NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6495, 21 December 1881, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

[P«t Punas Amocwtio*.] AUCKLAND, line. 20, A fire last night destroyed a two-storey house, which was being built for Captain Elltott. The builder is insured for £IOOO in the Colonial office, half that amount being reinsured. Captain Elliott had a new residence burned down a few years ago, under similar circumstance#. , , _ , , John Mscictyre, a settler of Coromandel, on reluming from TakaleaUUl fell down a precipice and smashed hi# skull. Ho died shortly afterwards. . 'There art (welre prisoners on the criminal calendar. Carter and Flood, the Sydney oarsmen, proceeded to Mercury lay to-day. Df re bm placed an out-rigger at the disposal of the latter rower.

WELLINGTON, Dio. 20. Cary's Juvenile Pirates opened here last night, and the performance wss a pronounced •usees*. Government have received a telegram from Farihaka, stating that the Natives bad a feast there on Dso. 16 j but there wae no speaking. Ills understood that no formal Native meetings have teen held anywhere up the coast. It is stated that Mr Bryce has metlmoit of the Wanganui Natives who were' lent from Farihaka to their own home#, and that they appeared very cheerful. Two Wanganui

chief* who had been known to he mo*l surly Amongst the Natives At Parihsko, appear to haw got over their ponrL Government have decided to give facilities for holding a Native I«nds Court at Mokau, the Native* In that district and at Kawbla being anxious to pas* their land* through the Court. Information has been received from Beef* too that the Golden Fleece have struck ft reel four feel thick, showing gold, The heavy rains yesterday and this morn* ieg caused a flood in the Hutt river. Several gardens on the river hnnke are under water to the depth of several inches.

OAMAHD, Duo. 20. John Wilton was charged at the H.M. Court to day with committing a breach of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, by holding sweeps on tho raoseoune. The police applied for th« infliction of a nominal penally, as the man was poor. It was proved that defendant hod psrsitled in drawing the sweep* after having been cautioned by the police. Oouniol for tho defence would offer no evidence, but characterised the act as iniquitous. It had legalised the tolaliaator, but debarred the people from holding a harmless half-crown sweep. The Magistrate, in consideration of the circumstances, inflicted a nominal penalty of 5s without costs. DUNEDIN, Dbo. 20. The Tipperary Mining Company, at Msectown, have sent down a cake of gold weighing SOI ounces. The Star states that the English cricketers have definitely decided not to play at Inver* “ft Kaitannta and Shag Point Coal Company have had tender* accepted for the supply of coal to the railways in Dunedin. INVERCARGILL, D«o. 20. Th® half-yearly sitting of the Supreme Court opened this morning. Judge Williams' charge to tho Grand Jury was brief, and contained nothing of general interest beyond a reference to the small amount of crime in the district os evidenced by the calendar. For stealing Masonic jewellery from tho Club Hotel Thomas Kennedy got six months’ hard labour, and for the theft of £6, William Lloyd, aged 15, two months. John Qobbe, for stealing a trunk and a large quantity of jewellery belonging to Mr Bach elder (of Bent and Boobelder), six months. J. P. Holmes, for embexxlemenl of public moneys, three years. Tho Court then adjourned. [kbom a courbsvohbbnt.] HOKITIKA, Deo. 20. For the Humphrey's Gully Company’s issue of twenty thousand shares, thirty thousand have already been applied for.