TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5117, 17 August 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Thursday. The Columbia has arrived from London with twenty-ftight passengers, all well. ' It has been raining all the morning, and the ground is very sloppy for the football match. The National Bank has written to the City Council offering to take £25,000 of the waterworks loan at ninety-eight net, or to float it, at the best price to be obtained, on behalf of the Council. About 1500 people were present at the football match. The weather cleared up, and the game was very well played throughout, the teams being evenly matched. Several good scrimmages and capital kicks were made, Auckland showing to the best advantage in kicking, and Dunedin in scrimmages, Rose, Dixon, and Cargill were most active for Dunedin, and Wood, Nolan, and Robinson for Auckland. In the first round Dunedin were forced down, but no score was made. In bout two Dunedin nearly made a touch-down, but Auckland saved it. In the third bout Dunedin .got the best of a ten minutes’ scrimmage, but without improving their advantage ; and in the fourth bout Auckland were twice forced down, but.rallied, and pressed their opponents hard. The game ended in a draw, neither side scoring. There seemed to be hardly anything to choose between the teams. Alexandra, Thursday. A large number of natives (Ngatipao and others) were here to-day on their way to the Hikurangi native meeting. A native called Mahuki (Ngatimaniopoto), was charged before Major Mair, at the R.M. Court, with stealing three pounds of gunpowder and three boxes caps from Mr. Aubin’s store counter. The accused was sentenced to one week’s imprisonment. Prisoner and a witness declared he took them because such articles should not be exposed for sale at a place which Hauhaus frequented, and which they were not allowed to buy, as it was therefore a temptation to steal. He said he intended taking them to Major Mair.

There was no concealment. Major Mair, in giving judgment, said he did not think the prisoner intended to steal, but did it out of bounce, of which there was too much at times in the settlement, and therefore the Court punished him as a warning. t Tauranga, Thursday. Over 2000 shares in the Union Fire and Marine Insurance Company have been applied for in Tauranga. Large numbers of natives have left to attend a King meeting at Hikuranga. The subject to be discussed is kept a secret. Taoto, Thursday. The Native Land Court Judges reached Taupo last night, via Napier. The party consists of Judge Hogan and the Native Assessor, the Secretary (Mr. Woon), and the Interpreter (Mr. Carroll). The Court opens on Monday. The natives are assembling from all parts of the country. Wanganui, Thursday. The captain of the Kobina Dunlop says that at the time of the wreck he was half asleep on the companion. The vessel struck twice before it was known she was near the shore. After striking once, she listed over seawards. The first sea broke in the decks. The crew cut away the fore and main rigging, and the masts went by the board. The crew then took shelter in the mizzen rigging. The crew are still at Turakina, apparently very comfortable and contented. No enquiry can be held till the crew come to town. Nothing has been saved. Nelson, Thursday. The Queen Bee inquiry is announced to be before L. Broad, R.M., and Captain Johnston, Nautical Assessor. The Court adjourned at noon till to-morrow. There is every probability that the inquiry will last a week. Timaru, Thursday. At a meeting of the Harbor Board to-day it was decided to advertise for competitive plans for the breakwater. To the author of the best plan a bonus of £2OO will be given, and to the second £IOO. They also invite applications for an engineer to the board. Christchurch, Thursday. A petition signed by 500 persons has been forwarded to Wellington, praying for the extension of the Malvern railway to the Kowai Pass, a distance of six miles. Steps are being taken to proclaim Ashburton a municipality. A meeting of artisans will be held to-night to urge on the Government to have all the work that can be executed here done in the colony. , Dunedin, Thursday. A public meeting of Catholics was held in the Temperance Hall last night for the purpose of considering the new Education Bill. Bishop Moran presided, and the main hall and gallery were completely crowded, there being probably eight hundred people present. Pour resolutions in condemnation of the Bill were, submitted, and carried almost unanimously, there being two or three dissentients to the first two resolutions. The meeting was very enthusiastic, and the hearty manner in which those who responded “ aye " to the resolutions instead of holding up their hands, and also the frequency with which they applauded the speakers, evidenced strong, disapproval of the Bill. The resolutions are to be forwarded to the Dunedin members and the members of the Government. A petition is in course of signature for presentation to Dr. Pollen, asking that, as the Corporation of Dunedin has decided to close the Fever Hospital, Government should keep it open till arrangements have been made for a permanent building. 250,000 shares in the Union Insurance Company have been applied for in Dunedin. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. (PER ALBION.) Melbourne, August 8. The Railway Construction Bill passed the Assembly after considerable alterations. The direct Oakleigh line now avoids the Botanical Gardens and Government House Domain. The Elections Committee is still engaged in dealing with petitions. Considerable dissatisfaction is at the unseating of Dr. Macartney on the ground of his being a minister of religion, and public meetings have been held to protest. Mr. John Steavenson,late Secretary of Railways, has been dismissed from the Government service. An action—lreland v. Captain Chapman, late of H.M.S. Dido—for false imprisonment at Fiji, is proceeding. The damages claimed are £IO,OOO. . It is expected that negotiations with Messrs. Green will lead to the {establishment of a Cape service. The Financial Statement will be made on Wednesday or Thursday next. The drought in the country is severely felt. The weather is very dry and warm. Business is improving. Large supplies of breadstuffs continue to be received from the country ; but as the market is not forced, there has been no reduction in prices. In Tasmania, Mr. Fysh has been sent for to form a Government. Adelaide, August 8. The Council decline to proceed with business, having passed a vote of want of confidence in the Chief Secretary. The Ministry deny the right of the Council to say who shall be Ministers.