TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5732, 13 August 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PEE PBESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Tuesday. The Waikato train last night ran over a cow. The engine and two trucks passed over the body, but about a dozen trucks were thrown off the track. They sustained no injury, however. The passengers and mails were forwarded to their destination in a coal truck which had passed over the cow. The Bay of Islands Coal Company's report shows that 19,818 tons of coal were sold during the past half year. The mail steamers now use the coal. A dividend of 10 per cent, has been declared.

Captain Murphy of the English ship Minister of Marine was charged at the Police Court to-day in conjunction with Robert Robertson, mate, with that they had violently assaulted one Alfred Cole, an articled seaman, by placing him in irons, and when there striking him about the face and body with their fists, kicking him, gagging bim, and otherwise ill-treating him, with intent tp do him some grevious bodily , harm. Robertson made a long statement, alleging that the captain and mate had confined him in a small compartment ironed, and had gagged him with a piece of rope in his mouth, and had hoisted him off his feet by his hands, which were ironed together at his back, leaving him suspended fifteen minutes. He also charged them with keeping him without food, and otherwise ill-using him. A large number of witnesses will be examined. The North Island Association have carried a resolution in favor of free-trade in native land, and it is to be submitted to a public meeting. Mr. Dargaville also gave notice of his intention to move at the same time—“ That the people of the North Island are fully competent, by their representatives, to deal with the questions of native policy, public works and immigration, within their own borders, and that the time is at hand when it will be expedient for them to take that course.”

Eiji news per Merriles reports that there is a prevalence on one plantation of a disease of the coffee leaf. The Government have taken active measures to eradicate it. Mr. Hobbs divided £IOO of his honorarium among four charities. Mr! Tole intends to distribute his books among the libraries on the Eden electorate. Grahamsiown, Tuesday.

The Thames Harbor Board are issuing debentures for £12,000, and they expect to get an advance of £6OOO against the same from the Public Works Sinking Fund. The Old Golden Company will be able to resume mining work in a week or two, through the resumption of pumping operations. Colonel Fraser, late Resident Magistrate and Warden, is spoken of as a candidate, but only Grey will go down, and if he runs it will be in that interest. Quite a host of local candidates have been driven out of the field through the announcement of Grey and Sheehan coming forward as candidates. New Plymouth, Tuesday. Messrs. P. Kelly and A. C. Fookes are candidates for New Plymouth. Colonel Trimble, Captain Skeet, and Captain Wilson will possibly stand for Grey and Bell. Dunedin, Tuesday. Good finds are reported at the Waikeni diggings, near Clyde, but nothing to warrant a rush. A meeting of the Bible-in-Schools Association was held here to-day. It was resolved to issue a manifesto calling upon the electors to support those candidates who will pledge themselves to effect an amendment of the Education Act, so as to allow daily Bible reading in public schools. The association will not, it is believed, issue a ticket j the manifesto is to by widely circulated. ' Thb Benares enquiry was continued today • the deputy harbor master, the second and third mates, and the boatswain of the Bepares, and the coxswain of "the pilot boat were examined, when the Court adjourned till to-morrow. . A man was found dead near the Stuartstreet railway crossing this morning. Deceased was evidently in very poor circumstances, and it is presumed that he died from exposure, as Monday night ■ was terribly cold and wet.

The committee appointed by the City

Council to inquire into the action of the Baths Committee in the purchase of the hulk Industry have brought up a report blaming the committee for not having attended to the matter themselves, but exonerating Councillor McKinnon from any special blame in the transaction. The land tax assessments are being largely reduced, one of £6OOO odd was reduced to £2OOO. Ciip.isTCHur.crr, Tuesday. At the half-yearly meeting of the Canterbury Sale-yard Company this evening a dividend of 5 per cent, for the six months was declared. Invercargill, Tuesday. Captain Hankins, one of the candidates for Riverton, has published an address. Mr. J. L. McDonald is also mentioned ns a candidate for the same seat.