NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2695, 27 November 1882, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[jPEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, November 25.

The down Waikato train had a narrow escape from an accident at Newmarket. The points had been altered, and the train ran on the siding, colliding with and damaging some trucks. A lad at Kamo was accidentally killed while cleaning a loaded gun. The Colonial Sugar Company have succeeded in obtaining from the Harbor Board a lease for fifty years of a portion of the foreshore of the North Shore opposite their property, three acres in extent. It is expected that the building of refinery works will forthwith be commenced. GISBORNE, November 26.

The Southern Cross Company intend to sink a shaft another 100 ft. The oil is still rising through the bottom. The first load of petroleum leaves the ground next wceki Very few speculators have yet arrived for the land sale.

Great disappointment was caused by the non-arrival till four yesterday morning of the steamer Rotorua with the TambourMajor Company aboard: as they had been announced to play “ Patience ” the previous night, and crowds had come from the country to see it. WELLINGTON, November 25.

With regard to the changes made in the Government insurance, it is not intended to close the industrial branch nor to limit its sphere of usefulness, but it will be worked in complete harmony with the ordinary branch. The object of the Government is to offer insurance in the form best suited to industrial requirements. This would probably be gathered from our previous remarks. It is not intended at present to divide the profits annually, but a scheme of insurance with deferred profits at rates lower than the non-participating rates of other offices is about to be introduced. The next division of profits will be made as at 31st December, 1885. In accordance with the recent legislation altering the financial year, the books will be closed on the 31st proximo, and the accounts published for the six mouths which commenced on the Ist July last. The Admiralty authorities have determined upon inviting tenders for the supply of New Zealand salt beef to the British Navy, and therefore are calling for preliminary experimental shipments of 10,000 lbs, in casks, from each of the principal ports of this colony. If the experiment proves satisfactory as regards quality, when compared with the American meat, the Admiralty will make a second trial on a large scale, and will invite a supply of 126,0001 b annually. GREYMOUTH, November 26. A meeting of the Railway League was hold last night. Mr George Thornton, engineer, was present. A long communication from the Westland Railway League, in support of the Arthur’s Pass route, was read. Attached was a tabular statement purporting to give the distances and grades of both routes. Mr Thornton, who advocated the Ada Pass route, denied the accuracy of the figures given, and said the route marked on the plan was not correct. After a good deal of discussion the following resolution, was carried unanimously :—• “ That the Greymouth League co-operate with the Reefton and Christchurch, and use all legitimate measures in advocating the construction of the line to the West Coast, and that in the opinion of this meeting any line to this coast should include Reefton, which should certainly be connected with Greymouth either direct or by a branch line. The weather is still dry, but the bar is in good condition. DUNEDIN, November 25.

An inquest was held to-day on John Gordon, who committed suicide in the lock-up yesterday. On being' brought in, ho told the police that drink had brought him into trouble. The verdict _was —“Thatthe deceased committed suicide in a state of temporary insanity, and that the usual search in such eases was made.” Five hundred pounds was taken in two days at the Benevolent Institution carNovembor 2G.

At a meeting of the Educational Institute, held on Saturday, the secretary reported that proposals for the formation of a New Zealand Institute had been favorably received, and that Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Southland had nominated representatives to attend a conference to be held in Christchurch during the Christmas vacation.

INVERCARGILL, November 25. On Thursday two men, named Gray and J. Campbell, left Riverton in a lighter for New River, where it was to be left, they intending to return in a whaleboat, which they also took with them. When near the Heads the lighter drifted towards the beach, and Campbell got into the whaleboat and set sail in order to tow the lighter off the shore. Soon after a heavy sea struck the whaleboat, which filled and sank, Campbell, who had previously fastened himself to a thwart, going down with her. When the boat came to the surface Gray called to Campbell to get on the lighter, and the latter, who seemed quite cool, replied, “Wait a bit till I get the lashing off.” He raised his arms, as if to do so, when another sea swamped the whaleboat and she turned over with Campbell underneath. Gray was powerless to assist, as the lighter drifted ashore and broke up. G ray got to the Heads aud arrived here last night. The Kakanui picked up the whaleboat outside, but the thwart to which Campbell’s body had been attached had been torn out. He leaves a widow and family, the latter mostly grown-up. Deceased had recently lost two vessels in the coasting trade, the last being the Eliza McPheo.