TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4393, 19 April 1875, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[Per Press Agency.] Napier, Saturday. The bazaar at the Presbyterian Church at Maraekakaho realised £155.

A meeting of the City Council last night fixed the general rate at one shilling in the pound. The estimated annual value of rateable property is £45,000. The report on the waterworks was referred to a select committee. The engineer recommends a scheme for supply from artesian wells : cost, £SOOO. The Mayor advocates a larger scheme of gravitation, to cost £20,000. It is most likely the cheaper scheme will be adopted. A debate on the question of filling up the swamp took place. An attempt is to be made to pass a Bill through the Assembly to give compulsory powers to take land. The difficulty at present is getting at the absentee owners. A draft Bill was read to get back the market reserves, which have been granted to trustees for educational purposes. The writs for the Provincial Council elections are to hand by the last trip of the Rangatira, but the election notices are not yet issued. Mr. J. D. Canning has issued an address to the electors of Porangahau, the present member, i Mr. Ormond, not coming forward again. The -Settlers at Petaru, Mohaka, and Wairoa, are agitating the question of a bridge at the Heads connecting the eastern and western Spit, It is estimated to cost £IO,OOO. The matter has been in abeyance since 1872. There is a considerable amount of sickness still, but it is on the decline. Tadranga, Saturday. The District Engineer, after consulting with Messrs. Edgcorabe and Bodell, Chairmen of the Hoad Boards, has selected a reserve for the hospital, gaol, and market-place. Copious rain fell during last night. White Island has been singularly active during the last few days. Grahamstown, Saturday. A trial crushing from the prospectors’ claim at Tairua, 6031b5. of stone, gave ISozs. 3dwts. of smelted gold. The Thames gold return for the week is ever a thousand ounces.

Westport, Saturday.

Exceedingly rich stone has been struck in / the Halcyon’s claim at Mohikinui. Twenty ~ ounces of loosegoldwere obtained fromone blast of rock. The body of atone is calculated to yield fifteen ounces to the ton. Gkeymocth, Saturday. A prospecting claim has been applied for, this afternoon, by Kilgour and Chesterfield, for ground about a mile south of Greymouth, on the Marsden-road. It is reported that the prospect was half-a-pennyweight to the dish of coarse gold. The extent of the ground is not known at present. The Warden visits the locality on Monday.

Hokitika, Saturday. The Provincial Council has been prorogued. The Superintendent assented to the several Ordinances passed during the session. In his closing speech he expressed regret that important Bills, submitted by the Government, providing for the reconstruction of Boat! Boards and the amendment of the Publichouse Ordinance, had not met with the concurrence of the Council.

D deedin', Saturday. At the Police Court, James Sullivan, a seaman, was charged with sticking-up Andrew Hill, in Melville-street, last night. Sullivan tided to decoy Hill into a house of ill-fame, hut the latter refused to go, when the prisoner threw him down, nearly strangled him, rifled his pockets, and stole his hat. Prisoner was committed for trial.

Chetstchcech, Saturday. H. M. Goodyer, a cabdriver, who was arrested by order of the Mayor some time ago,, for removing a portion of the first fence around the cab-stand opposite Cobb and Co.’s office, has instructed his legal advisers to bring an action for £SOO against the Mayor as damages for false imprisonment. It is stated that Mercer has altered considerably in demeanor and habits since he was sentenced to death. Before his trial he used to indulge freely in exercise in the prison yard, but scarcely takes any now ; he is quieter and more subdued than formerly, and partakes but slightly of the food supplied to him. The Christchurch Archery Club will shoot a match against Wellington to-day. Forty applications have been received for the appointment of Head Master, and twentyfour for that of Head Mistress, to the East Christchurch District School, many being from Melbourne and Sydney, and from persons possessed of very superior attainments. A new Athletic Club has been formed, and with the view of encouraging working men, all prizes will be given in money, instead of in plate or jewellery, as is done by the present dub.

Arrangements are being made for his Kxcellency’a visit. It is not known yet whether the reception is to he private or public. At an inquest held this afternoon, a verdict of manslaughter was retumedagainst Janet M‘Kinlay, for causing the death of her infant child. The circumstances of the case are these : —-On Monday last the husband of Janet McKinlay was sentenced to three months 1 imprisonment for brutally assaulting his wife, who had only been confined ten days before. On Tuesday Mrs. McKinlay drew some money owing to her husband, and lay about in the house drinking whisky, which she sent her children for, until Friday, when, acting on information received, the police went to her house and found her in * bed, very drunk, with the infant lying behind her, dead. The whole place and the children were in a filthy state. The evidence taken at the inquest showed that Mrs. McKinlay first found the infant was dead on Thursday morning, or about thirty hours before the police went to the house. During this time she was continually the worse for liquor, and had taken no steps for the removal of the dead body. The medical evidence proved that the child died from want of food and general neglect.