TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4910, 16 December 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PEE PEEB3 AGENCY.) Masteeton, Friday. At the nomination of candidates for Masterton riding to-day the following were nominated:—Messrs. Perry, Gilligan, Everett, and Russell. Two representatives will be elected. It is generally considered the two former will be chosen. The electors appear to be very apathetic in the matter. Auckland, Friday. The Presbyterians of Newmarket propose to give a call to the Rev. James Cash, of Sydney. The booths for the racecourse were sold today for £ll3, and the cards for £45. Owing to an accident, a crew of Mercury Bay, Auckland, is not likely to be represented in the champion fours at Nelson. Napieb, Friday. The Government insurance scheme is very popular here. The agent, G. Thome, jnn., succeeded in getting three hundred persons to insure within a few months. He leaves for Auckland by the Zealandia. In the Supreme Court, Charles Black, convicted yesterday of housebreaking, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. William Bennett, for larceny of a cash-box, nine months. In the case of Henry Robert Paine, tried yesterday for larceny of a cheque he found at the Spit, the jury were discharged at 2 o’clock this morning without agreeing on a verdict. He will be tried again on Monday. George Goddard, for stealing a gold watch, the property of his master, named Sturrock, was acquitted. It was a curious case. Sturrock has made money at the Cape diamond-fields, ''and is visiting, with his wife, all the ports in New Zealand. He is a man of excitable temperament, and addicted to hard-drinking, with its consequent results. At the Occidental Hotel, Wellington, he picked up the prisoner Goddard, and engaged him to go to the Cape with him. He was to receive no wages in New Zealand; but prosecutor gave him money when he wanted it. The jury adopted the view suggested by counsel, that prisoner took the watch without a felonious intent, but merely to produce a salutary effect on prosecutor’s mind and keep him from drink. The scene in court during the cross-examination of the prosecutor was the most outrageous ever witnessed. The prosecutor got terribly excited, refused to answer questions, and repeatedly called Lee, the defending counsel, a liar, and turned his back upon him, snapped his finger at him, and finally demanded .a chair. The Chief Justice allowed him to sit in a chair at the counsel’s table, and to give his answers from there.

Dunedin, Friday.

Mr. Donald Reid, M.H.R., addressed his constituents at Mosgiel last night. About 200 persons were present. The greater part of his address was devoted to a defence of his action on the land question, and a reference to the legislation of the past session thereupon. Regarding the Canterbury runs he would have opposed them had they had a clear sheet to start with, but upon the other hand, having granted such licenses as these, having renewed them from time to time, and they having been purchased from the original holders even so recently as six months or twelve months, to alter suddenly the tenure upon which they were held might-be to bring ruin to these men. He would be no party to such an unjust action, and if the confidence of the Taieri electors depended on that, they must look for another representative. It was the unreasonable and unfair action of the Opposition in this matter that induced him to shake loose from them. Referring to the Land Act introduced last session, he considered it the most liberal ever introduced in any country in the world. Referring to its rejection by the Upper House, he said the blame rested with those who factiously opposed the Bill in the Lower House. He then referred at length to the abolition question and the Counties Act. He deprecated the action of the Opposition in wasting the time of the House on abolition, and he considered it would have been a dire calamity if the Counties Bill had not passed. Their interests would be better cared for by a system of County Government than' by a system of pure centralism. Were Otago to obtain separation, from that time her prosperity would be doomed, and he would always oppose any proposal for a division of the colony. As a province Otago could never have carried on from legitimate revenue—they could only have done so by the sale of laud ; but while the Government objected to the sale of land, the people clamored for public works. While he regretted the loss of the provincial system, he did not despair. He was prepared to give the county system a fair trial, and assist to improve it. By the amalgamation of counties it would be possible to more nearly approach the provincial system, and he would give councils power to pass by-laws to relieve the Assembly of much work. A vote of confidence was carried unanimously. There is very little interest re the county elections. The Matau bridge was opened to-day, and a number of political speeches were made by provincialists, Stout, Macaudrew, &c. The Harbor Board have voted J. L. Gillies, secretary to the Board, a sum of £250 for additional work during the past two years and the real zeal evinced by him. His daughter, Miss J. L. Gillies, was awarded the dux gold medal at the Girls’ High School. Herbert Halliwell takes the Chamber of Commerce dux gold medal in the Boys’ High School. John Meikle, schoolmaster at Saddle Hill, has committed suicide. Christchurch, Friday. O. A. Fitzroy, M.H.R., addressed the electors of Selwyn district at Courtenay last night. His speech was little more than a review of the past session. A vote of thanks was accorded to him for his address. The tea and public meeting last night in connection with the annual session of the Grand Lodge of the Middle Island 1.0.G.T. was a great success. There was an immense attendance. Riverton, Friday. A young man named Alfred Hart was found in the river yesterday, hanging over the side of a boat by his feet, with his head in the water, quite dead. He was subject to fits, and it is supposed must have overbalanced himself in some way while in a fit, and got in the position in which he was found. Hokitika, Friday. The Zephyr got off the Sandspit this morning. The following acceptances for the Westland races were received ;—Kumara Handicap : Breakell’s Dainty, Blower's Doncaster and Nero, Cassidy’s Kensington, Hungerford’s Jasper, Lunn’s Grecian Bend and Phantom. Hokitika Handicap: Dainty, Jasper, Snowdon, Nero, Grecian Bend, Phantom, and Gamer's Septimus. Invercargill, Friday. The following information has just been received from the scene of the wreck of the William Ackers :—The vessel came ashore here on Tuesday morning. She is Completely broken up, and all her cargo is lying on the beach. Names of saved—Captain Joss (a passenger), Cantley, mate; Ridey, seaman. None of the bodies of those drowned have been washed ashore yet. Nothing saved from the wreck. Part of the cargo was insured in the Standard for £SOO. The elections for the County Council are exciting a great deal of interest. Calderwood, for attempted murder, was again remanded.