TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4403, 30 April 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[from our own correspondent.] Auckland, Thursday. A conference of the Auckland cricketers took place last night. Letters were read from the Dunedin and Canterbury clubs, inviting Auckland to contribute towards a tour of an Australian team in New Zealand. Canterbury and Otago offer £l5O each. The Auckland cricketers express their willingness to contribute, but require further information. The linking in and ballasting of the line to Mercer will be completed to-morrow. The contract towards Ngaruawahia is being pushed on. George Dacre has been appointed manager of the National Bank at Tauranga. Measles are decreasing. Twelve patients have been discharged from the hospital. Six deaths occurred, all in January, on board the ship Fernglen. After passing the Lizard the ship encountered a heavy gale. On the 15th of January the jibboom was carried away in a squall. The Fernglen has a large cargo, and brings 187 immigrants, all well. Captain Burke, charged with arson, was brought up to-day. Mr. Broham, the Police Inspector, prosecuted. Mr. Hesketh defended. The charge was dismissed, the evidence being weak. At the half-yearly meeting of the Bank of New Zealand to-day, a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum was declared, with a bonus equal to 5 per cent. The balance carried forward to the profit and loss account was £10,974. The chairman, James Williamson, in moving the adoption of the report, said that in view of the competition by the other banks the directors had thought it necessary to keep a large balance in hand, as the National Bank had offered rates on deposits in excess of those previously offered. These higher rates had been adopted by other banks, and .subsequently increased by the Bank of Australasia. Previously the banks had been acting in concert, but upon pretence of inducing the Bank of New Zealand to join in a general agreement in Australia, the Bank of Australasia withdrew from and upset the agreement in this colony. However, as the business of the Bank of New Zealand in Australia consisted almost wholly of its own agency, concurrence in the general agreement would close the Australian branches. He had tried to arrange amicably ; but. failing that, he had determined to carry the war into the enemy's country, and offered the same rates in Australia as the other banks. This was not working to the disadvantage of the Bank of New Zealand. The offer of the present extreme rates for money was foreign to the policy of the Bank of New. Zealand, and subversive of the • best interests of the colony. It gave depositors a present advantage, but withdrew money from the general channels of business. The time would come when the banks would endeavor to recompense themselves for their present low profits. He hoped the colonists would remember that the pinch was not caused by • the Bank of New Zealand. Dr. Campbell seconded the adoption of the report, which was unanimously agreed to. In replying, J. R. Murdoch said it was not the object of the Bank of New Zealand to attract Australian capital to New Zealand in establishing Australian branches, but the manager of one of the other banks had openly stated that he intended to withdraw two hundred thousand pounds of money in use here, and the bank desired to show the Australian banks that it was in an equally good position, and as able to make them pay for deposits in Australia as they were to make the Bank of New Zealand pay here ; and thereby bring about a better understanding. He indignantly denied that the bank was squeezing its customers. That story was simply the report of some scribbling letter-writers. He defied any one to prove that reasonable accommodation had ever been refused. The chairman said the branches in the other colonies had not entered into any general competition. It was announced that Sir James Fergusson had joined the London directors. Grattan.McCabe thew himself over a cliff to-day, while insane. He has twice lately been in a lunatic" asylum. He was ,out of employment, and it is supposed that the fact preyed on his mind. His left arm and thigh were broken. He died shortly afterwards. A payable reef has been discovered at Matai Creek. The news from Tairua is encouraging. At Grahamstown there is great competition between the National and the New Zealand banks. A rush to a place near Tapu Reef has assumed large proportions.

[Per Peess Agency.] Auckland, Thursday. Mr. Grattan McCabe fell over the cliff at Solid Rock Bath, and was lulled. At the Bank of New Zealand half-yearly meeting the report showed a net profit of £48,058 ; balance from last year, £13,016. . A dividend was declared of 10 per cent., with a bonus of 5 per cent. The balance carried forward is £16,975. The report was adopted. The chairman, in moving it, referred in terms of condemnation to the system introduced of paying large interest on deposits, and said it was calculated to divert money from its legitimate channels, and injurious to the colony. When the pinch came, he desired merchants to bear in mind that it wa3 not hrought about by that bank. Grattan McCabe, who committed suicide today by jumping off the cliff at the end of Hobson-street, was formerly a reporter in Auckland, and on the Wellington Advertiser. He also had appeared on the stage in various parts of New Zealand. He had been in the asylum recently through insanity, induced by drink. In the fall, besides internal injuries, he sustained a fracture of the thigh and a compound fracture of the right elbow. He was alive and sensible when found, but died two hours after the occurrence. The nominations for the Autumn Handicap and Birthday Handicap close to-morrow at 8 o'clock. New Pltmodth, Thursday. Captain Rowan, who leaves here to fill Major Atkinson's place in Otago as Adjutant of the Militia, will be entertained at dinner on Friday, and leaves for the South on Saturday. A reply has been received from Sir George Arney to the address from the legal profession. He says he will always feel an interest in the prosperity and happiness of the inhabitants of the province. Patea, Thursday. The hitherto unexplored country north-east of Mount Egmorit has just been penetrated for a distance of forty miles by a party of surveyors, who report the land excellent in quality, and level. Mr. William Dale reports the sale of cows without calves at £i 17s. to £7 ; two-year-old heifers, -jEC" 7s. 6d.; two-year-old steers, £5 7s. 6d.; and a number of saddle hacks brought from £7 to £ls ss.

In the Wairoa district, the yield of grain averaged fifty bushels per acre, notwithstanding fully twenty bushels had been destroyed by caterpillars. Wanganut, Thursday. The Supreme Court to-day was occupied with the case of Whitlock v. Parsons and another. Contradictory evidence has been given by the witnesses for the plaintiff. The jury have gone to view the ground in dispute. The claim is of £IOO damages for diversion of creek. Napier, Thursday. Mr. E. Tuke sold yesterday three-year-old steers at £6 10s. to £7 155.; cows, £7 to £8 155.; draught mares, with foal at heels, £42 10s. to £52 10s.; hacks, £6 to £lB. There are seventy-nine applications for licenses by coach and cab proprietors, carters, drivers, &c. R. D. Maney is about to cut up the Puriwariki Estate into small farms. The election addresses of J. R. Newton, for South Suburban, and J. Buchanan, for Clive, are published. The City Council has notice to quit the present offices, held during .the pleasure of the Government, and will probably have to rent offices. Lyell, Thursday. A quartz association mining lease has been applied for in the middle of the township. The reef is very thick, but its value is not yet sufficiently tested to justify any undue excitement. ' ■ Nelson, Thursday. Mr. Lowther Broad, 8.M., was called to the Bar this morning. Judge Gillies complimented him highly on his successful examination, and Baid no doubt he would prove an honor to the Bar. Dunedin, Thursday. At the City Council last night it was decided to cut off the water in the mains from five in the morning till nine at night. This stops all mills dependent on reservoir pressure. The two morning and evening papers are driven by water. Mrs. Jeffrey, who was assaulted by a seaman named Crossman, died yesterday. Subscriptions are coming forward liberally for the Euphrosyne fund. At the' nomination for Waikouaiti for a member of the General Assembly, the show of hands was in favor of George Maclean. The poll takes place on Monday. Christchurch, Thursday.

The Ashburton Races were well attended, and favored with fine weather. Although the entries of first-class horses were so numerous, the number of. starters for some events was small, owing to the handicaps being made by the same handicapper as the Christchurch, and consequently on much the same basis. Those whose running in Christchurch proved they had little or no show were scratched. Handicap Hurdle Race, 25 sovs., sweep 3 sovs —Stevenson's Tommy Dodd, lOst. 111 b., 1; Lunn's Alice Gray, syrs, 9st. 71b., 2 ; Smith's Albatross, syrs., 9st. 41b„ 3. Maiden, 20 sovs., added to a sweep of 2 sovs. for acceptors ; 1J miles ; weight for age. —Oradock's Muscatel, 4yrs., 9st., 1 ; Lunn's Waverley, Sst. 31b., 2 ; James Hay's Kitty Clyde, 6yrs., 9st. 111 b., 3. Five ran. It was a good race. Muscatel won by a length, Kitty Clyde a bad third. Ladies' Purse, 20 sovs., added- to a sweepstake of 3 scvs. ; li miles—James Hay's Kitty Clyde, 1 ; Smith's Lady Ellen, 2. Four ran. It was an easy victory for Kitty. Ashburton Cup Handicap, 60 sovs., added to a sweepstake of 3 sovs. for acceptors, 2 sovs. for nominators ; 2 miles—B. H. Campbell's Castaway, 4yrs., 7st. 121 b (Matthews), 1 ; Lunn's Nectar (late Dolly Varden), 4yrs., 6st. (Osborne), 2 ; B. Bay's ch. f. Sonnambula, 6st. 81b., 3. Six horses accepted, but only three started, the defaulters being Atlas, 7st. Sib. ; Tadmor, 7st. 41b. ; Exile, 6st. 101 b. Castaway was made a hot favorite, and fully justified the confidence placed in him. Nectar ran a game second, doing better than was expected of him; but Sonnambula was never in the race after the first quarter of a mile. Betting : 3 to 1 on Castaway. A good start was effected. Sonnambula sprang away with the lead, but was soon deprived of it by Castaway, Nectar, a few strides further on, running into second place. Bounding the bottom' of the course Sonnambula fell three lengths astern. Opposite the stand, Nectar closed up to Castaway, and the two ran neck and neck until reaching the top of the course, when Nectar began to fall back, and Castaway came in an easy winner. Time : 3inin. 34sec. The Governor visits Lyttelton this morning. Waimate, Thursday. . A man named Thomas Davis, an old settler here, was arrested last night, charged with an attempt to poison his wife, and sent to Timaru, a distance of thirty miles, to-day, for examination. There is no resident magistrate in the district, and the only justice of the peace is at present away. Tim aed, Thursday. Fifty-six applications have been received for the head-mastership of the Timaru Public School, from all parts of New Zealand, and from Melbourne, Sydney, and Tasmania. The price of grain is hardening.