TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5340, 9 May 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) ’ ' Hikobanoi, Wednesday. Excepting the usual civilities extended to visitors, nothing was done here yesterday. Food was presented to Sir George. Grey, Mr. Sheehan, and party, consisting of bullocks, pigs, &o. : Tawhiao visited the 'Government party, personally seeing to their comfort, a guard being put over them daring the night. Nothing is yet known as to to-day's proceedings. The Hauhaua are for having a war dance. None of the Ngatimaniopoto are present, which somewhat puts out the Waikatos. They say that B,ewi feels himself in a false position, and cannot attend the meeting in consequence of his people having sold land. - As yet nothing has been done here. Different kinds of native food have been presented to Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan. The latter had some talk with Hauharu, the only Ngatimaniopoto present here. The King has been deep in consultation with his chiefs all day. ' . Gisboenb, Wednesday. This place has now a paper every day, the Herald and Standard appearing on alternate .days.'' The long-looked for litigation respecting land.titles in Poverty Bay has begun. Many writs have been issued. Chambers, of the Repongaere run, and King, of the saw-mill on; the Makuri Block, are among the recipients. Information from native sources from Waikato speaks strongly of the decline of Tawhiao’s influence. The old Maori mode of worship, as amended and taught by him, is becoming unpopular. He endeavored to get Te Kooti to join this faith, but the latter refused. The religion taught by Te Kooti is founded on portions,of the Old Testament, arid is becoming more popular every day. Many pilgrimages are being made to the High Priest, who prophesies his return to the district, his birthplace, within three years. In reply to a deputation from natives, asking for part of the Patutahi lands to be withdrawn from sale, Mr. Sheehan telegraphed that he declined to interfere. ■ Christchurch, Wednesday.-i Mr. Hill, the second master of the East Christchurch school, has been appointed secretary to the Hawke’s Bay Board of Education and Inspector of Schools in that districtIt is proposed to establish a public company to convert a block of land at the eastern boundary of the city into a public park, surrounded by allotments for villa residences. The Times this morning urges on the Government the necessity of at once obtaining a large supply of arms and ammunition, to enable the, population to take defensive measures by fonriing additional volunteer artillery and rifle corps. A report in , the same paper says that Canterbury possesses 478 enrolled volunteers, but only 394 rifles and .carbines and three field guns, ammunition being also exceedingly scarce. A Christchurch firm is; about to connect their office in the city with their manufactory, two miles distant, by a telephone. To-day ten quarter-acre sections of the police reserve at Waimata township were sold at the land office for £4740. The amount received for pastoral rents is £30,635.’ ’ 11 ' ’ ■ : O AMARU, Wednesday.

Messrs. ■ Hislop and Shrimski, the members for Waitaki, addressed the electors of Oamaru to-night. There was a large attendance, the Mayor in the chain Mr. Hislop gave, an able address, being a resumi of his actions since he was first-elected to oppose abolition down to the oonblusidn of last session. He said'the conduct of the Atkinson Ministry in giving billets to leading political opponents, and assisting seven large capitalists to acquire land in the North Island at ridiculously low figures, was such as he could not support; therefore he used his best endeavors to oust them. Mr. Hislop then proceeded to refer to the financial state of the colony at the time the Grey Ministry took office. He said he would support that Ministry if it fulfilled the promises made to bring in a Bill for taxing the land, to reduce the tax on imports. He concluded his speech by hoping that the efforts of himself and colleagues to carry but the wishes of the constituency would be looked upon as disinterested, , as, neither of them were placeseekers.' Ho was applauded several times during the course of his speech. At its conclusion, Mr. Shrimski said after the exhaustive address of Mr. Hislop he had scarcely anything , left to, say but to refer to one or two things to which that gentlemau had not alluded. He. spoke of the Waka Maori libel case, the Piako Swamp Purchase Act, and other subjects, and also referred to education. Ho is still speaking (10 o'clock). Invercargill, Wednesday.

' The opening meeting of the coursing season took place to-day and was very successful. For the all-aged stakes 19 dogs entered. Two courses were run and not * decided. : Gyp, the winner, last:, year, was put out by Clarence puppy. There were ten entries for the puppies, and only one course run. .-.s . Dunedin, Wednesday.

1 A commission, consisting of Messrs. Charles Knight (auditor-general), Strode, Bradshaw, W. H. Beynolds, and J.'Fulton,,ls' being held to inquire into.tho working of the Employ-' ment of Factories Act. The meetings are conducted in private. . The Caledonian Society's classes this year promise to be even more successful than in former years. , A number of last year’s students are now in the University. The; first meeting of shareholders in Gnthria and Larnach’s woodwaro factory, was held this afternoon. Tho net profit realised on seven months' working amounts to £15,180, which is to bo appropriated as follows : —Dividend, 10 P« ccpt., £7297 5 two and ft half per ceut.

bonus, £lß2l. Carried to reserve fund, £SOOO. Balance, £lO7l. The Dunedin Insurance Company intend presenting Captain Sinclair of the fire brigade with a testimonial. He recently resigned. Dr. Somerville’s services continue to fill the theatre twice daily. Tapundi, Wednesday. ■ A man named Henry Close was lei lied at Waikaia by a tree falling on him. is not known whether he has any friends in the colony.'