NEW ZEALAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2088, 1 December 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[Per “Times” Special Wire.] AUCKLAND, Dec. 1. In the run from Auckland to Tapcka Point, 120 miles, the Hawea beat the Eotorua by two minutes. In smooth water the Hawea was ahead; in lumpy sea the Eotorua went ahead. The farmers have suffered through the ■weather. The City Council opened their ornamental enclosures to the public use, but will be compelled to close them again

owing to the destruction trees and shrubs. Five seamen of the barque Anazi for plundering cargo and entering the hold with naked lights were sentenced, three to one years imprisonment, and two to nine months, and mulcted in costs 10s ■ each for the cargo plundered. The Anazi had 12 tons of gun-powder adjacent to where they had the naked lights. Fiji advices by the Hero state that the Rev. Geo. Brown; 'of the 'New Guinea mission, is to be tried at Fiji, at the instance of Chief Justice' Gowic, Commissioner for Polynesia, on the charge of manslaughter in the New Guinea affray. Sir A. Gordon disapproves of the prosecution which is the result of the official investigation. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 1, At the Resident Magistrate’s Cpurt to-day Charles Green, of Timaru, Was called upon to answer a charge of neglecting to file a statement within six months in the estate of the late J. Bullock with the Commissioner of Stamps, as provided by the 108th section of the Stamp Act. Defendant did not appear, and a penalty' of £lO was imposed. Several other cases set down for hearing were adjourned. The Magistrate said that £SOO be inflicted for breaches of the Act in this respect, and in future cases of this kind the full penalty would be enforced. Albert Pinkstone, charged with committing an indecent assault on three young girls, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to eighteen mouths’ imprisonment. He was also ordered at the end of the terra to enter into a recognizance of a hundred pounds for his good behaviour or go to gaol for another six months. Bishop lied wood returns to Wellington to-day.

WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. The foundation stone of the New Courts of Justice was laid to-day by the Hon F. Whitaker Attorney'General and Grand Master of the North Island with Masonic ceremonials, This was the grandest display of its kind ever seen here. Fully four thousand people assembled, with live hundred ladies for One of the officers of the Naval Brigade will be tried by Court-Martial to-morrow for conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman. This is the first case of the kind in the colony.