TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5822, 26 November 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PEESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Tuesday. An Accident Insurance Company has been started, with a powerful board of directors. They have secured the services of Mr. W. U. Thomson, late lecturer to the Australian Mutual Provident Society, as manager. The capital is to be £loo,ooo’, and the shares are to be placed in all parts of New Zealand. The Harbor Board has agreed to a transfer of the land to the City Council comprised in the Bill now before Parliament. The land was reclaimed by the city. The Fernglen has arrived from London with a large number of immigrants, who have arrived in good health. The Carandinis, arrived by the Eotomahana, will give season concerts. The chemists have raised the price of patent medicines, in consequence of the increase in the tariff. The German man-of-war Nautilus arrived to-night from Sydney, after a stormy passage of seven days.

A fire was discovered to-night under a barrel of whisky in the store of L. D. Nathan and Co., merchants, but it was extinguished before any damage was done. Had the discovery been made five minutes later it is believed that the whole of the buildings, which contain goods to the value of one hundred thousand pounds, would have been destroyed. The fire is supposed to have been caused by rats. A man named Hale was arrested to-night, charged with breaking and entering the office of Mr. Craig, on the wharf. Gkahamstown, Tuesday.

The Alburnia manager's weekly report states that at the 160 ft. level east they are driving on a well-defined reef, showing a little gold. In the same level west they are repairing the road, and by the appearance expect to cut a run of gold-bearing stone now going down from the 70ft. level. On the 70ft. level west during the week the drive and slopes have yielded a splendid return of gold, and still look well. The drive has been improving for this last week, and every foot driven being better than at any other time, the gold evidently going down, as they are always leaving a good show under foot. He hopes to have a good return at the end of the month, as there is now nearly 2000ozs. of gold on hand. Shares are selling at 675. 6d. to 70s. Alexandra, Tuesday. Eewi, wife, and child, accompanied by Major Jackson, arrived here on Sunday from Punui, and proceeded at once to Major Mair’s residence, where they will remain as his guests pending their proceeding to the Kuwi headquarters of Ngatimaniapoto. It will be remembered that Major Mair first induced this celebrated chief to visit a European settlement in June, 1875, during the administration of Sir Donald McLean. . Masteeton, Tuesday. A crowded meeting was held in the Town Hall last night to hear the Mayoral addresses from Messrs. Eeist and Renall. A vote of confidence in Mr. Eenall was carried. Mr. Feist’s friends did not test the feeling of the meeting, but are confident of the return of their candidate. Blenheim, Tuesday. A swag has been picked up in the Awatere Eiver, containing a quantity of clothing, a pooketbook, a number of letters addressed to “James Stewart, care of Mr. Swinton, Winchester, Canterbury and “B. Hunt, Esq., Christchurch.” The owner is supposed to be drowned. Dunedin, Tuesday. Mary Hum, charged with stabbing her husband with a razor, was acquitted. The prosecutor, a Chinaman, admits having, in self-defence, inflicted the wound in a fit of jealousy. The charge of embezzlement against Mitten, late librarian at the Athenreum, is now proceeding. Cnmmock, who was convicted of setting fire to the building at the July sittings, charge ! i : o vith embezzlement, stating he was gi'i , • j evidence in order to screen himself. The Dunedin Cup weights cause great dissatisfaction. Mata has been backed down to 4 to 1.

“Pegasus,” in the Stir, states that the Governor has purchased Chokcbore LodgeCanterbury. He intends keeping a racin ' stock. Grip, who ran second for the la-Tt Canterbury Derby, is said to be his earliest purchase. Daniel O’Brien, a laborer, committed suicide by hanging himself at Mclntyre’s Mtrriou Downs Station, Tapanui, this morning.

Christchurch, Tuesday. The goods train from the South, when near Otaio to-day, went off the line, owing to the permanent way having been washed away by a flood. The trains north and south only ran as far as Otaio, and the passengers walked over the breach. The Southern express was halt an hour late to-night on arriving. The breach will be repaired to-morrow, and the express will run right through. The Lord Provost of Glasgow has written, thanking the Mayor of Dunedin for the city’s contribution to the Glasgow Bank Fund. The Chamber of Commerce held a meeting to-day to consider the tariff proposals. The discussion practically centred on the property tax, and the following resolutions were carried ; —That, without expressing an opinion ;ls to the propriety of patting on so suddenly such extra taxation at a time cf depression in the colony, the Chamber is of opinion : —lst. The proposed property tax would prove most objectionable to the community on account of its inquisitorial character, the difficulty iu fairly obtaining returns, and the expensive machinery for its collection. 2nd. That the extra taxes required would be best obtained from the following sources on the tariff as proposed by the Government, but deducting certain items on which the proposed rates are excessive, £250,000 ; previous rates on tea and sugar, £100,000; present land tax, £150,000 ; school fees on children attending schools, £120,000 ; total, £620,000.

The City Council considered the Municipal Act Amendment Act Bill in committee today. A number of alterations were adopted, and the clerk forwarded them to Wellington. The annual meeting of the Canterbury Wesleyan district commenced this morning. The Rev. Mr. Reid was chairman, and a number of ministers were present. Tiie election of Mayor for the city to-morrow causes very little excitement. The general opinion seems in favor of Mr. Ick.