TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5641, 29 April 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(FEB PKESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Monday. Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan visited the waterworks to-day, and expressed great pleasure with the pumping machinery and general arrangements. Wanganui, Monday. In the Supreme Court to-day true bills were returned against Alfred Luxford, horsestealing ; John Kyan, burglariously entering and stealing; John Donaghy, stealing from person ; G. B. Worgan, felony ; Wilson, misdemeanor ; and Melchior for assault. Kyan was found not guilty, and Donaghy guilty. He will be sentenced to-morrow. New Plymouth, Monday. A passenger by the s.s. Wellington for Auckland, who had been on shore during the stay of the vessel at this port, while returning in a cargo boat, leaped overboard while in a fit, but was saved. Mabtebton, Monday. The Masterton Prospecting Company, which has been talked of for some time, has now been started. The following gentlemen are provisional directors :—Messrs. D. McGregor, D. Donald, McArdle, Dreyer, and J. Brown. A resident clerk has been located at Masterton by the Minister of Justice, in response to a requisition from the residents. Napier, Monday. It has been decided to hold an inquest on the body of the wife of Roderick Hugh McLennon, the man who was recently captured on the Patangata ranges by the police, Mrs. McLennon died at the Masonic Hotel some few weeks ago under circumstances which, in the opinion of the police authorities, call for inquiry. A warrant for the exhumation of the body has been issued by the coroner, Dr. Hitchings, and the inquest will commence on Wednesday next, but it will only be a preliminary inquiry, for the purpose of identifying the body prior to sending the stomach to the Government analyst at Wellington ; after which the inquest will be resumed. Christchurch, Monday.

A threshing machine was discovered by a platelayer to be on fire near the railway at Winchester. It is supposed the fire was caused by an incendiary. At a special meeting of the Drainage Board this morning re the allocation of rates, it was resolved, after a warm discussion, to return to the system recommended in a report submitted by the Finance Committee of the Board. This was carried as an amendment to J. E. Brown’s motion that all expenditure for works be defrayed out of loan. Some meteorological instruments have been stolen from the observatory in the Botanical Gardens. Two lads are suspected. The Native Land Commission opened at the Odd Fellows’ Hall to-day. A dance of welcome was performed by some 120 Maoris. On an application of Mr. Izard's counsel for the Maori claimants, the commission adjourned to meet at Kaiapoi. On Monday next the deed of cession signed at Waitangi will have to be produced in evidence. The body of a young man named Frank W. Bush was found in the river Avon to-day. He had evidently committed suicide. A letter was found in his pocket addressed to his father in London, stiting that before it reached its destination deceased would be probably “in a place where no money was required.” Deceased had been betting, and was penniless, as he stated in the letter, wherein he also mentions wife and child. An inquest will be held. Dunedin, Monday.

There are at present thirteen candidates for the Otago University matriculation examination, which commences on Thursday. There are also three candidates for the preliminary examination in medicine. Invercargill, Monday. _ At a meeting of the Town Council this evening a letter received from the Colonial Secretary’s Department was read, stating that the position taken up by the Council regarding the appointment of trustees for the Municipal sinking fund was untenable, and that the Government had not made the appointment without full consideration. The Suez mail arrived this morning, and was despatched to Dunedin and Christchurch by express train. .