TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5370, 13 June 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Wednesday, The German residents send a telegram expressing sympathy with the Emperor William. A telegram from the Premier to Messrs. Swanson and Macfarlane states that Mr. Maoandrew, with Mr. Conyers, will visit Auckland, to decide on public works here, as soon as Mr. Conyers is free. A Masonic Lodge under the English constitution is to be opened at Dargaville. Te Ngakan and his followers are engaged extensively in planting wheat at Whakairoro, the site of the first meeting with Sir George Grey. A Waterloo veteran is in Auckland engaged in collecting bones, bottles, &o. He lost his pension some years ago, and is supplied with rations by Government. The Hinemoa left Hokianga to-day, with Mr. Sheehan, for Russell. He promised the Hokianga County Council a sum of money for public works. Napier, Wednesday. The Supreme Court sitting opened this morning before Judge Richmond. There are eleven cases for trial, in which twelve prisoners are implicated. True bills were found in all. Wiremu Te Hang horse stealing, was found guilty, and sentenced to six months. Charles Burton, larceny of a gold watch, pleaded guilty, and was remanded for sentence. Robert Cecil Carr, indecent assault on a married woman, trial proceeding. Pioton, Wednesday.

There were no cases for the Chief Justice to deal with at the sittings of the Supreme Court. The only prisoner was one John Hebberly, charged with inciting another man to commit arson at Picton, and the Grand Jury threw out the bill against him. Hokitika, Wednesday. The election foir the vacant seat in the General Assembly Is causing considerable stir. A large and influential requisition to Mr. Seymour Thome George, of Wellington, with that gentleman’s reply, is published. Mr. George accedes to the requisition, and promises to visit the district immediately. His candidature is supported by the Times, which strongly opposes Mr. G. G. Fitzgerald as a candidate. It is generally rumored that the election will be keenly contested between Messrs. George and Fitzgerald. Two other candidates, Messrs. S. Crombie Brown and Andrew Cummin, have also announced themselves. The nomination day has been fixed for the 20th June, and the polling day for the 26th June. Ohkistohukoh, Wednesday. 110,000 'tons of grain have been carried on the railways during the present season, which is not yet aver. Last year the quantity was 85,000 tons lor the whole of the season. _ The New, Zealand Political Reform Association held a> meeting lost night, and adopted a programme thoroughly identical with Sir George Grey’s views.

Tiiiaru, Wednesday. The Supra me Court Session commenced this morning beifore Judge Johnston. Richard Marley, for stealing from a dwelling, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, with hard labor ; Elizabeth Arnold, for stealing a ring, to one month; Margaret Wilson, for child murder, wtas ordered to be confined in the Lunatic Asylum during her Majesty’s pleasure. , In the Supremo Court this afternoon, Mary Mavin was charged with stealing a ring and watch chain, and found guilty. The prosecutor, his wife, and Inspector Pender considered the prisoner of unsound mind, and bis Honor reserved ihis decision. John’Higgins Jenkins, convicted of two charges of forgery and uttering, was; sentenced to six years’ hard labor. David McCracken, for horse stealing, was sentenced ta two years’ hard labor.

Owing to a misunderstanding, the Oamam volunteers arrived this morning to fire a match with the Timaru volunteers. Correspondence has been going on as to the date of the match. The Timaru volunteers understood the mat :h was to come off on Thursday, the 20th instant, but the Oamaru men understood the 12th, and none of the latter were ready to receive the visitors. After a deal of trouble a few volunteers went and practised with a howitzer in presence of the visitors. The latter returned to Oamaru by the afternoon train. Great regret is expressed at the mistake, and it is believed if the Oamaru volunteers do not eome again on the 20th that the Timaru volunteers will pay them a visit on a day to be named. Ddnedin, Wednesday. A telegram has been received from Mr. Blackett stating that there is no mistake in Sir John Goode’s report as to the portion of the reclaimed land he recommends should be reserved for railway purposes. At the next meeting of the Otago Institute Mr. Stout will read a paper on the best method of studying politics. At the Harbor Board this morning it was resolved that immediate steps should be taken to lease all available portions of the Board endowments. The object of the Board in carrying this resolution is to secure the Oraw-ford-atreet block, which may be taken by Government in consequence of Sir J. Goode’s report. In a long letter, to be forwarded to the Government, the Board claims to be the better judge of a proper site for a railway station than Sir J. Goode, and expresses surprise that his report is different from his verbal opinions expressed to members of the Board. At a meeting of the Education Board today, a letter from the Dunedin school committee was read, and the chairman made a statement as to the situation between the two bodies. He considered the course taken by the Board a proper one.- The Board desired to act courteously to and harmoniously with all the school committees, and to secure their cooperation. A letter which had been drafted in reply to that of the Dunedin school committee was then read. It held to the opinion formerly expressed by the Board, and expressed to the Board its willingness that the sub-com-mittee should meet the sub-committee of the Board and discuss the matter. Invekcaegill, Wednesday. At the Supreme Court to-day the Grand Jury returned true bills in all cases except that against Dr. Jackson, who was charged with procuring abortion, which case was postponed owing to the absence of a witness. William Taylor pleaded guilty to two charges of forgery ; Andrew Seymour was found guilty of larceny in a dwelling-house ; David Richmond was found guilty of larceny from the railway station. Sentences in the above cases were defeired. Barney Newton, a half-caste, was acquitted of a charge of beastiality at Iluapuke about September last. Mr. Lumsden, M.H.E. for Invercargill, addressed a well-attended meeting of his constituents to-night, and reviewed the business of last session. He traced the discontent with and break-up of the Atkinson Ministry to Auckland’s desire tor the Laud Fund, Otago’s desire to be revenged on Donald Eeid for taking office, and Bell and Larnach’s disappointment at not getting some years added on to the Southland leases. He had gone up as a provinoialist, but when abolition was accomplished he saw no use for further opposition. Mr. Eeid’s presence in the Government was his main inducement for supporting the Atkinson administration. Finding capable men on the Government benches, he felt warranted in supporting them. The Grey Government had neutralised Eeid's Land Bill by passing a Waste Lands Sale Bill, and Sir George Grey’s attempt to obtain a disallowance of Mr. Eeid's Land Bill was an assault upon the liberties of Parliament, as Government should always represent a majority of the House. Mr. Macandrew wished to drop the Education BUI, and Sir George Grey had no warm side to it, but it had gained for Southland the control of their own educational affairs. He (Mr. Lumsden) took credit for securing an endowment for the Boys and Girls High School at Southland. He approved entirely of Sir George Grey’s programme for altering the franchise and the incidence of taxation. He said the working people in this colony had no real grievance, and were immeasurably better off than working men in the old country. It was highly dangerous to touch the delicate relations between labor and capital. Through capitalists working men flourished, and large lauded proprietors were their mainstay. The deferred payment selectors didnot like to see too large estates, but these would break up soon enough under natural laws. Public works had been bungled through the want of practical management. He approved of Mr. Maoandrew’s scheme for steamers direct to New Zealand from England. They would give comfort, and would bring, the right class of immigrants solely. Owing to the demands of his own business, and his feeling that he sacrificed so-much time in Wellington, he had on Monday last despatched his resignation to the Speaker. He thanked the electors for their past trust and confidence in him.

A motion was carried approving o£ Mr. Lumsden’s general conduct as a representative, and of his action during the last session.