TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5295, 15 March 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Auckland, Thursday. •An explosion of gas occurred at Government House; but no serious damage was done. Two outbreaks of fire occurred to-day in different parts of the city, but were extinguished by the prompt action of the brigade. Mr. Sheehan lias gone to the Thames with Mr. Mackay, to endeavor to settle the question of reserves at the Aroha Block, purchased by Mr. Broomfield. Alexandra, Thursday. It is not probable that Tawhaio will meet Sir George Grey this month. There is a difficulty it appears. At the last Hikurangi meeting, some cattle were killed and converted into huahua, conked in their own fat, which were stolen from Douglas Walker’s station. Walker seized a bullock-dray loaded with kerosene tins containing the meat, and refused to give :up possession of the team, having lost £SOO worth of cattle. Te Ngakau demands the restoration of his team, and correspondence with the Government has been going on concerning the matter. Ngakau declares that if the team is not returned, he will drive all the cattle from the run. Walker remains firm. Sir George Grey is not likely to meet the Kiugites till this matter is arranged. Some of the cattle killed at the last meeting came from the same run. Napier, Thursday. A correspondent of the Herald gives an account of some limestone caves having been discovered near Te Ante. They are described as being of magnificent beauty, with stalactites hanging from the roof and sides. One cave that was entered was very extensive, and had many lateral chambers. There were columns strewed about, some whole and some broken, rendering progress difficult. In one place there was a miniature lake, surrounded- with green shrubs. In another place the exploring party came upon a number of petrified bones, some very large, and also three human figures of aman, woman, andchild. On the opposite side of the cave there were rude sketches of warfare, the countenances of those represented being apparently not of the present race of Maoris. The discovery has been placed in the hands o£ the Government. A lodge of Freemasons was consecrated at Waipukurau last night. It is called the Bedford Lodge. There was a banquet afterwards, a goodly number of Napier Masons having gone up to take part in the proceedings. Mr. F. J. Moss, M.H.R. for Parnell, is about to make a stay at Napier for some time, in connection with Mr. Rees’ native and law business. Nelson, Thursday. At the Police Court to-day, two well-known citizens were charged with a breach of the peace in connection with the Joseph affair last Friday, the police asking that they might be bound over to keep the peace. The Court was crowded. Evidenced! ill-treatment of Joseph was very weak. Mr. Pitt made a forcible speech for the defence, and the Bench thought it was clear that defendants had taken part in tumultuous proceedings to the annoyance of one of the Queeu’s subjects, but did not think they were at all likely to repeat the proceedings, and so dismissed them with a cautionPitt was loudly cheered by the crowd when leaving the Court! Christchurch, Thursday. A meeting of the Christchurch Bar was in the Supreme Court Library; seventeen members (total within three of the whole strength of the Bar) being present. Mr. Barton made a statement and retired, leaving the meeting to consider their course. After little more than half-an-hour's discussion, the following resolution was carried without' a division “ That this meeting having heard Mr. Barton’s statement, without expressing any opinion upon the circumstances leading to his recent imprisonment, considers that the fact of severe and degrading punishment having been inflicted upon a member of the Bar for contempt of Court calls for inquiry.” Before retiring from.the meeting Mr. Barton requested that any resolution which might be passed should abstain from any expression of opinion on the merits of the case, which would be submitted iu due coarse to the proper tribunal. Circulars have been issued by the railway authorities asking employes willing to join the proposed fire brigade to send iu their names, A large number have already complied.' The New Guinea expedition propose to start next week. Akaroa, Thursday. Yesterday at 4 o’clock, a Miss Bowling, a governess, left home, and as she did not return during the evening and from something that she said as to her intention, it was believed she had committed suicide. Search was made during the night without avail, hut was renewed next morning, when screams were heard on the way to the heads. Further search was made, and she was found in an almost inaccessible place much exhausted but safe. Oamaru, Thursday. Sir George Grey visited the breakwater here this morning, and expressed great surprise at the progress .of the work, which he said augured future greatness for Oamaru. He was afterwards entertained at a public luncheon, there being eighty ladies and gentlemen present. A number of toasts were proposed, the principal of which was “ Sir George Grey and the Executive Council,” which was enthusiastically received. Sir George Grey left for the North by special train at 1 p.m. Tihaiiu, Thursday. Sir George Grey and party arrived at the railway station from the South at 5 o’clock tonight, and were received by the Mayor, Borough Council, and other local bodies. The Mayor presented an address to Sir George Grey, who made a brief reply. He was escorted to the Grosveuor Hotel, headed by a brass band playing appropriate airs. At six o’clock Sir George Grey attended a banquet at the Town Hall, at which about eighty persons were present. Several speeches were made. The Premier expressed himself highly gratified at the progress made since he was last here. Sir George is now present at a public meeting at the Mechanics’ Institute. The hall is crowded. Dunedin, Thursday, An exhaustive inquiry is going on touching the death of* a child recently found in a soapbox at the Blueskin. The whole affair appears wrapped in mystery. The mother is a Mrs. Decosta, of Timaru, and she declares the child died, and that she gave it to a man who promised to bury it for £5. She did not know who the man was, and she gave it to him to save disgrace, as her family did not know of her condition. The night before the day on which she alleges the child died she admitted giving it laudanum. The inquiry was adjourned till Monday to discover the truth or otherwise of her statement. The argument on the demurer raised to defendants’ second plea of justification, in the libel case against Geo. Joues, junr., was heard iu banco to-day, before two Judges. Mr, Haggitt appeared to support the demurrer, and Mr. Rees and Mr. Hislop iu support of the plea. Mr. Haggitt argued that the demurrer to the plea must be sustained on the following grounds:—l. That it does not in the manner required in pleading justification to an order for slander or libel at the time of the passing of statutes 6 to 7, set forth the facts by reason whereof the publication of the alleged libel was justifiable. 2. That the plea introduces and attempts to put in issue matters not alleged iu the indictment, nor necessary to be alleged, in order to support the plea itself, and seeks to justify the libel complained of in the indictment by! accusing Mr. Whitaker, the person mentioned inr the indictment, in general terms, of acting illegally and fraudulently in a number of land transactions, some of which appear by the plea to have been connected with native ’ lands, whilst others are shown to be quite unconnected with native lands and some transactions are not particularised with any reasonable degree of certainty, whilst none of them are referred to in the article complained of. 3. That the plea does not cover the whole libel. 4. That the plea is informs.!, uncertain, and argumentative.- q 5. That the plea does not set out any particular facts by reason whereof it was for the public benefit that the article should be' published. The Judges intimated that they would give their decision at noon on Saturday, The jury trial commences on Monday.-: ■ / „