LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1269, 7 February 1883, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[per united press association]. WELLINGTON, This Day. The Government have received the following information from the Hon. Mr. Bryce respecting Kawhia. The Stella left New Plymouth on Friday morning, and entered Kawhia before nightfall the same day. A large number of Natives were present, and immediately the steamer dropped anchor three cheers were given, the assembly apparently being glad to see the Europeans. After the cheers the Maori welcome was added. Eighteen feet of water was found on the bar, and at the proposed township, and close to the store four fathoms. A good channel was also discovered for some distance past the spot elected for the town. The Government land is said to be the best in the harbor for the town ; it is not much broken, and in the highest part will probably not be more than one hundred feet above high-water mark. Around the harbor the ground is somewhat broken, with few flats of any extent; it is, however, good grass land, but is now covered with fern. The surveyor, who accompanied Mr Bryce, went to work without delay in pegging off the township, the boundaries of which were pointed out ny one of the princi pal chiefs. The township having been sketched out, the surveyors then went to work with the detail work, several of the Natives belonging to the place acting as chainmen. It has been decided to call the town Kawhia, the principal street being named Tainui, after one of the original canoes which landed at Kawhia. No difficulty, it is thought, will be experienced in the survey sale, and the occupation of the new township. The channel has been buoyed by Captain Fairchild, of the Stella, who states that vessels can enter Kawhia and approach the proposed town without difficulty. Yesterday the Hons. Mr Bryce and Mr Rolleston proceeded to one of the arms of the harbor in a canoe where they disembarked. and, taking horses, proceeded to Alexandra by the Hikurangi track, the

journey on horseback esGjnded over nine hours, but this due to the slippery state of the road after the continuous rain. Mr Bryce is of opinion that bl fair weather the trip from Kawhia to Alex; mdria by the same track can be accomplished. in six hours. The Ministerial party are still at Alexandra, His Excellency Sir William Jervois after carefully considering Lo nghurst’s case, haa decided that he can see no reason for interfering with the sentence which was passed on the prisoner. The property tax paid for the financial year amounts to about £lO,OOO. Thursday the Bth instant, will be the day on which the property tax can be paid without the addition of a ten per cent penalty. At a meeting of the Wellington Trust and Loan Investment Company, Mr Edward Pearce, chairman of directors, said that the year that had pased was one during which the money market underwent a remarkable ehange, at the commencement, of the year money wsa cheap and continued so for several months, but all at once as it wei-e, men dealing in finance began to realise that a gradual hardening tendency had set in, and before the end of the year the banks Were paying 50 per cent more on deposit than they found it necessary to give. Twelve months before he (Mr Pearce), had not eome prepared with any conclusive reasons for the cnange. It was satisfactory to notice, he continued, that the stringency which arose quite lately was already passing away, and he hoped we might look te & return of a normal state bf things in the immediate future. A shock of earthquake was felt here at ten o'clock last night. It wu also felt at Kekeranga,

AUCKLAND, This Day. The Wesleyan Conference has closed its sittings, and agreed that the next meeting be held at Wellington. The insurances on the fire at Whangarei are—Hansen, £l5O, on stock in Imperial • Scott’s buildings, £l5O, Imperial; Bell and Co., on stock, £7OO, National, in another office. The owner of the building had £2OO in the National; Buckhurst and Co., had £2OO in the National on the building and stock. The Rev. Shirley, Premier of Tonga, has arrived here. DUNEDIN, This Day. Dr. Hector has written to the “Times” acknowledgint the correctness of Mr Green’s calculation of the height of Mount Cook. An eight-roomed hourfe at Okutu Valley, Little River, was burned down on Sunday morning. It was owned and occupied by a Mr Thompson and family, who had only time to escape in their night dresses. The premises were uninsured. A large quantity of dairy produce and plant was destroyed, making a loss estimated at some £3OO. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A private telegram states that the Canterbury college has swept up all the first-class honors in the New Zealand University examinations. The Waimakariri Harbor Board have suspended their clerk, Mr C. Dudley, on account of proceedings against him in connection with the Kaipoi Borough Council accounts, but there was a very divided feeling and a notice of motion was given to reconsider the matter. A man named Aicken, 80 years of age was found drowned in the river Heathcote yesterday. It is supposed that he committed suicide. E. J. Lee announces himself a candidate for the Sei win seat. GREYMOUTH, This Day. Mr Petrie addressed his constituents last night. He reviewed his actions during the last session, and denied ratting from the Opposition. He was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.