TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5680, 13 June 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(per press agency.) Dunedin, Thursday. The Royal Commission on Education will commence taking evidence in Dauedin on Tuesday. At the Harbor Board to-day the committee reported upon Mr. Fisher’s motion re ordering from Home a powerful dredge. After much consideration the following recommendation was made, subject to the finance committee’s consideration of the question of finance, viz.:— A powerful twin-screw hopper dredge to be procured from Great Britain, capable of dredging on an exposed bar to a depth of between 8 feet and 30 feet, and of lifting not less than from 350 to 400 tons per hour of free stuff ; the carrying capacity to be 1000 tons, and to be capable of steaming, when loaded, at the rate of not less than 8 miles per hour ; the draught of water to be •as light as possible, consistent wir,h efficiency. The manner in which the procuring of the dredge shall be gone about, whether commissioning one person as agent or by a small commission in Great Britain of one or two gentlemen having sufficient interest in the progress of Dunedin to devote time to the subject, and also the matter of where delivery shall be taken in Great Britain after trial, or in the colony ; and if the former, the bringing of her oat and insurance, the fitting up and working of her for some months after being fitted up, the committee consider subjects for the whole Board to discuss in committee, and that the mode.of payment lay in the province rather of the Finance than the Works Committee. With reference to this last subject, however, as the Hon. the Minister for Public Works was in Dunedin, and as it was understood that he was only to remain for a few days, the committee suggested that the deputation which waited on him should urge that the Government ought to pay the cost in Great Britain of the dredge, and make it a matter of account as between the Government and the Board in respect of the sura that will be payable to the Board for resumption of the land and the destruction of the Board’s works, under the Act of last session. This action, it is trusted, the Board will endorse and confirm. The Board went into committee upon the whole matter.

Mr. J. W. Brindly, the Resident Secretary of the Victorian Insurance Company, has receivedjadvices from Melbourne that sufficient shares have already been applied for in Australia to successfully float the new company ; and also the information that the estimated profit on the first year’s business will be £130,000 —equivalent to nearly 30 per cent, on the capital proposed to be called up, including premium. The total contributions to the Kaitangata Belief Fund amounts to upwards of £15,000. Of this sum about £IO,OOO was collected in Otago alone, while fully half the total contributed is represented by sums of £1 and under.

Brother John Hyde Harris, Bight Worshipful District Grand Master for the Province of Otago and Southland (E. 0.), has intimated to the various lodges under his jurisdiction his desire that the members should wear Masouic mourning for a period of two months in respect to the late Brother John Lazar, D.G.M. for the Province of Westland, and formerly Deputy Grand Master for this Province. At an enquiry into the fire at Milton, by which Mr. Donald's engineering establishment was burnt down, Mr. Donald Reid, solicitor, gave evidence as to the early stage of the fire, when a few buckets of water would have been sufficient to Fput it ought if they could have been obtained in time. Mr. R. Jones, agent of the Standard Insurance Company, gave a correct statement of the insurance, the total being £l3O in the Standard, and £IOO in the Manchester. He considered the building had been heavily insured, according to the present times. The coroner commented severely on the great reluctance with which the witness Adam Clarke, McDonald’s fitter, had given his evidence. His Worship also remarked that the whole of the evidence went to show a considerable amount of carelessness. The jury returned the following verdict—“ That there is not sufficient evidence to show how the fire originated." McDonald now advertises—“ Fire ! Fire ! Owing to the promptness with which the Standard and New Zealand Insurance Companies have settled my claim, I am prepared to execute all orders as , usual.” Mr. Vincent Pyke, M.H.8., while returning home from Dunedin, met with an accident. The coach in which he was a passenger upset near Clyde. Mr. Pyke was much bruised and shaken, but he is not seriously injured. The other passengers escaped unhurt. There is a lot of false coin in circulation in Duncclih, principally imitation half-crowns and shillings. Oamaru, Thursday. Two men, named Sydney Hodge and Roht. Woodman, were out fishing off Moeraki yesterday afternoon, when just before dusk the boat was seen to disappear. To-day the boat came ashore in pieces, and there being no ai<ms of the men, little doubt is entertained that both were drowned. Hokitika, Thursday. The funeral of the late Bro. John Lazar, District Grand Master of the Westland Freemasons, took place yesterday afternoon. There was a numerous attendance, including a large assemblage of the brethern. All the Masonic Lodges in the district were present, as also the Chairman and members of the County Council of Westland, the Mayor and members of the Hokitika Borough Council, the whole of the principal residents, and a large concourse of people. The Volunteer Band headed the funeral procession, playing the “ Dead March in Saul.” All the places of business were closed. Mr. Barff, M.H.R., will address a meeting of his constituents at the Town Hall to-night. Westport, Thursday. Mr. Munro, general manager of the Koranui Coal Company, leaves to-day for Wellington, Canterbury, and O 'ago, on a mission to place 2055 shares, which have not hitherto been applied for, in the market. The total capital of this company is £25,000, in five thousand shares of £5 each. Of this sum £2625 in paid-up shares, and £532 in cash have been given to the promoters of the company and parties who originally took up leases. Ealclctha, Thursday. The Island people intend to petition Parliament for compensation for damage by floods occasioned by the erection of the railway embankment. New Plymouth, Thursday. Mr. J. R. Rees has been appointed engineer to the New Plymouth Harbor Board. There were seventeen applicants for the appointment.

Auckland, Thursday. The Governor'-s secretary telegraphs to the Mayor, approving of the 20th of the month for the citizens ball. Monday next is declared a public holiday. Two thousand public school children will assemble in Government House Grounds and sing the National Anthem. _ Larrikuii.-m, causing much annoyance, is rife at Onehunga. Three lads arrested yesterday by the p-.liee were fined.

The steamer Wellington took 2000 cartridges for New Plymouth. The lion, Mr. Sheehan and Eewi to-day proceeded to aiwera h-.-t springs, where Bewi hopes to recuperate his health in time to return on Saturday, to he present at the reception of the Governor on Monday. At a meeting of the V\ asto Lands Board today, the chairman reported, that the late land sale at Gisborne was a failure, only one lot, 200 acres, hiving been sold at upset price. A letter from Fairburn. to Clue! Surveyor Smith was read. It reported the discovery of a gold-bearing reef at Pakiri, off Cape Kodney. A man named Fry, who was engaged in the neighborhood, had taken out 141 b. of bluish quartz, similar to Golden Crown stone, aud on being crashed it yielded a piece of gold about the si/.e of a pea. It is Government land, and had been open for selection, but now it is agreed to withdraw it. Thomas Backhouse wrote announcing his discovery of several well-defined seams of coal upon Government land in Wangaroa harbor, and inquiring if he was entitled to any reward. It was decided to inform the writer that the amount set apart by Government as rewards for mineral discoveries had been absorbed.

Alfred Walker, son of Constable Walker, at Mercer, who was wounded in the abdomen whilst playing with a revolver, died at halfpast four o'clock this morning. He had been for some time unable to take food. At the Police Court to-day, John Austin Smith was charged with having obtained by false pretences a suit of clothes. Prisoner represented he had been appointed schoolmaster, and was in receipt of £IOO a year. He had given an order on the Inspector of Schools, which was not paid. Prisoner said he pawned the clothes. He was senctenced to three months’ imprisonment. Chbisichobch, Thursday.

The Lyttelton Harbor Board, at a meeting to-day, passed a resolution authorising the Colonial Bank to sell the Board’s debentures for the £200,000 loan at not less than par (£100), the expenses of floating the loan to be deducted. A resolution was passed that the inspection and overhaul of the Board’s steamers should take place at Wellington. the steamers to go on the slip. Messrs. Hankiu’s and Go.’a tender for £B4IO, for reclaiming the frontage between the boat jetties and the Gladstone Bier was accepted. Not less than sixty men are to bo kept on the work until it is liuished, the contract time being seven mouths. Writing of the duplication of names on the New Zealand turf, “ Sinbad ” says that “ the names here are rapidly being duplicated in a manner which says little for the originality of the owners and breeders, and the confusion which will eventually arise in the case of the progeny of mares of the same name will surely, when too late, convince the erring ones that the oft-quoted remark of one William Shakespeare, as to a rose smelling as sweet when called by another name, applies to thoroughbred horses as well as to the queen of flowers.” The final meeting of the committee in connection with the Kaitangata relief fund was held to-night to consider a circular from the Colonial Committee in Dunedin with reference to the disposal of the surplus fund. The meeting passed a resolution to the effect that while they generally agreed with the circular which had been forwarded, they were of opinion that the surplus fund should be available, not only for mining causualties, but also for the relief of widows and children left destitute from accidents of any kind. The City Oouucil have instructed the surveyor to proceed at once with testing operations for a water supply from the Waimakariri River for Christchurch. The cylinders have been made by a local foundry, and will be placed in position immediately. If the test proves satisfactory the scheme will be carried out in its entirety. Tuiaru, Thursday. At the Supreme Court to-day, Wm. Rogers was found guilty of false pretences, and sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment. John Henry James, for an attempt to commit bestiality, was sentenced to four years’ penal servitude. Sarah Steele, who pleaded guilty to forgery and uttering yesterday, was let go on her mother becoming responsible for her future good behavior. A witness named Fred. Gait, who was disallowed exnensea yesterday, went immediately to the Clerk of the Court and obtained expenses before that officer was made aware that they had been disallowed. This conduct was made the subject of very severe comment by the Judge to-day. He said it was a most impudent contempt of Court, for which Gait could be punished severely, but he did not think it would be worth while to proceed against him. However, he wished the public should know what he had done. Ashburton, Thursday.

At a meeting of the unemployed to-day, about one hundred men were present, the Mayor presiding. It was resolved that the Mayor should write to the Road Boards and County [Council, asking them to put as much work in hand as possible, and also to the Government, asking that the Mount Somers railway station be proceeded with.