LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 280, 28 August 1877, Page 1

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[press agency.] Reefton August 27. The amount of amalgam from the top plates of the Golden Fleece Extended Company, for the week ending August 25th, was 409 Jounces. Wellington, August 27. The Waka Maori libel case occupied the Court all day. Mr Macassey in opening the address spoke for nearly two hours. Only three witnesses were examined. The case is expected to occupy from eight to ten days. Two jury men who absented themselves were, fined .£lO each. The Court was crowded all day. The proposed Land Act is very lengthy, and contains 169 clauses, besides schedule and ten important appendices. The principal: features are; • —All existing Acts, Ordinances and Regulations are repealed from Ist December. The old provinces are made land districts, for each of which will be a commissioner, and a Board appointed by the Governor. The Board is entrusted with large powers in administration of land ; members to retain office 3 years, and eligible for re-appointment; members to receive £1 per sitting, and actual travelling allowance. All Crown land to be divided into town, suburban, and rural ,* all town and suburban to be offered at public auction in sections to be determined by the Board, with the approval of the Governor.. The-, minimum price of town land is fixed at £2O per acre, suburban £3 per acre, rural lands as per appendix provided that no larger quantity than 320 acres be offered in one lot. Any persons extorting money for abstaining from bidding are liable to 2 years imprisonment or a fine of £2OO ; anyone accepting money for the same is liable to 2 years imprisonment or £SOO fine. Land of either of the three classes may be set aside for payment on deferred payments; no persons are allowed to select land in more than one class, nor more than one section, and no allotment of rural land to exceed 320 or of suburban 20 acres. The price for deferred payment one half more than for cash, the deferred payment to extend over 5 years for town and surbnrban, and 10 for rural. The yearly fee to be one fifth of the price for town and suburban and one-tenth for rural Selectors must within two years cultivate onetenth of the land if rural, and one-fifth if town or suburban. The Governor may set apart blocks of pastoral land in allotments not exceeding/5000 acres each for sale on like terms of deferred payments, but such sales should be made not more than 12 months before the expiry of the existing leases, subject to an occupation to commence at the termination of the lease. Provision is also made for the conservation of forests, and also for cutting -timber, flax, and other purposes. Auckland, August 25. Captain Savoy reports noticing fires at Moturoa Islands, where it is supposed the vessel frotr which the wreckage on Orora Beach etc., may be east away. A month has elapsed since evidence of the wreck was found, and no steps taken to identify cr seaeh for svrvivors. Dunedin, August 27. The Jockey Club has issued a programme of November and March races. The principal events for the latter are the Cup of 500 sovs. ; Jockey Club Handicap, SOOsovs. ; Forbnry Handicap, 200 sovs.; Derby, 150 sovs. Information has been laid against Weir and Samson charging them with arson, in consequence of the Coroner’s verdict. The case will be heard next Saturday. Wylie was to-day, adjudged guilty of having-an illicit still in his possession, i Sentence was deferred.