TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5122, 23 August 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

CITY COUNCIL.

(PER PRESS AGENOT.) Alexandra, Wednesday. A half-caste, calling himself George Dawson, who has been an agent buying cattle up country, has victimised several of the tradesmen here with forged cheques, and bolted to the King country. W. Oliver, storekeeper, loses £l6, Dinch, £5, John Gane £SO, and others variohs. sums. Glover went after him late last night, and Oliver intends following up with one of the Thompsons. Dawson was last heard of at Otorohanga. The roads to Hikurangi are alive with Maoris to-day, proceeding to the meeting. Auckland, Wednesday. John Hume, an engineer, who was drowned on the Lionel steamer, leaves a wife and four children wholly unprovided for. Captain Steward, formerly of the Craig Ellachie brig, well known in Sydney, leaves a wife and no children. The other two men were unmarried. The vessel belonged to Mr. McLellan, who is now in the South. She is insured in a Batavian office for £7*o. Fifty people on shore witnessed one man clinging to the bottom while the vessel was drifting over the bar, but they were unable to help him, and he was ultimately washed off into the surf. ; The hull is completely smashed up and worthless. Napier, Wednesday.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning Robert France was fined on three cases of infringement of the Stamp Act £5 in each case, for giving receipts for rent to Fortune and Black, bakers, without affixing a stamp thereto. The costs were £4 10s. The prosecution was by Mr. Fielder, Deputy-Com-missioner of Stamps ; Mr. Wilson, Crown Prosecutor, appeared for the Government, and Mr. Lee defended. Christohdkch, Wednesday.

Mr. Justice Johnston has delivered a very important judgment. A few days ago an application was made in chambers to remove H. E. Alport, one of the trustees in bankruptcy, from the trusteeship of the estate of Thomas Andrew. From affidavits read when the case was argued it appeared that at an advertised meeting of creditors there was no one present but Alport, who, though not a creditor, held several proxies. With one he proposed himself chairman, and with another he seconded the motion, and then, ns chairman of the meeting, he declared the motion carried. The judgment of the Court pronounced the election to be null and void, and moreover contended that there must be two persons to make a meeting. Signor and Signora Majeroni arrived from Melbourne yesterday under an engagement to Hoskins, and commence a short season at the theatre on Monday next. A man named Arthur Poelton was killed today accidentally at the railway station. His cart was standing too close to the rails, and a truck going past shoved a heavy piece of timber which was on the cart against him, jamming him against the crane, and crushing his chest terribly. He died shortly afterwards. He leaves a wife and two children. DuHBDIN, Wednesday. A public meeting was held in the First Church last night to protest against opening

the museum ou Sunday. Resolutions strongly disapproving of the action of the museum committee were cairied unanimously, and it was resolved to petition the Governor to have the museum closed on Sabbath Days. The Harbor Board to-day resolved to send their secretary to Wellington, with a view of arranging -with friends of the Board there for the proper protection of the Board’s interest in the matter of wharves, quays, and reserves.

An inquest on Weir and Sampson's fire is being held this afternoon. An influential deputation waited upon the Mayor this morning for the purpose of having steps taken to keep the -’ever Hospital open till the .permanent one can be erected. The Mayor suggested that representations should be made to the Government to have the hospital kept open for three or four months- longer. He would forward the petition to the Central Board of Health, and do all he could in the matter. TimaEU, Wednesday. . The Grand National Steeplechase came off today on the ground lent by Captain Cain and Mr. Harris. About 3000 persons were present. All the events were carried out with great spirit by the stewards. The day was remarkably fine, and was kept a close holiday. The greatest satisfaction was expressed by one and all who took part therein. The course was laid out over a pretty stiff country, yet happily no serious accidents took place. The following events came off:— The Grand National of lOOsovs. —G. P. William’s Fakir, 1; Pain Keith's Shillelagh, 2; W. Swanson’s Tommy Dodd, 3. The race lay between the first two - horses, and was well contested, and won as above. (The grand stand was not erected sufficiently high to allow a full view, and consequently a great deal of interest in the events themselves was lost.) Maiden Plate of 50sovs.—W. Smith’s Lone Hand, 1; J. Williams Will-if-X-can, 2; J. H. •R. King’s Halifax, 3. This was a well contested race, and barring an accident to J. O'Neill, the rider of Te Kooti, who fell at one of the fences, went off with great satisfaction. Hunt Club Cup of 75sovs.—Smith’s Lone Hand, 1; Rew’s Banjo, 2. All the jockeys landed well in the saddle, and the race went through without any mishaps. Consolation Race.—Shillelagh, 1; Ivanhoe, 2; Tommy Dodd, 3. During the Maiden Race, Harry Cornelius, one of the riders, had a nasty fall, but received no serious injury. The meet was a great success. Hokitika, Wednesday. The Borough Council, at a meeting last night, passed a resolution unanimously,—That this Council disapproves of the Hokitika Gas Bill how before Parliament. ~ ; QUEEN BEE INQUIRY. Nelson, Wednesday. The Queen Bee wreck inquiry concluded today, when judgment was given to the following effect; —(1.) That there had been a want of proper navigation between the time of sighting the Spit light and the ship striking. (2.) That there was culpable neglect in not using the, lead. (3.) That a bad lookout was kept. The captain’s certificate was suspended for three years, and the second mate’s for six months. The Court considered that the first mate erred in judgment as much as the captain ; but the responsibility rested with the latter and the second mate, who was the officer of the watch at the time of the wreck.

♦— — SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING. A special committee meeting of the City Council.was held yesterday at the Corporation offices-—present, his Worship the Mayor (in the chair), and Councillors Mills, Dixon, and Allen—to consider the applications of certain householders who complained that their names had been improperly omitted from the burgess roll, and that they were thereby unjustly deprived of their votes. The first case taken was that of Mr. Andrew Young, who explained his case'to the committee, stating that he had paid all his rates ; but he found that he was placed on the defaulters’ list on account of a rate not having been paid by the occupier of one of his houses, Mr. Hester, the Town Clerk. ' Some discussion ensued, and the committee expressed the opinion that Mr. Young ought not to have been placed on the defaulters' list. They recommended that his name' be placed on a supplementary list. Mr. John McLaggan made application in writing to be placed on the roll in Thorndon Ward, on the ground that he had paid the rate of a house of which he was the owner.