TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5685, 19 June 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(per press agency.) Foxton, Wednesday.

A preliminary inquiry into the grounding of the Huia is now going on at the Custom House. Captain Bendall is present as representative of the insurance companies.

Auckland, Wednesday.

A fire has occurred which destroyed three rooms of a cottage occupied by a farm laborer named Gould, on Morrin’s property at Remuera. The building was insured. The Licensing Bench did not refuse the license of the Nevada Hotel, as stated, on account of an opening in the wall for a supply of liquor to an adjoining restaurant. The Licensing Bench granted the license, but notified that in any future case of a similar character the license would be forfeited. The Bench also intimated: —(1) That in future three convictions will cause a man to lose his license ; (2) That the Bench will not renew a license where there are two convictions within a year ; (3) That a license will not be renewed unless the requisites reported by the police to be necessary shall have been supplied to their satisfaction. The aperture in the Nevada has now been closed.

The Governor held a levee to-day, at which a very large number of citizens were present. Lady Robinson held a reception in the afternoon, and gives an “at home” on Monday next.

The report of the Building Society shows the receipts for the year to be £76,921, and the profit enabled the directors to declare payment of a dividend of 5 per cent., and 3 per cent, bonus.

Messrs. Blaydes, Nolen and Burton were admitted to the Bar to-day. Judge Gillies, addressing them, admonished them upon the duty of keeping their clients’ secrets, and discouraging litigation. Christchurch, Wednesday. A fire occurred early this morning on board the schooner Volunteer, lying at one of the Lyttelton wharves. The master and mate were asleep below when the fire was observed from the ship Rialto, and the alarm was given. The fire was quickly extinguished, and the damage was confined to the foremast and its rigging, and the galley. The fire, no doubt originated from some embers left in the stove. The Eev. Hy. Ellis,- Wesleyan Minister, died at Woodend, on Tuesday. He was formerly officer of a North cavalry troop, and was in active service during the Mairi war. He had also been a journalist, having for some

time held a responsible position on the Auck land Southern Cross newspaper.

Oauaru, Wednesday. At the inquest to-day on the body found in the creek yesterday, it transpired from papers found in his pocket that the deceased's name was Donald Mclune*. The jury returned a verdict of “Found drowned,’’ and added a rider to the effect that the creek at that particular place should be securely fenced.

Timaks, Wednesday. The case of Court v. Studholm was commenced before Judge Johnston to-day. The damages were laid at £IOOO. it forms one of a series of cases brought by various plaintiffs against the same defendant for alleged damages sustained through the plaintiff’s bush and house being burned by the fire which occurred in tho Wain ate Bush on the 15th November last. Messrs. Joynt ami Hamersley for plaintiff ; Messrs. , Macassey, Jameson, and White fpr defendant. The case is not expected to he concluded before Friday. Ddnxoix, Wednesday. Ah Lung was committed for trial for “ sweating " coins.

A fire occurred at a brnshware factory iu the Octagon yesterday. The damage was about £l5O. The property was insured in the Colonial for £SSO.

Dr. Gillies, Jiealth officer, reports :—Tho general health of the city is good. Since mv last report: only one death has been reported from typhoid fever, and only one patient has been received into the hospital suffering from that disease.

So great has the nuisance in the Arcade at nights become that it has been found necessary to station a constable specially there. A.lad named Eugenie Brooker was this morning brought up at the City Police Court for using obscene language there, aud his Worship made an example of him by sentencing him to three hours’ imprisonment and fifteen months detention in the Industrial School.

Sergeant Duffy, Inspector of Weights aud Measures, has lately been making a raid «u the suburban storekeepers, and has been seizing unstamped weights. This morning four persons were summoned to tho Police Court, and fined 40s. and costs each, in addition to which they had their weights forfeited. Mr. W. L. Simpson, R.M. at Clyde, has been offered, and has accepted, the position of acting Resident Magistrate for the Dunedin district during the. absence of Mr. J. Bathgate. Major Keddeil, who was first warden of the district, succeeds Mr. Simpson at Clyde. A teacher at Dunedin North School yesterday gave a boy twelve strokes on the head with a heavy tawse, aud the boy fainted on attempting to regain his seat. He was allowed to remain on the floor without any attempt being made to restore him to consciousness, aud efforts to bring him round were not made till some time after. An investigation has been asked for.

The charges of sly grog selling against Andrews and Reid, of Saddle Hill, have been further adjourned until the 30th. Meanwhile both defendants are petitioning the Governor, through Mr. Watt, R.M., for a commutation of the sentence of three months' imprisonment, which they are at present undergoing for failing to pay a fine of £SO each for sly grog selling. The grounds of the petition are the destitution of the petitioners’ families. The long-continued drought has seriously interfered with mining operations in this district. No water was to be had, and in consequence work had to be discontinued. Water was not procurable at the Spur at the end of the week, even for domestic purposes, except at the cost of Is. a bucketful, or 2s. fid. per small barrel; one party indeed having to pay 10s. for three small bafrelsful. On Monday afternoon, however, rain set in. Operations on the Chinamen’s :Keef, at Waipori, will he commenced on Wednesday. A Chinese manager, who has had considerable experience of quartz and alluvial mining on the Australian goldfields, has bean engaged, and none but Chinese labor will be employed. The employment of European miners is thought to be absolutely necessary., When the shaft is completed, fifteen men will ba employed, and should the prospects obtained warrant it a 10-head battery will be erected. The company has a capital of £2500. iNVEEOAnoUX, Wednesday, The inspirational orator, Mrs.' H. Britten, is delivering a series' of lectures 1 here, but has not hitherto received a large amount of encouragement. She leaves for, Dunedin on Friday.

■ The Government have commenced the erection of additional Government buildings here, which were to be built with wood. The morning papers commented : ’ strongly on the proceedings of the authorities, and protested against the completion of the work, pointing out that - the Act prohibited the erection of wooden buildings, except under special conditions, within certain boundaries. Great indignation is felt by the public, it being considered that an- insult was being offered to the town by the Government by building public offices in such a manner. The Town Council ordered the contractor to put down the structure last night, and this morning they abandoned the work till they received further instructions. A new Resident Magistrate’s and Supreme Court House has to erected shortly.