TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5375, 19 June 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PEE PEBSS AGENCY.) Auckland, Tuesday. Mr. F. A. Whitaker is a candidate for Waikato, and has received a requisition bearing 180 good signatures. No Aucidand man is expected to have a chance. Whitmore has telegraphed to the Chairman of the Manukau County that the ■ Government will not pay over any portion of the £40,000 subsidy to counties which have not adopted the Act, and advising a meeting of the county to consider the adoption, of the Act. The telegram says there is a legal difficulty unless certain clauses of the Act are adopted. The announcement has caused considerable consternation. At the Licensing Court this morning the Bench said that in future no adjournments of applications would be allowed, to enable applicants to remedy defects in’their houses to which exception had been taken at the first hearing, but all sucii applications would be refused. ■ A new steamer for the Mokau trade was launched by Messrs. Holmes to-day. The captain of the Dunedin football team invites the Auckland team to go down and play a match. John Garvey Taylor, aged seventy-eight years, who .has been a settler, since 1845, is dead. Captain Daveney has resigned tho secretary--ship of the Auckland Club. Various schemes are proposed for bringing the railway into the centre of the city. Tauranga, Tuesday. The Native Minister arrived here on Saturday afternoon, and left almost immediately for Maketu, where the natives were in a most disturbed state consequent upon purely native grounds. A meeting of all the Arawas was held next morning in front of the Native Lands. Court, at which over 700 natives were present. The war party from Eotorua, who came to conduct war against Fokiha’s party, were present armed; but on the Native Minister making it imperative that their loaded guns should be discharged before talking, the whole of the belligerents withdrew and discharged their guns, and returned to the meeting unarmed. The most pacific sentiments were uttered to the Minister ns to tho nature of the complications, which were, it was stated, not occasioned by the Court, but were consequent on certain challenges which the Ngatipikias had made to the Ngatiwhakane to engage; in open conflict. After the general meeting, the Native Minister met each party separately and matters were gone into in detail. The result was that on Monday : morning the whole of Pokiha’s people 'and others appeared on the Maketu Flat armed. After sundry military manoeuvres they discharged their arms, and performed a number of war dances ‘ and hakas, afterwhich the chiefs of each side rubbed noses, and the whole complication ended amicably, contrary to the predictions of some people. Mr. Sheehan expressed great satisfaction at the speedy and satisfactory settlement arrived at, and told the people generally that he was always of opinion that the pen was mightier than the sword. The Arawas are intensely satisfied with the Native Minister's visit, and a general feeling prevails that a more pacific period is in reserve for the district from the loyal but somewhat troublesome Arawas. Nameb, Tuesday.

In the Supreme Court last night George Toop was found guilty of absconding with moneys which should have been divided among his creditors, and sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, with hard labor. When charging the Grand Jury Judge Richmond referred to this case as an instance that the arm of the law could even now reach a long distance, the prisoner having been arrested at a place more than 200 miles beyond Sydney; and he added, the time might arrive when it would reach to the furthest corner of the civilised world. In every case tried at this assize a conviction has been obtained. New Plymouth, Tuesday. The Borough Council has approved of Messrs. Barr and Oliver’s (Dunedin) scheme of water supply for New Plymouth. The works are to be proceeded with at once. Arrangements were also made to negotiate the loan of £25,000 at 7 per cent. The Mayor at the’ Council to-day stated that the Municipal Conference was to be held at Wellington before Parliament met, and it was to be proposed that the expenses of the delegates should bo divided between the several boroughs in the colony, and be borne by the corporations according to their incomes. A motion that a delegate be sent was carried by the casting vote of the Mayor, but it was afterwards decided to get the member for New Plymouth to look after the borough’s affairs. Blenheim, Tuesday. The Borough Council has decided that the Mayor is to call a public meeting with respect to the completion of the railway and of the Opawa bridge. There prevails a strong feeling amongst all parties in this matter. The Reform Association meet to-night to consider the same subject. Hokitika, Tuesday. In consequence of Parliament meeting later than was expected, the Conference of County Councils has been postponed to 6th August, at the request of many delegates, who are also members of the House. Gkeymooth, Tuesday. Afire was discovered at 6.30 this morning in a four-roomed cottage occupied by Mr. Hunter, tobacconist. The fire had full hold of

the building when discovered. After it was extinguished, the body of Mr. Hunter was found in bed, much charred. The origin of the fire is unknown.

An inquest was held this afternoon on the body of A. M. Hunter, who was burnt to death this morniug. An open verdict was returned. The deceased's cottage was insured in the South British for £2OO. Christchurch, Tuesday. Two large sea lions were captured on the beach near Lichfield last night. Rouan Lockhead has been arrested at Wodonga, Victoria, on a charge of embezzling money while a clerk in the employ of the Benefit Building Society. In reply to an advertisement, 120 applications were received for the appointment of assistant librarian in the Public Library, at £3 per week and a free house.

A meeting is to be called at an early date to consider the advisability of establishing a Working Men’s Club.

Dunedin, Tuesday. A conference is about to be held between committees of the Education Board and the school committees for the purpose of settling the dispute re appointment of teachers. The Times this morniug strongly supports Olivei’s candidature, and says that at a preliminary meeting last night Oliver expressed himself a supporter of the Government, and also as being in favor of secular education, a land tax, and manhood suffrage. The taxing officer has reduced Eees and Hislop’s bill of costs by £620. Macassey and Reed’s libel case comes off tomorrow. Deuniston will appear for Macassey, and Smith for Reed.

The Macassey and Reed libel cases are to be referred to arbitration, five gentlemen having been chosen for that purpose. At a special meeting of the Harbor Board this afternoon, correspondence was read from Mr. Macandrew asking the Board to postpone the sale of leases in the Crawford-street block until it could be ascertained whether such would be required tor railway purposes. Mi-. Macandrew stated that the Board could not lease the sections without the consent of the Governor, and added, “We only advise assent to what we are satisfied will promote and secure naturally the future great commerce of Dunedin." The Board, in reply, state that the Government’s action in indicating a desire to withdraw an assent to ; leasing the Crawford-street block is calculated to cripple the Board, and yet not permanently benefit the public in its railway requirements, and states that nothing could be more damaging to the trade of this port than the interference of Government with the Board’s-present action. The Board hopes Government will not interfere in any way to damage the sale, and expresses willingness still to negotiate with the Government to set aside land equally suitable. The sale takes place to-morrow. Alfred N. Decker, recently employed by the Albion Brewery Company, was charged to-day with embezzling over £2OO, their property. On hearing the case it transpired that although the accused had previously admitted having appropriated that amount of money, he had nevertheless not done so. He was discharged. Lawrence, Tuesday.

At a meeting of the Borough Council last evening the members approved unanimously of the suggestions contained in a letter received from the Thames Borough Council regarding the proposed municipal league. Mr. J. C. Brown will be asked to attend as a representative on behalf of this borough. ~