TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4600, 17 December 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Thursday. The Mayoralty election resulted in the return of Tonks, against Prince, the present Mayor, by a majority of 600. Tonks is not in the Council, and the election cry was an outsider versus member of Council. The Star's special correspondent who proceeded to the Kingite meeting at Hikurangi writes : —From what he had previously heard he had expected to find the King’s future head-quarters far more comfortably and pleasantly situated than he found them on actual inspection. The village is situated on the summit of a very high hill. Just on the rise are some half-dozen whares, inhabited by the notorious murderer Purukutu and his Ngatihaus. Further on, on the top of the hill, is a church, or whare karakia, a large building built of totara slabs. Immediately adjacent is Tawhiao’s whare, no way different from usual native houses. A few more buildings of the same kind for his immediate followers comprise the settlement. A deep gully lies on each side, down which women were going continually to fetch water for cooking and other purposes for their numerous visitors, with great toil from morn till night. Its only recommendation is the fact that it is within a few hours’ distance from Kawhia, Kuiti, and other inland settlements. A fine view is also obtained of the whole of the delta and southwards to the foot of Mount Egmont. The late murder of a native at Otiwa was touched upon. The murderer is not to be punished, neither in future are any payments to be made in cases of adultery. The man and wife must only look to themselves for satisfaction. This law of Tawhiao’s caused not a few comments not very flattering to him. One good law passed is that in future, in cases of death in a family, the usual custom of feasting is to be dispensed ■with. Only immediate friends of deceased are expected to stay by until the interment. Tawhiao now takes the name of Tutangaroa, and will in future beknown by that. On Saturdaymorning I left,andwith great difficulty managed to get down again, the whole flat country from Kopua being deluged. The flood has caused a deal of damage at all up-country settlements near the river ; where there are any crops they are all destroyed. At various settlements at Kopua (as industrious a set of natives as are to be found in the country), many suffered greatly, losing their crops, and have had their houses washed away. It was a most disheartening sight to see such desolation where all was green hut a few days ago. Of Tuhi’s settlement at Whareomohi not a vestige is to be seen ; all was under water. The departure of the Colima for Sydney is postponed till to-morrow at eight o’clock. Six engineers are employed repairing machinery. General entries for the races close to-morrow night. Do Murska arrives by the Hero, and opens at the Choral Hall on the 4th January. Napier, Wednesday. The Supreme Court sittings commenced today. Only four prisoners for trial. John Thomas, charged with stabbing James Cable ; Robert Magill, for assaulting his wife with intent to do greivous bodily harm; John Rollo, forgery; and two cases against John Symonds for larceny. The Chief Justice congratulated the jury on the lightness of the calendar. True bills were found in ail cases. Symonds was found guilty of larceny, two previous convictions were proved against him ; remanded for sentence. The Court is now proceeding with the stabbing case. Criminal business will probably be finished to-morrow. Several civil cases are pending, but may not be brought on. A meeting of the creditors of Biuk, draper, is called for Tuesday by advertisement. Wangandx, Thursday. Mr. Ballanoe addressed the electors of Turakina last night, and received a unanimous vote of confidence. Alexandra, Thursday. The floods have now subsided. The natives are the principal sufferers. The potato crops are almost wholly destroyed. This will cause great scarcity of food, the natives having no more seed. There is also a great diminution in the wheat crop. Tawhiao has left Hikurangi for Waitara ; thence he goes to Katahia. Tauranga, Wednesday. There was a rifle match yesterday, Sappho v. Tauranga Rifles and Constabulary. The Sappho was beaten by 142 points.

(PER CYPHUENESE.) AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY. Melbourne, December 8. The Budget debate continues unfinished, but as most of the principal speakers have addressed themselves to the subject, but very little of interest remains. There is a section of the Opposition determined to prevent the progress of business until a dissolution is obtained. The case of Mr. Mason, member for Gippsland, adjudged by the Racing Committee to be a defaulter 1 , has been brought before the Assembly. The Government were asked to deal with the case, but the Premier declined to be a judge of the characters of hon. members, and refused to take any action. Mr. Mason has commenced a libel action against the Age newspaper for a very strong article which appeared in that journal. The notorious convict Weechuroh or Taylor (his real name) has suffered the extreme penalty of the law. He was executed on Monday last, and died asserting his innocence of the charge of attempt to murder. Scarlet fever still continues, and the number of deaths from this cause has increased. The war steamers Pearl and Dido are here awaiting the arrival of Commodore Hoskins by the mail. He is expected at the end of the week. The Tasmanian cable is broken—the first time since it was laid down in 1869. Great dissatisfaction is felt at the present means of communication with Europe since the cable has been interrupted. Messages are transmitted by steamer any how, and without the slightest regard to dates. Sydney, December 7. The Chamber of Commerce has appointed a deputation to urge on the Government the necessity of a second cable to Europe. A New Zealand digger, named Murphy, got drunk, and was robbed of a receipt for 500 scrip in the United Band of Hope Mine, Reefton, and of seventy sovereigns. Large seizures of jewelery have been made by the Customs for non-payment of duty. Mr. De Colevey Ireland yesterday served Captain Chapman, of’the Dido, with a writ, claiming £IO,OOO damages arising out of proceedings in Piji. The duties on tobacco have been increased. That on manufactured is now 2s. 6d., and on leaf Is. 6d. Other alterations are contemplated. Eivo convicts (not Communists) recently reached Queensland from New Caledonia. They were boatmen in charge of a boat laden with Government stores, and escaped. They were twelve days at sea. Brisbane, December 8. A petition has been presented to the Governor for presentation to the Queen, complaining of Sir Maurice O’Connell's conduct respecting the O’Connell demonstration. Newcastle. Arrived.—December 2, Robin Hood, from Wellington ; sth, Jessie, from Wellington. Sailed—December 3, Derwent, for Wellington. COMMERCIAL. Business is very dull, and the markets are inactive. Wheat is ss. lOd. to 6s. Oats are very heavy ; Tasmanian, 3s. sd. A Mauritius telegram shows a fall in sugar of 15 to 25 per cent. There is little demand for Australian. Christchurch, Wednesday. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency received yesterday the following London telegram, dated 24th November “ The fourth aeries of wool sales opened at the level of last sales. Up to date, 87,000 bales have arrived ; 8000 bales have been sent to the manufacturing districts direct. Market unchanged for scoured. of Good Hope has declined Jd. to Id. per lb.” Mr. Moorhouse addressed the electors at Knightstown on the 14th inat. He received a vote of confidence/ t