TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5338, 7 May 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

■i (PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Monday. In re colonial defoncoSir George Grey has forwarded the following resolution of Ministers to the Governor, in reply to an. Im-| perial telegraphic despatch:—“Sir George Grey presents his respectful compliments to the Marquis of Normanby. The New,Zea-; land Ministers reply to her Majesty’s Govern-, ment; that the colony will undertake the expense of the proposed armament. Heri Majesty may rest assured that her New Zealand subjects will, in the event of any crisis, i loyally ,and resolutely in all respects do their duty to their Queen and country,' Sir George Grey requests that the Marquis of Normanby will be so good as to at once telegraph a copy of this memorandum, to her Majesty’s Go-, vernment for their information. .

A young daughter of Mr Dixon, publican, struck a match, which ignited her nightgown, and so injured her that it is doubtful if she will recover. • •

Cooper and Bailey’s performing elephant Titania died just before the Golden Sea sailed with the Circus Company. The animal had swallowed the contents of a man’s pocket, including a largo box of matches, which is supposed to have been the cause of her death. ■ Re the Kingite meeting a special correspondent telegraphs that Sir George Grey, Mr. Sheehan, • Naho, and Mr. Potts; a Canterbury settler and . ex. . M.H.R., with, a party of friendly native chiefs, arrived at Alexandra on Sunday night. They do not go to Hikurangi till to-morrow.’ There aro mountains of flour piled up at Hikurangi. ■ ' . Tawhiao came hear Alexandra on Saturday, on the opposite bank ; of tho river, to witness a grand procession of Queenites in war canoes. A messenger who , arrived , from Hikurangi this morning reports that 2000 were preaent, amongst whom were very few Ngatimauiopotos. Reivi is atTokanui; his settlement near Orakau in the late rains was flooded. At Hikurangi the. water ran through the house. The natives who wore under tomporary jObyer suffered much, and are growing very impatient. Theao aro piles of food sufficient to last a fortnight. The numbers at Hikurangi aro variously estimated at from 2500 ,to 5000. The following are present The whole of the Waikatos, about 2000 of the Ngatiraukawas, and'a B mall section Of Ngatimaniapotos from TbTCopuo, and some, from Wanganui, besides To Wheoro’s people. Tawhiao has long been anxious to make the meeting the. largest poa-

sible, and used every means to induce them to come long distances. The Ngatihikairo are said to have left the crops to rot. Alexandra, Monday.’ ! There is nothing doing at Hikuraugi. The weather is very bad. Sir George Grey and party have arrived here, and will leave some time to-day. • . • The Premier and suite have gone to Kopriakatatai As a. , matter of form, bat-will return this everiingi and will proceed to Hikurangi overland to-morrow.

Mr. Sheehan only went'up to Kopua. The canoe has returned. He saw no one. Rewi and Wahamii. are still at their settlements! Procrastination appears to be the order of the day, New-Plymouth, Monday. Sir John Goode leaves by coach to-morrow for Patea.

The Supremo Court was opened this morning at 10.30 by Judge Gillies, The following oases are for trial Samuel Henry Barriball, for an unnatural offence ; Makarita, a native woman, for arson ; Thomas Quinlivan, horsestealing; George Paveral, horse-stealing. Sir John Goode visited Waitara on Saturday. At the Supreme Court the Grand Jury found “No bill” in Barriball’s case. Lennox, for horse stealing, was found guilty. Parveral, for horse stealing, pleaded guilty. ■; ■ 1 Geeymodth, Monday.

A ' chess match—Kumara v. Grey mouth — six players a-side, was played here on Saturday 1 night. ‘Kamara ' won five games and Grey mouth one. '' ' ' ■ Chbistohueph, ’Monday. •' The Malvern Hills coal is now being used;on the’ railways with satisfactory results. There are 927 waggons on the Canterbury railways, being an average of 21J waggons per mile. ‘ ’

At the Magistrate's Court to-day J. M. Fitzgerald was fined £5 for spitting in the face of a Mrs. Williamson on the outside of the court. Mrs. Williamson had been a witness in a case against Fitzgerald fori illegal liquor selling. Timaru, Monday. The survey of the railway extension from Albury te Burke’s Pass, through the McKenzie country, has commenced. It is expected to be finished in three weeks. A man under the influence of drink had a narrow escape near the railway station on Saturday evening. He was staggering along the platform, when his swag rolled under the train, which was about starting. When he was about to recover it a bystander pushed hiria back, saying him from inevitable death. Dunedin, Monday.

Mr. Justice Williams to-day ordered the trustee to prosecute a debtor named Millar for fraudulent bankruptcy., At a meeting of the Harbor Board to-day a resolution was unanimously carried requesting the engineer to report on the delay in carrying out the dredging contract. Mr. Ramsay, who moved the motion, said that a feeling prevailed that the contract would now be completed within the specified time. ■ Two hotels were totally destroyed by fire at Kingston at six o'clock yesterday morning. The fire originated in Kerr’s, upstairs, and extended afterwards to Anderson’s. Three men were roasted to cinders. . One was named John Dougherty, the other R. McCann, the third being unknown. , Small personal property only was'saved. There were no/applianoes available for extinguishing the fire when discovered. Anderson was insured for about £BOO in the New Zealand and National Companies. Kerr was insured for £6OO only upon the'hotel. : Both were new houses, near the railway station.