TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4937, 18 January 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER press agency.) Auckland, Wednesday. Another complication has arisen re the sale of the Te Aroha Block to Broomhall. The Ohinernuri natives have signed a deed of sale to the Government, but the Te Aroha natives refuse to sell unless 10,000 acres is reserved for native purposes. The Ohinernuri natives attempted to go up the river to attend the Land Court to settle the title at Cambridge, but the Te Aroha natives barred their progress. TJie Ohinernuri party have blockaded the river to prevent the Te Aroha party going down, and two steamers proceeding up the river with European excursionists were stopped by armed Te Aroha natives searching for the Ohinernuri natives suspected to be going. They threatened to kill any they might find. None on board. The natives fired ball cartridge over the heads of the Europeans. At a special meeting of the Waste Lands Board to-day it was decided that the block should be sold to Broomhall, fixed at 50,000 acre?, subject to reservations, and the final extinguishment of title. A telegram reports that Thomas Eussell arrived at Galle on his way to New Zealand. A telegram from Sydney reports thirty Auckland city debentures sold at par, £IOO. Alfred Koberts, discharged yesterday, was re-arrested to-day on a charge of stealing an ebony ruler and colored plate, value 25., the property of Frank Wilson, architect, of Timaru. He was arrested on board the City of Sydney, having taken passage to San Francisco. * Tyler defended, and said the prisoner was not leaving the colony for good, for he had a return ticket. He expected £IOO at Timaru, which he had authorised his solicitor there to receive and pay all debts with. He had received several months’ leave from his employers,' and left Timaru with the consent of his wife. The present case was instigated by Beswick, Timaru, to recover £3O. Roberts left by the City of Sydney. There has been a large landslip at Britomart Point. A man and a horse miraculously escaped death. Grahamstown, AVednesday. The County Council to-day appointed E. W. Hollis clerk, at a salary of £2OO a year ; A. Aitken, engineer, £3OO a year ; H. Vernon, valuer, £240 a year. A memorandum from the Hon. F. Whitaker re taking over big pump was received. A conference of the County and Borough Councils, to consider the same, is now on. There has been heavy rains to-day, and the low-lying lands are flooded. Some natives who started from Ohinernuri for the Native Land Court at Cambridge were turned back by Te Aroha natives, who are fully armed, about forty strong, and camped on the northern boundary of the Aroha Block. The Ohinernuri natives intend to blockade the Thames River and the road to Aroha against the Aroha natives. A largo meeting takes place to-day. Mr. Mackay, who is in Auckland, has been communicated with. , Alexandra, AVednesday. Surveyors while surveying laud adjoining the township on the west side of the river, yesterday were ordered off by Te Ngakau. Surveyor Stubbing remonstrating, Ngakau significantly pointed to where Todd was shot for not leaving when warned to do so.

Napier, 'Wednesday. An inquest was held this afternoon on the body of Susan McMahon, aged 70, whe was run over by a railway train yesterday afternoon. The woman resided in one of the Government immigration cottages abutting the railway, not far from 'the Napier terminus. She was going home, and was crossing the line, when the 3 p.m. train to the Spit came upon her. She was seen by the engine-driver just as she stepped on the line, about ten yards in front, and with her back towards him. He called out to her, whistled, and reversed the engine, but could not stop it before it knocked her down. When picked up one foot and one arm were nearly severed, hanging only by shreds. She was taken to the hospital, and died last night. A verdict of accidental death was returned, and a rider added severely censuring the authorities for not fencing in the line at those portions where it passes through populated districts. The Lingards have been vei'y successful in “Our Boys,” drawing immense houses. Yesterday at Waipawa an inquiry was opened in the matter of the petition of the Hon. Henry Russell against the return of Sydney Johnston for Waipukurau Riding, Waipawa County. Evidence only was taken, the legal argument being reserved. Besides allowing plural voting, and rejecting votes of persons entitled to vote, the returning officer closed the poll for a quarter of an hour while he went to inquire if the qualification was correct of persons who tendered votes. He also closed the polling place for half an hour while the scrutineers and poll clerk went to luneh, he remaining outside to keep voters who might come in talk until the scrutineers returned. Greymouth, Wednesday. The Greymouth Cricket Club have been informed that the All-England Eleven cannot play at Greymouth before playing at Auckland, stating that the steamers don’t suit them otheiwise. At a large meeting to-day of subscribers to the All England Eleven match and cricket club it was unanimously resolved to hold Bennett to his agreement, and to sue for damages if he did not fulfil it. There is great indignation at the cricketers breaking their engagement, as the arrangements were all completed, and with good weather would have been an immense success. Christchurch, Wednesday. Sparrows are committing sad havoc amongst the grain crop. One farmer asserts that 80 acres of barley on his farm are almost totally destroyed by them. The City Council have decided to asphalte all footpaths in the city half width, at a cost of £13,000. The owners of property are to contribute 20s. per chain towards it. Twenty applications for the renewal of cab licenses were refused on the grounds of misconduct, principally in relation to brothels. Many cabmen were said to be practically in the service of prostitutes, and the Corporation determined to put a stop to this. The City Council have decided to apply to the Government for an endowment of 2000 acres of land. The New Zealand district meeting of the United Methodist Free Church opened yesterday. It was reported that William Hicks, of Cornwall, England, had sent a subscription of £SOO each towards new churches at Christchurch and Wellington. Reports from various circuits showed that in New Zealand there are 13 ministers, 29 local preachers, 27 leaders, and 640 members, with 56 on trial (being an increase of 79 full members on last year), 17 chapels, with 19 other preaching places, 11 Sunday schools, 2152 Sunday scholars, 198 teachers, increase of scholars over 400. The general Synod of the English Church meets at Nelson next Wednesday. , The weather is clearing up. < Timaeu, Wednesday. Serious floods occurred last night between Timaru and Temuka. The S<;adown estate is completely under water, and miles of fencing have been washed away. There is great destruction of crops and cattle. The railway is damaged and traffic interrupted. Fears are entertained for the safety of some of the settlers. The train from Ashburton, with the Suez mail, has not yet arrived. Dunedin, Wednesday. At yesterday’s meeting of the City Council a handsomely illuminated address was presented to Mr. H. J. Walter by the members of the Council, expressing their high sense of his impartiality and courtesy while Mayor of the city. At a Waste Laud Board meeting to-day strong comment was made vpon the delay that has taken place and the loss that is resulting from the failure of the Survey Department in laying off land ordered to be thrown open for sale. Mr. Bastings said he knew cases where people had been waiting with their fingers in their mouths as it were for between six and eight months for ’ land to be surveyed and thrown open, and he instanced one case, where a man who had applied to the Board and had been to England, to Ayierica, and nearly round the world since, and the land he applied for had not been surveyed yet. This man met him at Roxburgh the other day, and inquired if there was any chance of his getting the land before 1880. Mr. Strode admitted there was a great outcry, and the hurrying on of surveying operations was a pressing want. The Chief Commissioner said that Mr. Chief Surveyor Arthur intended to put on more surveyors. Later on, the Board, on Mr. Bastings’ mo„ion, carried a resolution requesting the Chairman to ask the Government to increase the survey staff in order to overtake the large amount of arrears in the Survey Department. Balclutha, Wednesday. At a meeting of the County Council yesterday the question discussed was that of bringing the third schedule into operation. A large majority was against it, but a resolution to that effect was ruled out of order, as the eleventh clause says the Council may pass a resolution within three mouths after the first meeting; but as the meeting yesterday was only an adjournment of the first it. was merely a continuation. A special meeting was appointed for Friday to pass the resolution. Henderson, the solicitor, was appointed to arrange with the bank for an overdraft. AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY. (I’ER CITY OF SYDNEY AT AUCKLAND.) Sydney, January 11. The bluestone centre arch of the new Catholic Church at Tumut gave way, carrying away the scaffolding. Three men were frightfully mutilated. Mr. Gladmau, 8.A., has been selected in England as Inspector of Schools for Victoria. Sales; Salmon at 14s. Wheat wanted at ss. sd. Flour, £l2 55.; and £l2 7s. for Adelaide. The nominations for the Adelaide Cup are— Spark, Painter, Barmaid, Impudence, Devastation, King Winter, Briseis, Tarry, Scene, Elsie, Filibuster, Jack’s - the - Lad, Aldinga, Repetition, Electricity, Aconite, Deacon, Star, Glengarry, Lord Lyttou, Mary Gladstone, and Fisherman. ;