TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5579, 14 February 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(per press agency.) Auckland, Wednesday. A contractor named McCabe was found dead in his bed to-day. He has been drinking heavily lately. The police here received photographs of Edward Kelly as taken on his admission to the gaol. The City Council amicably settled the water works disputed claim by payment to Morrin of £IO6B. The Education Commissioners to-day examined Farquhar Mcßae, head master of the Auckland College, and Adams, head master of the Church of England Grammar School, Parnell. The Board of Governors of the Grammar' School to-day resolved that all applications for an English mistress should be submitted to members for perusal, and that a subsequent meeting should be held to decide on the applications. A list of boys was received who passed the scholarship examination. Mr. Gillies, the chairman, thought the funds would not admit of the free education of sixteen boys. He suggested that the board should inform the Board of Education to that effect. The governors agreed to consider the question of free education at the next meeting. The Hineraoa left at 11.45 a.m. with the Southern San Eranoisco mails. She does not call at Tauranga. Grahamstown, Thursday. The dredging of the harbor by the Auckland dredge continues. Already the depth at the wharf has been increased four feet. Some Thames volunteer officers intend to attend Major Gordon’s, Inspector of Volunteers, funeral at Onehuuga to-morrow. He was much respected by them. The Mayor here sent a message of condolence with his widow, Patea, Thursday. The Waimate Plains natives and those from the country around Hawera have disposed of all their grass seed to Mr. S. Taplin. It is said that the natives have done well this year, the grass being in splendid condition. Tadranga, Thursday. The Bay of Plenty Times of this morning says :—“ Some explanation will doubtless be expected from us not only by our readers, but also by the New Zealand public generally, with regard to telegrams from Taupo about the alleged quarrel between Rewi and Major Scannel. The facts, so far as they can be ascertained by wire, are as follows : —Last Monday the representative of this journal, accompanied by an interpreter, visited Oranui, and interviewed Rewi. On his return to Taupo that evening, he heard that Major Scannel, accompanied by Dr. Walker and Mr. Lofley, interpreter, were going to visit Rewi the next day, and obtained permission to accompany them. Unfortunately his horse escaped, and having some miles to walk, he only reached the scene of action just as Major Scannel and Hr. Walker left. Mr. Lofley, who acted as interpreter, then gave him the substance of what had occurred exactly as was wired, and the reporter says he knows, through Mr. and Mr. , that it was in every respect correct, whatever attempts may be made to hush the affair up. This is our explanation for the present. When the reporter returns he will doubtless give a fuller one, but till then it would be unfair to publish the names indicated by blanks. We have perfect reliance on the gentlemen’s credibility, and feel sure that both he and Lofley are incapable of inventing such a story. Our own idea is that the interview passed off as was wired, but that Major Scannel made a mistake in fancying Rewi had insulted him. Just at first the Major was probably a little annoyed, and said so, but on reflecting over the matter, he put the old chief’s abruptness down to Maori custom, and thought no more of it. Unfortunately the rumor of the insult had by that time spread, and hint illae lacrymce. Everything considered, a very unnecessary amount of energy seems to have been expended in denying the report. Supposing the interview did take place, what then ? Would the heavens fall or the Government collapse ? We think not. In fact, the whole affair may be summed up in one sentence —“ Much ado about nothing.” Greytown, Thursday. A hut belonging to John Fisher, of Kuratarohiti, Greytown, was burnt to-day, with a trap and harness, and all effects. The value was about £SO ; uninsured. Napier, Thursday. Robert Vinsen, who was remanded from Christchurch to Napier on a charge of larceny as a bailee, was to-day committed for trial. Bail was allowed, but sureties were not forthcoming. Dunedin, Thursday. At a meeting of the Harbor Board to-day, Mr. Henry Tewsley was elected chairman. Tenders are now about to be called for the railway contract on the Otago Central Railway. It is a little over fourteen miles in length, and is known as the Winganni contract. Messrs. Ballance and Stout returned to town yesterday, and to-day visited some of our public institutions.

Christ CHURCH, Thursday.

The Minister of Public ’'York?, evidently bored with the five deputations that waited upon him yesterday, left for Wellington in the evening, and so avoided as many more who had intended to wait on him to-day.^ His Excellency returns to Wellington this afternoon.

James Higgins, the boy who was injured by the knives of a reaping and binding machine, which perforated his back when he fell off the seat, has since died. His Excellency left Christchurch by special train this afternoon to take his passage by the Eingarooma for Wellington. He was accompanied to the station by a large number of gentlemen, who gave him three hearty cheers as the train moved off. His Honor Judge Johnston left by the same steamer to attend the Court at Wellington. A deputation waited on Mr. Macandrew before he left, to ask him to have a larger sum of money than was placed on the Estimates expended on the additions to the lunatic asylum, as the lowest tender came to much more than the sum voted. Mr. Macandrew suggested that in the meantime a portion of the work should he gone on with, and on his arrival in Wellington he would see what could be done.

An inquest was held this afternoon on the late fire, when an open verdict was returned. Eeeetox, Thursday.

Charles Merfiu’s share in plant and book debts of the Inanyahua Herald were sold by auction under a writ of fieri facias. Robert Patterson is reported to be the purchaser.