LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 73, 22 February 1884, Page 2

LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

[Per United Press Association.] Auckland, Feb. 20. The Zealandia Tobacco Co, has taken premises in Beach Road, and expect shortly to be employing 150 men in the manufacture of tobacco. The Temperance people are jubilant at their victory in electing Licensing Benches. They are having cards printed in commemoration of it. The Temperance Commissioners intend making an effort to cooperate with the two districts in which the publicans’ candidates were elected, aud endeavor to secure unanimity of action in the matter of ten o’clock closing. It is intended to make a house-to-house canvass, to asc' .- tain whether six months’ notice should be given to the publicans to dispense with barmaids. The heaviest piece of terra-cotta work yet manufactured in the Colony has been made at the Newton Pottery Works. The weight is two and a-half tons. It is an adornment for the Salvation Barracks. Handsome new premises for the Bank of New South Wales were opened to-day for business. They cost £11,500, apart from the cost of the land. Effective arrangements are being made at Ellerslie for catering for the at the colonial prize-firing. There’ will be no camping out, Ellerslie being within twenty minutes of the city by railway. Mr. William Errington, C.E., has been appointed as the Calliope Docks Engineer. The Triumph has been thoroughly cleaned. She is to be docked soon. Mr. Fraser intends to send Home by the outward mail an order for iron plates required to rebuild the fore part of the vessel, which was so seriously damaged as to require almost entire renewal. Mr. Sheehan’s illness was due to exposure in an open boat in visiting Sir George Grey, at Kawau. He has now recovered, and it is understood that his proposed visit to England, as counsel for Taiaroa and other Natives interested in the Middle Island Native land claims, is off for the present. The Natives, although they have raised a considerable amount of money towards prosecuting their claims, have dilly - dallied so long, Mr. Sheehan would not be able to proceed to England to transact his business, and return to the Colony in time for the next general elections. It is, however, his intention to proceed to the Old Country immediately after the general election. The University College Council are in a quandary over the provision of the necessary accommodation for students who attend professional lectures. The Government have declined to grant the use of two or three rooms, either in the Admiralty or in the Government House. They protest their inability even to make a small allowance for rent, and assert that there are no funds available—-the three million loan being appropriated—for placing a sum for the purpose upon the estimates to be submitted to Parliament next session. The Council, too, have already drawn so largely upon their rather slender resources that they hesitated at the meeting to incur an expense of £l5O for adding two small rooms to the present building for the use of Professors Aldis and Tucker and their pupils, the result being that they appointed a committee to deal with the matter. Mr. Justice Gillies caustically remarked that the Government sent for professors even before the University was established, hastened to start it upon its work, and now that everything was in full operation, they appeared to think that professors in this genial clime could teach their classes in the open air, under the convenient shade of a tree. The consideration of a proposal to establish a lectureship of mental science was postponed. It was stated that the University endowments of 30,000 acres brought in nothing, or very little. A committee was appointed to enquire into the position of the endowments set apart for the maintenance of collegiate education in the Auckland Provincial District, to consider whether they could be utilised, with a view of securing an income for the purposes of the College. Timaru, Feb. 21. At the R.M. Court, on the hearing of the case against Joseph McKay, on a charge of embezzlement of £1 Is. fid. from the New Zealand Government Insurance Department, the accused observed that the charges were wholly false, and the result of his persistent opposition to the Department. New Plymouth, Feb. 21. The Taranaki Herald's Urenui correspondent writes : — “ Rawson and Mountfoxt’s railway survey-party have gone up to the source of the Waitaro river, and I imagine will remain there until further orders. Natives are packing the tucker that was up the Tongaporuta river to the depdt on the Waitara river. That which Tu.aata and his party stole, they have taken away in canoes to their own settlement—either to Puketopu or Matuhaki and Wanganui river. I hear they have also Mr. H. Skcet’s theodilite, which was in the wnr.re. Timatu asked Wait where Skeet was, and said “if he found him he would kill him.” He told Wait his name. This is the same Native who came a few years back and caught Skeet in the bush in that direction, when he was brought into Wanganui by Tepene party. Tomatu and party, .’ho killed Mr. Moffatt, are.iot particularly strong in numbers — possibly a hundred—unless joined by some other Natives, which would be doubtful.” Wellington, Feb. 21. The Presbyterian Assembly met at eleven yesterday morning. The discussion in reference to Mr. Sidey’s right to take part in the proceedings was continued, and the matter was settled by the Rev. Mr. Kellan withdrawing his motion. The Rev. Mr. Sidey was elected Secretary. The Rev. Jas. Paterson moved the adoption of the report of the Widow and Orphans’ Fund, and that the opinion of a competent actuary be taken as to the financial position of the fund. This morning the thanks of the Assembly were given to the ex-Moderator for his ser-

mon. A reply from the Governor was received to an address which the last Assembly presented to him, and was ordered to be endorsed on the minutes. A petition! from Mr. George Grant to be restored to the position of Student-Evangelist was referred to a committee for consideration and report. A p. atioa from the Wellington Presbytery, asking that it be divided into two, was conCv ed, and the Presbytery of Wasganui was appointed. A deputation was appointed to convey to the Congrega ionc,l Union, now sitting, the fraternal greetings of this Assembly. At a preliminary meeting of the United Committees of the Congregational Church of New Zealand, the Bev. Dr. Roseby (Dunedin) was proposed as Chairman by the Roz. J. Robertson (Auckland); the motion was seconded by the Rev. W, H. West (Wellington), and carried unanimously. The Rev. R. Tonkinson (Dunedin) and Mr, Milne were then elected Secretaries pro tern. After prayer for the welfare of the Union, Captain Dr.ldy (Auckland) proposed the creation of a Congregational Union of New Zealand, and after some discussion as to the desirability of procuring an Act of incorporation, the following resolution, which was seconded by the Rev. W. H. West, was agreed to: —“ That the United Committees of the Congregational Unions of South New Zealand and of the Provincial District of Auckland agree to amalgamate: secondly that the united bodies do i.ov proceed to form a constitution of the Congregational Union of New Zealand.” The constitution of the new Union was then discussed, and regulations selected partly from the constitution of the Union of South New Zealand and partly from the schedules of the New South Wales Act of Incorporation. The further question of having a Church Mission in connection with the Union or not was also ventilated, and the matter of ultimately making the Congregational Union of New Zealand a corporate body with legal powers was left undecided. The first meeting of the newly-constituted Congregational Union of New Zealand was held this morning. The following members and delegates were present: — Revs. Dr. Roseby, J. Robertson, H. W. J. Miller, J. Horteon, Seth Smith, T. Tomkinson, W. Jenner, N. M. Grant, H. Young, J. W. Sharp, W. H. West, and Messrs. Daldy, Milne, Cox, Moginie, G. Daldy, Olavdon, Knowles, and Smith. The whole of the morning was devoted to the consideration of the constitution of by-laws, in which satisfactory progress was obtained. The Rev. J. W. Sharp will deliver the annual sermon to the Union this evening, and the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper will be administered at the close of the service. At a meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, held last night, the Secretary brought up the balance-sheet, which showed the receipts to have been £2,131 19s, 9d., and the expenditure £1,779 19s. 4d. There is a balance in the Bank of £351 19s. 5d,, and there are entries and other cash assets amounting to £ll2 6s. The outstanding liabilities up to date are £2fis 2s. lid. Thus a balance of nearly £2OO will be left to the credit of the Club after settling up these liabilities. Mr. J. R. George congratulated the Club on its financial condition, and general regret was expressed at the retirement of Mr. H. M. Lyon, the hon. secretary, owing to business engagements. It was resolved to present him with a gold chronometer. A vote of thanks was passed in appreciation of the services of Mr. Evett, the handicapper. A despatch has been received by his Excellency the Governor from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, intimating that the Queen will not be advised to exercise her Majesty’s power to disallowance in respect of any of the Acts passed last session by the New Zealand Parliament ; but that the consideration of Sir George Grey’s Confederation and Annexation Act has been reserved until the proceedings of the Sydney Conference shall have been considered by the Imperial Government.

Mr. Liardet, fishmonger, Wellington, has placed in the market a large quantity of frozen fish, hares, and poultry, brought out from England by the British Queen. The fish comprised plaice, whiting, and cod. The prices realised were—whiting, Is. each ; and moderate size cod, 7s. 6d. The poultry were also got rid of at fair prices. They all appeared in fine condition. Christchurch, Feb. 21. At the pupil teachers’ examination in December 156 were presented, and only 22 failed. A four-oared outrigger race, the Wellington Star Club v. the Christchurch Union Club, took place on the Heathcote estuary this afternoon. The Christchurch men won by two feet. The Wellington crew, who had no coxswain, lost a considerable distance through bad steering. Dunedin, Feb. 21. At the Education Board, to-day, there was a personal altercation between Mr. McKenzie, M.H.R., and Mr. Elder. Mr. Elder said, in reference to an accusation of personal motives, “AU I can do is to give you the lie direct;” to which Mr. McKenzie replied, “ And I give you the lie direct. If you would not be a low, mean skunk you would not say such a thing.” The Dunedin Autumn meeting began today, There was capital weather and an excellent attendance. The following are the results -Hurdle Race, of 100 sovs,—Foster’s Rocket, 1 ; Smith’s Little John, 2. Hercules and Double Event also ran. Rocket won easily. Champagne Stakes, for two-year-olds ; a sweep of 10 sovs,, with 150 sovs. added ; six furlongs.—Hon. McLean’s ch f Lady Evelyn (Cotton), 1. The Watersprite colt and Wave filly also ran. Lady Evelyn was a strong favorite, and won with much ease, Dunedin Cup, a sweep of 15 sovs. with 500 sovs. added, two miles and a distance. Hon. McLean’s b m Lady Emma, 6 yrs, Bst 51b, Cotton, 1 ; Cutt’s b g July, 4 yrs, 7st 41bs, White, 2 ; Cutts’ b h Sou’-wester, 4 yrs, 6st 101 bs, Brown, 3. The following also ran ; Tasman, Vanguard, Nonsense, Tim Whiffler, Poet, Hippodamia, Digby Grand and Hazard. The betting was 2to 1 agst Sou’-wester, 5 to 2 agst Nonsense, with whom Robinson declared to win ; C to 1 agst Lady Emma and Tasman. Sou’-wester after going about a mile got into the ditch and lost about a hundred yards. Lady Emma occupied a promi. nent position, and led for last three quarters of a mile. Time : 3mins 56secs. Dividend, of £5 6s. and £7 17s. were paid on totalisators. Selling Race, of 60 sovs.—O’Brien’s Trumpeter, 3 yrs, 7st 131bs, 1; Rivers’ Don Jose, 3 yrs, Bst 131bs, 2. Seven horses ran. Dividend on totalisator was £1 14s. Publicans’ Handicap, of 100 sovs,, one mile and a quarter—Stephenson’s Tairoa, 4 yrs, 6st lOlbs, 1. Robin, 6st. 131 b, Salvage, Bst 71b, and Jilt, 6st 131 b, also ran. Jilt bolted three times round before start. Taiaroa led from start to finish. Time, 2.15, Maiden Plate, of 100 sovs., one mile and a half—Pollock’s b f Miss Griffiths, 5 yrs, 9st lllbs, 1; Tullers ch f Holderness, aged, 9st 31bs, 2. Toko, Coupon, Warea, Vairo, and Youth also ran. Holderness was warm favorite. Miss Griffiths won easily. Of £646 in totalisator only fourteen on winner. Stewards Purse, Welter Handicap, of 120 sovs., seven furlongs— Cutts’ Sou’wester, Bst lOlbs, 1; Stephenson’s Taiaroa, Bst lOlbs, 2; Bates’ Minerva, 9st 31bs, 3. Hon. Robinsoxi’s Master Agnes went out, but bolted twice round and was brought in again. Sou’wester won as he liked by half a length. Time, 1 min 33 secs. Hack Race concluded day’s proceedings.