TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5372, 15 June 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(per press aoencv.) Auckland, Friday. Mr. Cox addressed his constituents at Hamilton .last night. He announced that ho had sent in his resignation to the Speaker in consequence of ill health. A vote, regretting the oauso of his resignation, and thanking him for his services, was passed with one dissentient only. ■. An unseemly squnhble is going on over the possession of the building occupied by the Grammar School on the improvement commissioners’ property. The question at Issue is whether sufficient notice of the termination of the tenancy has been given. The improvement commissioners have asserted their right by putting in the bailiffs. The head master took advantage of tho temporary absence of ono of the bailiffs, barricaded him out, and held possession of the building, The Mayor this morning, as one of the Grammar School "overnors, authorised the bursting of the door. The commissioners’ bailiff has re-entered, and now occupies tho building. ■Waix.viu, Friday.

Preparations are being made for the accommodation of the natives at the meeting. Government is erecting three sheds, each about 300 ft. long. Rewi is at Hokau, on his waydown, with a largo number of natives, and another lot is expo cted by steamer from Onchunga. ■ New Plymouth, Friday. Rewi will he at Waitara about tho 19th instant. T.vuro, Friday. One of the Armed Constabulary at Opepe was out shooting bo-day, when his gun exploded, and the charge blew away part of one of his hands, and also wounded his arm and head. He now lies, in a precarious position, Tho natives here are making great preparations for holding a meeting with the coast tribes firom Tauranga. The gathering has little or no political object. Gisbohne, Friday. F. A. Hardy, one of the managers of Mr. Bead’s estate, William King, and J. R. Hurry, of the Makauri sawmills, appeared at the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day to answer a criminal information charging them with violently assaulting and wounding Richard Joyce, at tho Boseland Hotel. The case is still proceeding. Much interest is manifested in the matter. Kumaba, Friday. There is much anxiety hero because of a report that interested persons have, by making an unauthorised statement to the Government, imperilled the construction of tho bridge over the Tereuudtau. Amass meeting will bo held to-night.

Chiustchurch, Friday. A large house in Hereford-street, belonging to a man named Rogers, formerly used as a boarding-house, was destroyed by fire last night. The origin of the fire is unknown. Rogers says that none of his family were in the house after 10 a.m. The insurances on the building were £IOSO in the South British, Standard, and New Zealand offices ; on the furniture £lB5 in the Phucuix. The City Council last night declined to take charge of .charitable aid, as requested by the Government. Dunedin, Friday. The Bruce Herald states that Mr. Henry Clark, of Milton, will probably offer himself as a candidate for the Taieri District. A high wind has prevailed here all day, accompanied by a’steady fall of rain. Lawrence, Friday. Thera has been a slight break in the weather for the better this morning. About 4 o'clock a heavy gale of wind -sprang up, coatiuuiug for several hours. The damage committed was but slight. Magnificent prospects are still obtainable in further testing the cement at Wetherstoue’s. In all eight claims have been pegged off, embracing au area of eighty acres. Invercargill, Friday. Mr. Graham, general manager of the Colonial Insurance Company, who is now in Invercargill, states that the shave list throughout the colony closed to-day, and the number of shares applied for considerably exceeds those available for allotment, although applications have been encouraged as far as possible from insurers only. Messrs Gardner, G. M. Bell, Douniston, and Pratt are spoken of as probable candidates tor the seat in the Assembly vacated by Mr. Luusden. Mr. Cuthbertson declines to stand. (Ii’ROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Gisborne, Friday. The Resident Magistrate was occupied today with a case which excited considerable local interest, owing to the position of the parties who figured as defendants. Richard Joyce, a contractor, charged William King, A. F. Hardy, and J. R. Hurry with assaulting

him on the 3th instant at the Roseland Hotel. The defendants are all men of means. King is a large sawmill and land owner. Hurry is his partner, and president of the Presbyterian Church committee ; be h also a member of the County Council. A. F. Hardy was Captain Read’s late manager, and is an extensive land owner and sheep farmer. The evidence showed that the defendants were at the Roseland Hotel last Saturday. Hafdy called for champagne, and proposed her Majesty's health. Joyce, who is an Irishman, was on the verandah of the hotel, and exclaimed, “ To h—with the Queen, and the Duke of Edinburgh too.” At this Hardy went iqr to Joyce and asked him if he made the remark. Joyce replied, “ Yes,” when Hardy struck him in the month and knocked two of his teeth out. Hurry seized Joyce to prevent a further disturbance, when the latter said Hardy was a coward, and then King struck Joyce. After hearing a lot of evidence, the Bench dismissed the charge against Hurry and King, but committed Hardy to take his trial at the next sitting of the higher Court. , Bail was allowed, himself in £2OO and two sureties of £IOO. The case has caused a great stir in town. Previous to the case coming on the defendants offered Joyce £IOO to “ square” the matter, and a free passage to Wellington to get two false teeth. Joyce refused.