LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 50, 26 January 1884, Page 2

LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

(Per United Press Association.] xf tv a,. Christchurch, Jan. 25. Mr. John Oliver delivered a lecture in favor of nationalisation of land last night, and seemed to command the sympathy of the audience. Auckland, Jan. 25. A meeting of wholesale and retail grocers to test Waikato venue Ashburton factory cheese has decided unanimously in favor of the quality of the former. Six factories are working m the Auckland districts with a producing capacity of half a ton to fifteen hundred weight per day each. The TeAroha miner’s strike shows signs or collapse, many of the strikers accepting 8s

There was a row fa a Chinese gamblinghouse in Wakefield Street last night, and two Chinamen were severely though not dangerously injured. The matter is in the hands of the police. A fire broke out at three this morning in Kyber Pass Road, resulting in the destruction of four houses, formerly part of a block in View Road, off Mount Eden Road. The outbreak occurred in an empty house owned by McDell, a warder in the gaol, and speedily spread to his own residence adjacent, a twostorey house. There were no proper appliances for extinguishing the fire, and it rapidly

extended to the house of a Mr. Avery, a builder, in the occupation of a man named Matthews, and thence to that of a man named Cooper. The fifth house in the row was that of Stevens, and the sixth was occupied by Martin, and owned by Reed, and these seemed - t0 g °‘ ■ rJle former had caught fire, but the brigade made use of a hand-engine and baby-engine in getting water from an adjacent well, and also from the house reservoir

of Robert Pearce, by that means arresting the progress of the fire, Stevens’ house being only partly damaged, The empty house in whicti the fire began was insured by McDell for £2OO in the South British, and his own residence and furniture for £BS(T in the South British. Part of his furniture was saved. Avery s house was insured in the New Zealand for £l5O, and the furniture of the occupant (Matthews) was also insured. Stevens’ house was insured for £2OO in the South British, but the furniture, which was saved, was uninsured. The origin of the fire remains a mystery, but, as it originated in an empty house, it is supposed to be incendiarism. All the losses ascertained so far are: —South British, £750; New Zealand, £l5O. Mr. Stubbing, the surveyor, returned to Cambridge last evening from Waotu, having been forcibly obstructed in laying off subdivisions of Waotu South Block by Piripi Whatuaio and his Ngatingaronga followers. About 4 o’clock on Wednesday Mr. Stubbing started to run a line through the disputed territory, when the Natives, who up till then had been stationed at intervals over the block, gathered in about him, and on putting the first pole iu the ground, Natau, who appeared to be a chief, ordered two women to go and pull it out, which they did. Mr. Stubbing then

fixed his instrument, when at the .command of Natau two women came forward and, after some reeistance on the part of the surveyors, took possession of it, and they still retain it, The survey party then returned to the camp. Whatuaio states the only way Harry Symond can get possession of the land is by walking over his dead body. The Natives were not armed while the above scene was enacted. The matter has been reported to the Survey Department, and it is thought the obstructionists will be proceeded against in the local Court. The Newton School Committee, in consequence of alleged religious feeling in the district has revoked its nomination of MrDenis O’Donogue, 8.A., to the vacant headmastership of the Newton East School and, upon the chairman’s casting-vote, nominated the Rev. R. Ooales, M.A., instead, A man named Henry Woods has been arrested, ostensibly on a charge of vagrancy; but it is reported he is known to have slept on the premises burned down last night at Mount Eden, and there are good reasons for

believing he set fire to the place. At the annual meeting of subscribers of the Sailor's Rest, the report shewed 10,000 seamen hftd, during the year, visited the institution. Bishop Cowie has been re-elected president. The Taupri Coal Mining Company has declared a divided at the rate of 15 per cent.

per annum. The out-put of coal for the half-year was 18,000 tons. The Pomeroy Company closed a successful season last night at the Opera House, with Hamlet. Miss Pomeroy playing title role; Miss Marebel Greenwood, Ophelia. There was a crowded house. The company left by the Hauroto to open in Wellington. The Coromandel Junction Hotel at Tiki, the property of Mr. Kelley, was totally destroyed by fire last night. Nothing was saved. There was no insurance so far as known. The origin of the fire at present is shrouded in mystery. Mr. Nevelle and a companion were out shooting at the Bluff at Onehunga, and discovered the body of a man on the beach. The name of deceased is unknown. Marton, Jan. 25. An information for arson was sworn to-day before the Mayor against four Maoris in the Manawatu district. It seems a dispute arose about a title to land, and the accused burned down the whare. The matter has been pend-

ing eight months. Wellington, Jan. 28. At the Supreme Court to-day, the ease of Harris v. Greatrex and Son, claiming £5OO as damages for alleged wrongful dismissal, was heard. The plaintiff had been engaged in England to come out to New Zealand and manege the New Zealand business of Charles Greatrex and Son, saddlers, Walsall (England) and Wellington. He commenced duty here in March last, and was summarily dismissed at the end of May, for alleged misconduct, bordering on insanity. The question for the special jury was whether the the plaintiff’s misbehaviour was so eccentric and ridiculous as to justify instant dismissal. The jury found for the plaintiff, assessing the damages at £B5O, with costs. .. The following present quarthe forthcoming meeting Welcome Jack, Mischief, Leonata, Refrigerator, Miss Juan, Salvage, Sir George, Clarence, Normanby, and Witiora. No work of any consequence has been done. The following are the latest quotations for the Cup .-—Vanguard, 100 to 40 (off); Welcome Jack, 100 to 40 (off): Mischief, 100 to 33 (tkn); Salvage, 100 to '2O (off); Tim Whifller, 100 to 15 (off), 100 to 10 (tkn and off) ; Leonata, 100 to 12; others, 100 to 5 to 10. ’ The Wesleyan Conference has teen in committee during the greater part of to-day, upon the subject of Home missions. During the past year the income has been £2,482 Bs. 10d., and the expenditure, £2,553 17s. Bd. The Rev. A. Reid and Mr, H, Prince were thanked for their services during the past year, and reappointed, The balance-sheets of the conneotional properties were read by Messrs. Hobbs and by George Grant. It was made to enable the Rev. Mr. Jittos to travel among the Maoris of the northern districts. Cambridge and Batea circuits were reported to the Conference as having fallen short of the amounts required for mission funds, The secretary of the Conference reported that a donation ' £3OO had been bequeathed to the fund, pa able next year.

Dunedin, Jan. 25. A peculiar ease came before the Supreme Court to-day. It was that of Ellen E. Eordesfud v, M. Brown. The parties had lived together for nineteen years, and now the plaintiff sued to be held a partner in the property acquired. One point taken for the defence was that as plaintiff had £2OO in the bank which she had placed there out of the business of a dairy, she had considerably the best of it. His Honor reserved judgment. An important sale of merino sheep was held to-day, being the flock of O. C. Boyes, Kawarua Falls station. There was spirited competition and altogether 19,000 sheep were sold, in lots from 1,600 to 8,500. Ewes brought from 9s. lOd. for 5-year olds to 14s. Id. for 4 tooths, and wethers from 7s. 10d. for 8 tooth.

The wife of Mr. J. MacDonald, M.H.R., has had a narrow escape of poisoning. She was taking medicine as a remedy for a sick head-ache, and when in the act of swallowing her usual dose observed a peculiar and unusual taste and rejected it from her mouth, not, however, before having swallowed a portion of the liquid, The bottle, on being examined was found to contain a solution of strychnine, which Mr. McDonald procured about two years ago for the purpose of poisonmg birds and mice. Nobody was aware it was in the house, happily she recovered after medical attendance.

A telegram from Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, says the Governor proposes to take up his residence there a month each year. A bowling match, a Victorian team against a New Zealand team, has been won by the latter by 99 points to 90. Of the four rinks New Zealand won three.