam dredger was made on Batutday, when several members of the Harbor Board and visitor* proceeded to Port Chalmers, and subsequently on board the dredger outside the heads. No hitch occurred in the working of the maohinery. The dredge was sot to work on a sand bank near the Port Chalmers wharves, but the stuff was very stiff sand, and »low progress was made. When about 800 tons were in the hoppers the dredge proceeded a mile outside the heads and discharged it, everything working properly. Those on board got a bit of a fright at one time, when the unwieldy boat got broadside on to a sea, but *he was quickly put round again.

WELLINGTON, March 26. Ministerial Movements. Major Atkinson wont North by the mail steamer this afternoon. Ho goes to Taranaki and Auckland, and is expected to return to Wellington in about ten days. The object of his journey hag not transpired, but it is understood to be public business. Mr Dick also leaves Wellington to-morrow for Lyttelton on hi* way to Dunedin. He will probably be absent from Wellington about a fortnight. The general assembling of Ministers in Wellington in preparation for the session is still postponed, and cannot now take place before the middle of next month. I understand, however, that a good deal of preliminary work has already been cleared away, so that when the full Cabinet doe* meet its deliberations will be devoted mainly to the more debateable portion of the Ministerial Parliamentary proposals, I hear the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill has been finally remitted to the printers. It is in the main much the same Bill as that introduced last session, but has undergone alteration and improvement where those seemed to be suggested either by the discussion in Parliament, by experience, or by subsequent events, which latter have in some oases indicated the various directions in which the Bill can be modified with advantage.