TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5681, 14 June 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(pee press agency.) Auckland, Friday. A triumphal arch frame was erected in Queen-street to-day for the reception ceremonies for the Governor’s arrival. His Excellency is expected to reach Onehunga on Monday morning. Robert Graham has brought his family to Auckland, owing to the decision given against him by the Government for occupying Rotorua land. Dr. Wallis intended to address a public meeting to-night on the subject of “Free trade in New Zealand ” and in favor of free trade ; but owing to his not receiving the support he expected, and having to leave Auckland in the Rotorua to attend the Education Commission in Otago, he decided to postpone the question for the present. Later Fiji news states that the natives in Nacava and certain other towns in the south end had been subjected to singular mortality, and carried them off like a plague. The sickness has the appearance of commencing in fever, then assuming the form of an acnte attack of dysentery, which invariably terminates fatally in three or four days. It is supposed that upwards of seventy succumbed during the past month. The white residents attribute this mortality to the late excessive rainfall, and the swampy situation of the towns. People almost to a man have been engaged for some time past in felling and dragging out immense dakana logs, with which to build canoes for Vena Valu. : After ferrying and heating themselves with their labor, returned to wet houses and damp mats ; fever then attacks them, dysentery follows, and death ensues. ; The Fiji Times' urges that a man-of-war should be placed at the disposal of the Governor to visit the Polynesian Islands in his capacity as High Commissioner, and punish such offenders as that of the murderer of Captain Molier. The Rotorua sails for the South «n Sunday. David Horatio Nelson was charged at the Police Court to-day with stealing a horse, the property of Thomas Wilban, Meanee, Hawke’s Bay. Two small offences against him at the Thames were proved. He was remanded to Napier. David Edward Rhends was charged with obtaining £3O from William Coleman, of the Thames, by false pretences. Mr. Hesketh, who appeared for the prisoner, applied for a remand, whieh was granted. He was admitted to bail, himself in £IOO, and two sureties in £SO each. News from Brooker Island by the Rotorua states that the natives regard the departure of the Coromant after shelling the village as a sign of victory over the whites, and are threatening all the residents and traders. The natives are much excited. In many places the natives are well armed with Snider and doublebarrelled guns, and have large supplies of ammunition. Feildino, Friday. At a large meeting held here' to form a volunteer rifle corps, all the speakers were agreed in thinking there can be no danger to this district requiring the protection of an

armed force; but that such a force would render essential service to other localities that might require protection, Thomson, a Maori chief, addressed the meeting, requesting to know why it was considered desirable to form a volunteer corps, also asking that Maoris might bo permitted to join, as his people and the pakeha were fellow subjects of the Queen. More than 100 names Were enrolled at the meeting. Masterton, Friday. At tho meeting of the Mastcrton School Committee, it was reported that Mr. Gordon was about to resign the assistant-mastership. Tho committee resolved to ask the Board to appoint Mr. Palmer to the vacancy. At the annual meeting of the Horticultural Society last evening, H, Bannister was appointed president, J, Vile vice-president. Tho charge by a Maori of horse stealing, remanded from Wellington, was withdrawn by tho prosecutor. Napier, Friday. The Supremo Court sittings are likely to continue until Tuesday evening. Yesterday Robert Vinson was acquitted of the charge of larceny as a bailee. Vinsen was in business in Napier as a coach builder, but failed a short time ago. Before bis failure ho received a cheque for £25, from one MeAlpine, to returu a promissory note, but instead of doing so he converted the cheque to his own use, and when the promissory noto became due, McAlpino had to pay it. Tho Judge told the jury that though there had been dishonesty, they must be satisfied that the offence charged had been committed before they could convict. The jury did not think the offence of larceny as a bailee was proved. Grahammtovtk, Friday. Mr. R. J. Douglas has been elected lieutenant of the Thames Riflo Rangers, and Dr. R. F. Andrews the surgeon-major. Mr. Jackson Keddell, Resident Magistrate and Warden of the Coromandel goldfields, has been appointed to tho Otago Provincial District. His duties will be fulfilled by Colonel Fraser, '■ > There is a rumor iu tho town that the Big Pump Association will soon make another start. Hokitika, Friday. Mr. E. Barff addressed a meeting of his constituents in the Town Hall last night. The meeting was fairly attended. The usual vote of confidence was carried. BlenhDlM, Friday. The Supreme Court was engaged all yesterday and tho day before in the case of Firth v. Brownlee, an action tor £SOO damages, arising out of a dispute between two rival sawmill proprietors at Havelock. Mr. Acton Adams and Mr. McNabb appeared for the plaintiff, Mr. Conolly and Mr. Rogers for tho defendant. The'case will probably be finished to-night. There was only one criminal case, that of three men charged with stealing goods to the value of £7 from Barclay’s hotel at Awatere. One was acquitted, the other two were found guilty and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Nelson, Friday. At Dovodale, twenty miles from Nelson, yesterday, two brothers named Lewis and Albert Honcton, aged thirteen and eleven respectively, went out rabbit shooting. Lewis saw a rabbit, raised his gun, and pulled the trigger, when just at that moment Albert ran across the Hue of fire, and the whole charge lodged in his head, causing instantaneous death. At the Nelson Artillery parade last night the men were asked how many would go to the front in tho event of their services being actually required, when the whole company stepped forward as one man. Dunedin, Friday. Last night at the Masonic Hall, at Port Chalmers, a funeral lodge was held in honor of tho memory of the late Brother John Lazar, B.W.D.G.M. of Westland, and formerly D.D.C.M. of this province. The building was placed in appropriate mourning. The members of tho Lodge attended in full force, and wore in full Masonic mourning, and a large number of visitors were present, including the R.W.M. and officers of the Cargill Kilwinning, No. 632, S.C. The whole of the ceremonies were carried out, and some very appropriate music was played by the organist, an efficient choir lending their aid in rendering the anthems. There appears to be no diminution in the rash of ebjectors to the'Land Tax office. Mr; Macandrew left for Wellington by the Hawea to-day. Mr. George Watson has been appointed secretary for the Otago Licensed Victuallers’ Association,

It is,suggested in this week’s Tablet that where outlying districts cannot send deputations to the aggregate meeting of Catholics, they should appoint gentlemen in Dunedin or its neighborhood to he delegates. The Tablet adds there are at present in New Zealand about 65,000 Catholics. According to the census taken last March twelve months tho number was 58,961, and if then we add to this ten per cent, far the increase, which is tho percentage increase for the last eight years, it will be seen that the number we have given is not too high. As it will be very difficult for the Government and Legislature to resist the just claims of 65,000 earnest people —that is, about one-seventh of the population of New Zealand. It is of the utmost importance to our cause that the proposed aggregate meeting should represent the entire Catholicbody of the.colony.” At the University Council to-day it was resolved that the Council, having been warned that Judge Bathgate intended to pay a visit to Great Britain, they request him to do all in his power to aid in obtaining the Royal Charter. Opposition is expected from another quarter to the granting of the charter. ■ -• ■ ; ■ Christchurch, Friday.

A young woman, aged ,23 years, of superior education and prepossessing appearance, was charged with petty larceny at the Police Court to-day, and sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment.' She declared in Court that she never intended to steal the things, which were some trifling articles of finery belonging to a female friend. . ’ ' A woman named Eliza Daw tried to drown herself in the Avon yesterday. She was rescued by a constable, and subsequently restored. The woman’s husband recently went home in the Stad Haarlem, and this circumstance led to the attempt.