TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5835, 11 December 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(pel: press agency. ) Auckland, Wednesday. A fire broke out at Ratton's, a basketmaker, in Tipper Queen-street. The brigade quickly arrived, and soon extinguished the fire, which originated in the cellar. A good deal of stock was burned. The property was insured for £2OO in the Colonial Office. Advices from Sydney report that probably Godefroy’s South Sea business will be carried on, and all the colonial liabilities be met. A meeting of Cambridge settlers have carried a resolution to push on the branch line. There is a good deal of gossip over an assault case which is expected to come on in the Police Court to-day. At a meeting of Lewis Bros’, creditors, Mr. Howard, one of the creditors, impugned the ruling of Mr. Shera, a soft-goods warehouseman, who was in the chair, and said he was not fit to preside. Mr. Shera retaliated with a blow straight from the shoulder, hitting Mr. Howard under the ear and raising a lump. Mr. Howard is a very tall stout man, and Mr. Shera a little man. They began clawing at each other, when the other creditors separated them. Next day, at the adjourned meeting, Mr. Howard went up and struck Mr. Shera on the head. The latter was about to retaliate, when some friends pulled them back. Mr. Shera has now commenced police court proceedings for assault, and a cross action has been entered by Mr. Howard. The assault cases pending between Messrs. Shera and Howard has been amicably settled, a mutual friend having brought both gentlemen together. They shook hands, and agreed to withdraw the cases. Messrs. Branston and Foster’s tenders for brass castings for the North Island railways has been accepted. It has been ascertained beyond doubt that salmon has been successfully acclimatised at Mahurangi, thirty miles north of Auckland. Lots of young fish have been seen. Grahamstovtn, Wednesday. A destructive fire broke out in Pollen-street early this morning, by which Brian’s secondhand furniture shop and Wood’s fruit depot were destroyed. The origin is unknown. Brien’s loss is estimated at £2OO, and that of Wood at £250. The insurances on the fire this morning are :—Brien, £175, in the Royal; Wood, £SO in the Norwich Union for buildings. The premises of Aldcock, butcher, were considerably damaged. Dunedin, Wednesday. Twenty-six delegates arrived last night to attend the Orange Lodge conference, opening to-night. The principal object of the meeting is te promise protection to Father Ohiniquy during his New Zealand tour. A man named South was fined £5 to-day for torturing an obdurate horse by branding it with a hot iron. Christchurch, Wednesday. At the Good Templar Grand Lodge session to-day, the following officers were elected for the year ;—Rev. Dr. Roseby, Chief Templar ; Councillor Parkman, of Greymouth, ViceTemplar ; Mr. Johnston, of Wellington, secretary ; Mr. Cameron was re-elected treasurer; and Mr. Carr was re-elected chaplain. At the inquest on the seaman McGregor,— who fell between the ship Hurunui and the wharf on Monday, dying shortly afterwards, — a verdict of accidental death was returned. At the Police Court, Thomas Jones, charged with breaking into a boot manufacturer's premises and stealing a quantity of leather, was remanded.