NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6507, 4 January 1882, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

I- [Pbe Pebss Association.] f AUCKLAND, Jan. 3. The takings at the Catholic Bazaar, so far, amount to £BOO. Fresh important evidence is said to have been discovered in Plummer’s case, in the shape of the blotting paper on which the threatening letter to Dr Philson was blotted, i A stowaway discovered on board the mail f steamer Australia, from Sydney, was landed i at the Quarantine Station, and will have to I remain there sixteen days. I The Hon Mr Whitaker bad an interview I with Sir Henry Farkes on the Mail Steamer, H relative to his mission to America on behalf i of New South Wales and this Colony. I Daring the holiday yesterday, several |- residences at Bemuera were burglariously r entered during the absence of the occupants. I Incessant rain, with a thunderstorm in the h afternoon, completely spoiled the holiday and Sunday School Excursions. The Wilhelmj Company,opened to-night in the Choral Hall, The audience was most enthusiastic at the performance. WANGANUI, Jan, 8. A fire this morning destroyed the engine* house of the Wanganui Bash and Door factory. The main building had a narrow t escape, bat was saved by the splendid exer- | toons of the Fire Brigade. There was do inI suranoe on the building. \ WELLINGTON, Jaw. 8. The Supreme Court criminal sessions ? opened this morning. The Chief Justice, in charging the Grand Jury, congratulated them r on the lightness of the calendar. His remotks || were unimportant. A true bill was found in 81-ihe ease of George Skinner, charged with for-

gery. Ho was found guilty and remanded for sentence. True bills were found against Albert H. Nioholls, for forgery, John MM on a charge under the Fraudulent Debtors Act; the Hon 0. J. Pharazyn, personation; Alfred Morey, Mary Morey, and Elizabeth Stewart, robbery from person. A Bill against Joseph Henry Higinbotham, for personation, was thrown out. Albert Harry Nicholas, forgery, George Thomas Skinner and Peter Newton, horse stealing, were acquitted. The ship Waitara and barque Mercia, which arrived yesterday, left London the same day. An inquest will bo hold on the recent fire on the Terrace. , . His Excellency the Governor and family returned from Christchurch at 5 o’clock this evening. A sad accident occurred at Mastorton this afternoon. A bookseller named Chinohon took a nephew named Alfred Bindon to see him fell a small tree. The tree fell on tho boy, who, in running for safety, got into a most dangerous position. He is much injured, and it is suppoaed»'"tho skull is fractured. There is no hope' of his recovery. The following tenders were received for the permanent way contract, No. 2, Weka Pass section of tho Hurunui-Waitaki Railway Accepted: Jesse Coates, Palmerston South, £2727. Declined: T. Taylor, Christchurch, £3488; Robert Johnston, Waikari, £4418. The s.s. Zealandia, with tho London mails of Deo. 1, left Ban Francisco for Auckland, on Tuesday, Deo. 20, three days* later thqnthe time-table date. The s.s. City of Sydney, with the December Colonial mails, arrived at San Francisco on Dec. 27, two days before time-table date. NELSON, Jah. 8. Tho foundation stone of the new St Mary's Church was laid on Sunday by Bishop Bedwood, assisted by the Bov Fathers Gavin, O’Malley and Mahoney. There was a very large concourse of people present. A suitable address was presented to his Lordship, reference being made therein to the fact that the stone would occupy the spot on which the Bishop determined in his own mind to become a priest. A silver trowel, suitably inscribed, was also presented to his Lordship. The Bishop delivered an excellent address in acknowledgment, and referred to his having commenced his studies at St Mary's under the venerable Father Gavin, who had been their pastor 31 years. The band of tho Wellington City Guards performed sacred selections during the. ceremony. WESTPORT, JAN. 3. The reefs at Cascade Creek (Bailer river), Waimangaroa, and Mokitinui are attracting attention. The prospects are good, and many applications for leases have been made. Interests are changing hande at good prices. Seven hundred and seventeen ounces of stone from the Golden Crown, Mokitinui, crushed by Mr John Campbell to-day, yielded. two grains of gold. TIMABU, Jan. 3. Vital statisticsßirths, 33; Marriages, 4; deaths, 7. The weather has been very hot for some days past. To-day a change came on, and it is now raining. A man named John Lawrie, while standing on (he edge of a cliff to the north of Timaru, to-day, was precipitated to the rooks beneath through the earth giving way. He was seriously injured, and died shortly after his arrival at the Hospital. The Customs’ revenue collected at Timaru for the month of December amounted to £2lOl, showing an increase of over £4OO over the corresponding month of last year. The returns for the December quarter also show a large increase. O AMARU, Jan. 3. Mr George Sumpter was re-elected Chairman of (he Harbour Board to-day. The Caledonian sports were well attended to-day. During tho two days a larger number of persons have attended the sports than in any previous year. Tho majority of the events were well contested. DUNEDIN, Jan. 3. On dit, that a large tannery firm have called a meeting of their creditors, the liabilities being heavy. A nine-roomed house in Duncan street was burned down on Sunday. The building was insured in the Standard for £3OO. At the City Court, Frank Thomson was committed for trial on two charges of stealing from hotels. Gibson’s starch and cornflour factory in Harbour Terraco was burned down this afternoon, Tto origin of the fire is not known. The machinery and plant were insured in the South British for £BOO, but Mr Gibson estimates bis loss at £I2OO over that sum. The building belonged to Mr M'Dqnnell, and was insured for £SOO in the Standard. The place burnt very fiercely. The Brigade saved an adjoining hotel. An impudent robbery was committed on New Year’s morning at Watson’s Hotel. A man went into the room of a boarder, who was asleep, stole his watch and money; went into anotner room, and coolly ransacked the pockets of the occupant—-a sea captain. The latter awoke and scudded after the thief under bare poles. The latter got away, but was afterwards arrested, and committed for trial to-day. Subscriptions are being raised for Mrs Woodcock, mother of the man who was killed in the recent accident.

A bottle was' found on Sunday last on the Waikouaiti beach, about 30 miles from Dun* edin, containing a scrap of paper on which was written iu lead pencil, “ Tuesday, Dec. 27,1881. —Please send assistance as soon as possible. Shipwreck about 80 miles off Gape Saunders. God help us. Whoever finds this let him send to bead-quarters.’.’* The police here only got it to-night. As no names are given, it may turn out to* be a hoax. A young man named Barclay, aged 18, out on a shooting excursion at Silverstream, went in to bathe and was drowned. A companion searching for him found him lying dead in the water. A fire at Cromwell destroyed a baker’s shop, which was insured, with stock, in the National for £6OO. The Caledonian Gathering yesterday was attended by fully 12,000 persons, the largest attendance yet secured. Lindsay, the Victorian pedestrian, carried off the principal foot races as he pleased. Burke won the steeplechase. There was again a largo attendance to-day. A slight shower fell in the afternoon, but otherwise the day was fine, Only very windy. BALOLUTHA. Jan. 3. The inquest on the body of Woodcock, killed in the late railway accident, was held to-day. The evidence showed that the accident occurred through a horse getting on the line. A verdict was returned to the effect that death was caused by the train going off the line, no blame being attached to the driver or the guard. The attention of the authorities was called to the defective fences. INVERCARGILL, Jan. 3. The Caledonian Society’s Games were a great success, about 6000 being present on the first day. ' A largo and enthusiastic meeting of Highlanders took place last evening, when a Gaelic Society of Southland was formed, and officebearers were elected. „ A sad accident happened at the Bluff regatta to-day. The sea being very lumpy, three outriggers capsized, with the result that one man, Mr A. Robertson, was drowned. [VHOM ODE OWN OOBEBBFONDBNT.] WELLINGTON, Jan. 8. Borne comment has been caused hero .by the announcement that Sir A. Gordon hae taken the residence of Mr Studholme, at Christchurch. There is good reason to believe that His Excellency has not announced thie intention to the Ministry, with whom he appears to hold little communication beyond what is absolutely required by the discharge of his official duties, it is believed hero that Sir Arthur’s intention is still to proceed to England in the course of a month or two.

The impression is that ho is about to resign the Governorship of Now Zealand, and that he will leave Lady Gordon at Christchurch during hit visit to England, thus vacating Government House for liis successor Following on the announcement that Sir Arthur Kennedy is about to leave Queensland, a rumour has got afloat that ho will be appointed hero. 1 have not been able to obtain any confirmation, but, in fact, have good reason to boliuvo that nothing definite has been settled in the matter.