TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5586, 22 February 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AOENCT.) Auckland, Friday. The Waste Lands Board having recommended setting apart reserves for the Auckland museum, hospital, and asylum, have received a communication from the Minister for Lands, stating that the law only provided for educational reserves, therefore he had no power to give effect to the recommendation. The Board passed a resolution in favor of amending the Act to make a provision for such cases. Large parcels of New Zealand Insurance shares have been offered at 655., and South British at 565.

The Mayor having received a request from the Provost of Glasgow, invites contributions for the City of Glasgow Bank shareholders before the departure of the outward mail.

A memorial in favor of the inland route for the Kaipara railway is being signed. Another memorial for the restoration of the timber duty is spoken of, the timber trade of the province having suffered seriously through the alteration of the tariff.

The Kamo coalmine is beginning to look lively. The men are working day and night. When the drays get to work 300 tons per week will be put out. The Board of Education to-day resolved to invite tenders from insurance companies tor the insurance of all school buildings of the Board.

Two men of H.M.S. Sapphire for violent assault on a citizen were sentenced to two months’ imprisonment at the Police Court. The Commission on Education to-day examined Messrs. W. St. Clair Tisdall, Rev. S. Edgar, Messrs. Farquhar Mcßae, Bissling (registrar of deeds), Peacock (Mayor), Reid, and C. M. Nelson.

The special reporter of the Star at Mahurangi, A. North,reports that the country generally looks dry, and clouds of smoke cap all the ranges at Whitson. He is afraid the property called Whitson’s has suffered much. Almost the only patch of green visible between Auckland and Mahuraugi is Captain Casper’s sixacre field of maize. More fires are reported. Tauhoa Block, containing the stores of settlers, is in great danger. Hood Brothers intended to send 30 or 40 sheep and cattle to the show, but were unable, being surrounded by fire. Mulligan’s homestead was in great danger on Wednesday ; the stacks of hay ignited, but the flames were extinguished with water. Mulligan’s arm was burnt. Eyre has had all the standing kauri destroyed, and a small flock of sheep roasted alive. Boiler’s feuos was burnt ; the house narrowly escaped. A telegram from the Minister of Public Works authorising the settlement of claims against the Government for puriri timber contracts has given great satisfaction. Laybourne, one of the commissioners, writes letters strongly condensing Stewart, the district engineer, who, in spite of contract reduced the price by 2s. 6d. per foot, without notice. Laybourne accuses Stewart of official tyranny. He says that the decision shows that the Government and the officials must not transgress the rules of commercial morality nor shuffle out of engagements.

A new fore-and-aft schooner has been launched for the Island trade. She is named the Pirate.

Settlers in the North intend sending a monster petition to Parliament next session in favor of a trunk Irail way. A fund will also be raised to defray the expenses of a special agent to Wellington. The grocers have formed a committee of twelve to regulate the prices of butter and eggs, and advertise the prices. Two centrifugal pumps and engines, in charge of experienced shipwrights, have gone to the wreck of the Taupo. A telegram from the Under-Secretary for Lands notides that all volunteers included in the Special Powers and Contracts £lll, passed last session, may exercise their scrip at the next land sale.

Hush dres have been raging in every direc-. tion in the .North lately. There have been many narrow escapes of homesteads being destroyed.

Tacranga, Friday. Mr. McKellar, the Collector of Customs, is making a private and preliminary enquiry into the cause of the accident to the Tanpo this morning. Nothing will be done till the arrival

of the Hawca from Auckland, which vessel will probably be detained hers 12 hours, to assist in getting the Taupo off. Grab.VMS TOWN, Friday. The Government intimate their na villiugnvss or inability to assist the gold projecting, and pumping operations at the low levels, by a pound ter pound subsidv. They will bo asked to grant a loan of £SOOO for the purpose oat of the prospecting vote of last M-s-ion. GbeTTOWN, Friday. It is reported that a boiler at the railway works at the Tauheriuiicau bridge exploded, injuring two or three men. Dr. Spratt has g °lt is' stated ou the best authority that the Hon. John Martin and Mr. W. 11. Hast well are about to float a company for the construction of a railway from Grey town to Woiheaga, where the farmer gentleman is forming a small settlement. This news will have a moit material influence on the whole future of Greytown, and will make it the centre of an immense and valuable district. Christchurch, Friday. Mr. Conyers is rapidly recovering. The whole of the drainage works now going on on the eastern side of the city were flooded out yesterday. A very stormy special meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board took place this afternoon. A few days ago the Board passed a resolution asking the Gorernmeut to cancel the. appointment of the present medical staff. The medical staff then, without consulting the Board, wrote to the Government asking them not to give effect to the resolution, and to-day a special meeting was held to consider a telegram from the Colonial Secretary, asking the Board to accept a compromise, and allow the staff to maintain its position until the first of September next. On the motion of Mr. Jno. Evans Brown, it was resolved to reuow the application to the Government, and iu the event of the resolution not being given effect to, it is understood that the Board will throw up its functions. Dr. Turnbull, on behalf of the medical staff, moved as an amendment that the matter be postponed ; but it was lost.

At the meeting of the newly-elected Harbor Board to day the Hon. E. Hichardson was reappointed chairman. The Hon. John Halt, gave notice that he should move that the graving dock have not less thau 23 feet of water on the sill at high water at spring tides. The closing time of entries for the ram anti ewe fair will probably be postponed. Hokitika, Friday. The body of a man was found on the beach at the south spit by Scott, the boatman, yesterday afternoon, who reported the same to the police. It was identified as that of J. Graoy, alias Jack the Slinger, alias Jack DaGrass, who has been missing since the 14th instant. His mate, Henry Palmer, is now on his way from Ross t» the inquest, at 2 p.m. to-day. Lyttelton, Friday.

Captain Craig, of the brigantine Camille}, when coming out of Kaipara Heads foil overboard while in the act of heaving the leadHis mate, who was near him at the moment, gave the alarm, but before the vessel could bo brought to she had dragged him nearly three miles through the water, he holding on to a rope thrown to him by Mrs. Craig, When brought on board ho was ranch exhausted, but speedily recovered. Oamauo, Friday.. Very little grain is now remaining uncut, ns this district, threshing operations are in foil swing, and grain is now beginning to come in. So far as it is competent to judge at present, the crop is more than an average one, while the quality generally is first class. Few transactions have yet taken place. Wheat is quoted at the low figure of 35., and an advance in price is not expected ; oatn are worth !«, 6d. to 2s. Bd. Sub-Lieutenant Morris and Volunteer R, Harding left for Christchurch at noon to-d»y r en route to Nelson, to take part in the rifle matches at the New Zealand Rifle Association’s meeting. Ddnedin, Friday. An attempt was made on Sa f urday evening to burn down the stables of Perguason and Co, at Tapanui. The Chinese laborers on the Tapanui railway works, who have been in receipt of 7«. Gd, per day, have struck for an additional shilling; A return of the cases heard at the City Police Court during the quarter ending December 31st last, shows that 80 persons woredischarged for want of prosecution or evidence, 59 cases were dismissed on the merits, 521 persons were summarily convicted or held to bail, 7 were committed for trial, making a total of 715 cases heard. The fines paid were £220 6s, and the fees £ 115 6s. 6d. In the September quarter 611 cases were heard. The fees received amounted to £9l 18s. Cd., and fines to £l3O Is 6d. In the Juno quarter, 721 cases were heard. The fees received were £ll9 7s. 9d.; fines, £l7O os. 6d. During tho March quarter 723 cases were heard; the fees derived being £l2O os. 6d., and the fines; £lßl 2s. The examination for students in the normal school was brought to a close on Wednesday afternoon. Nine out of fourteen passed in tho different subjects. These wore female students. The two males who competed failed, to gain the average number of marks, and will' have to come forward again.

At a meeting of the committee of the Dios.ediu Jockey Club to-night it was resolved thafc when any person has two or more horses engaged in a race, and wishes to declare to win with either of the said horses, the declaration must be made at least half an hour before theadvertised time of starting, under a penalty of £2O.