NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2490, 30 March 1882, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[FEB PBKBB AB6OOTATION.] AUCKLAND, Marob.29. Ministerial Conference. The Ministers had several conferences yesterday, when the polioy of the Government with reference to the King Natives, the approaching meeting at Whatiwhatihoe, and the railway between Auckland and New Plymouth wore brought up and discussed at great length. The TreasurerMajor Atkinson, on returning from the Waikato, goes to Northern Wairoa to inspect the timber industries, in company with Mr Mitoheleon, M.H.R. for Marsden. One of the Colonial Treasurer's objects in bis present visit to Auckland is to enquire into the local industries of this district, with the view of seeing whether they cannot be fostered and assisted by the Government and the Legislature, or whether the hindrances to their expansion may not be removed. Crime. There are twenty-two prisoners, against wham are thirty charges, awaiting trial at the Supreme Court sessions. An Offending PublicanPatrick Gleeson, of Gleeson's Hotel, was fined £2O and coats for a breach of the Beer Aot in not having defaced the stamps. Maori Newspaper. A Maori paper, " Te Kiarnoko," has been started by Mr Snow, an American gentleman, who laboured in tbe cause of temperance among the Natives at Botorua. Death by an Accident. Matheson, who was injured by the fall of a spar, died in the Hospital this morning. The Local Option Vote. The residents of Mungaroa licensing district have by a substantial majority voted in favor of authorising the issue of new licenses of every description. Kelease of Prisoner. Lawrence Hayps, who in Ootober last was convicted at tbe Auckland Supreme Court on a oharge of committing a rape on a woman at Hamilton, and sentenced to five years' penal servitude, has now been pardoned. From the first a large number of residents of Hamilton were of opinion that the evidence was not of a character to warrant a conviction, and since that lime have taken stops to have him released. His Excellency, on the recommendation of his Ministers, agreed to pardon Hayes, and he will be set at liberty without delay. The Property Tax. The total amount of property tax unpaid for the year is le»B than £IO,OOO. The exact figures will not be ascertained until advices np ti 31st inst. come to hand from Postmasters.! The money reoeived in respect of the ton per cent, added to the tax in consequenoe of the negleot to pay punctually amounts to £6OO. Legal proceedings are about to bo taken against those who have refused to pay the tax or the addition of ten per oent. Tbe outstanding tax is about 4i per cent, of the total tax for the year. HOKITIKA, Maroh 29.

Gold Export. The Bank of New Zealand shipped for Melbourne 2823 ounces of gold. MiningAt the Woodstock rush to-day another olaim was bottomed, seven olaims from prospectors, or about quarter of a mile further south, the prospect gave ten grains to four dishes. There was considerable exoitement on the ground between parties pegging out business sites. TIMARU, Maroh 29. Gored by a Bull. A man named Hallam, while crossing a paddock near Timaru last evening, was terribly gored by a bull. Hia injuries are of a serious nature. The bull was shot to-day bv its owner. ' DUNEDIN, March 29. New DirectorMr E. B. Oargill has accepted a seat at tb.o Board of the Colonial Bank, vacant by the resignation of Mr Battray, who is on a visit to Europe. False Alarm. The alarm given by settlers on the Peninsula last night about a burning ship turns out to be unfounded. It is believed it was the Government steamer Stella passing, and the wind being with her kept the smoke hanging over her. The flame seen must have como from the funnel in some way. INVEROABQILL, March 29. An Example to ChristchnrchThe Invercargill Coffee Palace Company has been successfully floated, upwards of 3500 shares having been already subscribed.

Highway Robbery. A mild case of sticking up is reported from Gore. A man named Sim, of Balclutha, forcibly relieved an old man named Munro of his watch, and on being pursued by some , Gore residents kept them at bay by flourishing knives. Ultimately he swam the Mataura River, and made tracks in the direction of Croydon bush. Sinoe Monday nothing has been seen of him. Ho is reported to be of weak intellect. Fire. On Tuesday a threshing mill and two stacks of wheat on the farm of Meßsrs Cochrane Bros. Spar bush were destroyed by fire. The owner of the mill, Mr Nioholson, was fully insured. The Messrs Cochrane were uninsured. The Local Option Vote. _ The borough of North Inveroargill has decided against the issue of new liquor license a during the next three years. [tfBOM THE " PRESS."] WELLINGTON, Maroh 29. I notice an opposition journal statoa that Mr Fulton has declined the invitation of Government to be nominated as chairman of oommittees, and that the Government are now canvassing for support for Colonel Trimble or Mr Kelly. lamin a position to state that there is not a partiole of foundation for three assertions, which are palpable "shots," and vet/ wide ones. There is no change in the programme since I last reported. Despatches were received to-day by post, per Brindisi mail, from the Agent-General. They oontain nothing of special interest. Sir F. Dillon Bell describes the excitement In London over the cloture proposals of the Gladstone Government as being intense, and the result doubtful.

The position of the Brogden olaim now is that in accordance with the deoision of Mr Justice Gillies, Messrs Brogden have no locus standi under the Government Contractors' Arbitration Act, 1872. But this does not dispose of the olaim because the claim itself has never oome to trial. The point that has always hitherto been in dispute is whether the case can be tried at all. It is generally understood that something is admitted to be honestly due to Messrs Brogden, and that the Government would not be indisposed to meet them in the way of amicable negotiating. But the claimants insist on the recognition of certain alleged legal rights, and the Government do not feel justified in conceding these, because the Crown law officers distinctly advise them that, under the Government Contractors' Arbitration Aot the sole law by virtue of which Messrs Brogden can prefer their claimsMessrs Brogden, through their own delay, have no legal standing at all, and this opinion is confirmed by that of Judge Gillies. It seems generally understood that Mr H. P. Higginaon, lata engineer in the Colonial Public Works Department, is almost certain to be appointed engineer to the Wellington and Manawatu railway, at a salary of £3OO per annum.