TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5428, 20 August 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(FHC3I ODE OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Hawera, Monday. At Waimate everything is quiet. Five surveyors are at work. The sections are to be 50 acres on the sea side of the road. The survey has reached Matemate on this side, but the Kaopakonui natives are pulling up the Pegs. (PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, 'Monday. William Long, a laborer, residing in Hobsonstreet, attempted suicide by hanging yesterday, but was discovered in time. During the voyage of the Lady Jocelyn small-pox broke out on board soon after leaving London, but owing to the prompt action of the doctor, who separated the patients, the disease did not spread. Ernest Bruce, an ex-lioutenaut in the navy, has been committed for trial on a charge of larceny as a bailee in stealing a quantity of goods belonging to Mr. Bevan, a member of the armed constabulary. Hoani Whikatahi, Maori county councillor at Hokianga, was fined 40s. or one month’s imprisonment for maliciously breaking the windows of Councillor Bryers. Tadpo, Monday. A large party of friendly natives have left here to attend a Haubau meeting at Tuhua. It is not known yet whether the meeting has any political object. It is rumored here that Major Roberts, R.M., and superintendent of A. 0., is to bo transferred to Tauranga, in place of Major Scanuel, who comes here. Geahamstown, Monday. A young lady, the daughter of Mr. Thomas Macky, wine merchant, Auckland, being on a visit here to the Rev. Mr. Neill, left for a walk in the country, and not returning next day a search party was organised, composed of Maoris and Europeans. After the lapse of some 40 hours she was discovered in some tall ti-tree and fern by a Maori. She was then almost insensible from cold and wet. Christchurch, Monday. John Snipper, a schoolmaster at Mount Grey Downs, tried to commit suicide on Saturday afternoon, at a house near the railway platform, by cutting his throat with a penknife. He had been drinking, and it is said that an unfavorable report of the Inspector of Schools preyed upon his mind. He lies in a precarious condition. The Canterbury Farmers’ Grain and Produce Store Company to-day purchased from the Government the lease of two acres of ground at Addington off the line of railway, for the purpose of erecting large stores, which will hold, when completed, 1400 tons or 14,000 sacks of grain. The lease is for 41 years, at £670 per year, at the end of that time the Government to pay for all improvements. The test case against cabmen for driving round corners faster than at a walking pace has been withdrawn by the City Council. Kennedy, Chever, and Bent’s Minstrels opened to a crowded house on Saturday. Hundreds were unable to obtain admission downstairs. At a meeting of the Charitable Aid Board on Saturday night an opinion was expressed that it had a bad effect on the patients to have all the dead bodies removed to the morgue so near the main building. The agitation for the West Coast railways continues. It is thought if the Canterbury members work together they will be able to carry out the scheme of extension from Amberley, though it is feared that the Minister of Public Works will work against them in favor of Otago. Hokitika, Monday. A patient in the asylum named Healey escaped on Saturday morning through the skylight, and then scrambled over a high precipice. Ho had only a shirt on, which he threw off when leaving the ground, alleging afterwards that he did not wish to be arrested for stealing asylum clothes. In a state of nudity he rau to the sea beach, then followed low water mark for some miles. He afterwards proceeded into the bush at the upper crossing of the Arahura, where ho was found at six o’clock the same night. Ho had had no food or clothing, but expressed an intention of asking for both at the first house he came to after dark. When found he was hiding from the police behind some bush. The steamer Mullough was bought by Cameron Bros,, of Lyttelton, for £1350, at auction; the same firm also bought the schooner Garibaldi for £450.

Dunedin, Monday. The transactions of the National Insurance Company for last year show a credit to the profit and loss account of £21,258, out of which the directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 10 per cent. The City Council this afternoon resolved to entertain the Northern visitors at a banquet on the occasion of the opening of the Dunedin and Christchurch railway. The Mayor and Chairman of the Harbor Board have telegraphed to tho Premier, urging the speedy settlement of tho railway site question. Mias Hesford, who recently sustained the character of Montana in tho opera of that name, was on Saturday, in recognition of her great success, presented with a gold watch and chain, a set of jewellery, and a purse of 80 sovereigns. A numerously signed address will, in a few days, ho presented to Mr. Bathgate, disclaiming sympathy with the recent attacks made upon him. The University Council on Saturday refused an offer equivalent to £IOOO a-yoat for the ex-

tension of lease of one of the estates comprised in their endowments. The nominators of All Saints’ Parish have telegraphed to England for a successor to the Rev. B. L. Stanford. The transactions of the National Insurance Company for the last half-year show a credit to profit and loss account of £21,253, out of which the directors recommend a dividend of 10 per cent. Dunedin, Monday. In answer to a telegram from the President of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, pointout the injurious effect of the remission of duties on flour and grain, Mr, Stout has replied that it is satisfactory to know that this is the only proposal of the Government- which the Chamber objects to. The Government believed it was their duty so to arrange the duties that industries would be encouraged. The Chamber’s recommendation would not be lost sight of when the tariff was revised. He pointed out that New Zealand was a grainproducing country, and was now successfully competing in Sydney and in the English markets. Invercargill, Monday. The Bluff Harbor Board has instituted inquiries as to the value of the land applied for by Professor Black, at Tametanira. An exhaustive report has been sent in by the secretary, based upon conclusive evidence, to the effect that the land consists entirely of grassy slopes suitable for ploughing or pastoral purposes. In intrinsic value one acre of these slopes would be worth three of that on the higher ground adjacent. The land is surrounded by hills, composed of first-class limestone. The Harbor Board will make strenuous efforts to prevent the sale. There is no truth in the rumor of Mr. Mitchell’s appointment to the Colonial Bank. The Bluff Harbor Boardjhaving ascertained that the section of the Board’s endowment at Tametanira, applied for by Professor Black, is exceptionally valuable, —the following resolutions were carried at a meeting this afternoon: That the chairman and solicitor be requested to attend the next meeting of the Waste Lands Board, and to represent that the sale of the land to Professor Black will seriously prejudice the sale of the remainder, and also to request that the land may be put up to public auction as of special value ; and further, that the chairman be empowered to purchase the same at auction on behalf of the Board. That the chairman be instructed to apply for the whole of the endowment open to purchase.