NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2510, 25 April 1882, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

fPBB PRESS ASSOCIATION.j NEW PLYMOUTH, April 25. Deaths by Drowning. Two boys were drowned whilst bathing yesterday in the Pate* river, near Stratford. Their names are Kdmnnd and William tlarre. PATE A., April 25. A Retrograde Step. The proprietors of the “ Patea Mad ” hav® announced their intention of publishing thrs® times a week only. The daily publication to bo resumed in the spring if times get better. MANUKABI, April 25. Maori InquestAt the inquest on the body of the Maori a number of witnesses were examined yesterday. Several deposed to the fact that a blow with a blue gum stick, about four feet long, was struck by the landlord of the hotel. The evidence was conflicting as to the Maori who was struck One witness asserts that two Maoris were struck, and the second Maori, with a scar on his head (Te Knku), is under examination this morning. The evidence of Europeans is also conflicting, as to whether deceased is the one who was struck by Gallagher with a stick. The inquest was continued till ilpm. last night, and resumed this morning before Vr Gibbs. The evidence is very voluminous. [Still sitting.] WELLINGTON, April 25. Customs Revenue. The Customs revenue of the colony for the quarter ending 31st March last represents the largest contribution from such source ever collected in any one quarter. The amount wta .£396,740, and in round figures it brines up the total of the Customs revenue for the financial year to £1,472,079. or nearly £128,000 over the Colonial Treasurer’s estimates, and £162,229 over the revenue of the preceding year. All parts of the colony share in the improvement, excepting Westport, Hokitika, and Groymouth, which in their aggregate returns show a small falling off. The increase on returns of 1881 82, as compared with tho.'O of 1880 81, are thus officially given for the principal ports Dunedin, £ 135,696, £394,358; Auckland. £291 063, £235,962; Lyttelton, £228,810, £216,901; Wellington, £2 2,2c8, £177,399; Nelson, £l3 927, £42.079 ; Inrercar. ill, £13,781, £37 363; Napier, £12,843, £37,536; other ports, £i0i,613, £100,621. Groymouth, Hokitika and A’estport collectively stand in this proportion, £63,146, £68,036. The average increase for the whole colony is about 12] per cent. Fire. A destructive fire broke out at 1.30 this morning in tho premises situated in Panama street, and occupied by Messrs Smith and Overend, wine and spirit merchants. The-fire spread rapidly, and in half an hour the building was completely gutted. 1 trough the exertions of the fire-brigade the stores [of Mr J. H. Heaton, commission a;ent, and Mr George Thomas, auctioneer, were saved from destruction, although damaged to some extent by water and fire. The brigade and salvage corps worked splondiily, and no doubt prevented what at one time threatened to be a disastrous conflagration. Noshing is known as to tho origin. cue of the proprietors was in the store at midnight, and states that when he left everything was safe. The insurances are Building, South British, £600; National. £2OO. Stock, South British, £1000; National, £100; London, Liverpool.a-id Globe. £SOJ ; Imperial, £IOOO. The South British have two-thirds of their risk reinsured is the Scottish Imperial, Hanseatic, and standard offices. The National is halt reinsured in the London and Lancashire The South British have a line of £7OO on Thomas’ store, which was partially destroyed. DUNEDIN, April 25. ShippingThe Manipnuri left Lisbon for Melbourne direct on the i7th inst. The Mahinapua sailed from the Clyde for Port Chalmers on the 22nd ; end tho Omapero was launched at Dumbarton on the 2nth.