NEW ZEALAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2151, 11 February 1880, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[Pjsb “Times” Special Wire.! Land Sharking Movements. Auckland, Feb. 11. —The Hon. Mr Whitaker and Mr Fenton have induced about 50 natives belonging to Hapu in the King Country, and lately owing allegiance to Tawhaio, to settle on four thousand acres of land at Onewhera nearTukuti, thereby virtually detecting them from the King party. Tawhio told them not to accept the crown grant, or if they did, to throw it into the Fiver, but they ignored his advice and accepted the grant, and a plan of' the ground from Whitaker. The land is alienable by lease or sale. It is expected many more natives will follow suit. Official Testing. Captain Johnston of the Marine Depot, Hammerton of the Stamp office, and Batkin of the Treasury, are here on official business. It is said there is a deficiency in the accounts of one of the officials at Tauranga. The Invasion. Haweua, Feb. 11. —Sir Dillon Bell and Sir Win. Fox, who are both in Hawcra, have engaged Mr Furlongs’ house for three months as a resilience. Mr Bryce visited the Kaikipi camp yesterday evening and went as far as Kanpokonui to inspect the site for the new camp which had been selected by Colonel Huberts in the early part of the day. A move forward to Kaupokonui is expected to-morrow. The work is being vigorously pushed forward and pay-day passed at the camp without a single drunk. The weather continues exceedingly hot and the dust is something fearful. Cut-throat Navvies. Wellington, Feb. 11. Thirty-two of the Native contingent of A.C. left for New Plymouth last night to reinforce those now working on the roads. Cable Communication. The steamer Kangaroo lauded the

shore end of the cable fit Wakapuka yesterday afternoon, after which she left for Wanganui. Gone at Xiast. Sydney Smith, better known as “Old Smith,” an old resident, died last night, at the age of 80. On his Travels. His Excellency leaves for the ■South in the Hinemoa, at 2 o’clock this afternoon. Gambling in High Xaife. It is stated that His Exctdlency purchased a half interest from the drawer of Foul Play in North’s £2OOO sweep on the Wellington Cup. Surrendered. Westport, Feb. 11. —Stewart, who assaulted McLean, gave himself up to the police this morning, and was remanded till Friday, Avheu McLean will be able to appear. Railway Movements. Christchurch, Feb. 11.—The officers who accompany the Commissioner of Hallways to Dunedin to-morrow are— Mr Bad ham, secretary ; Mr Fife (accountant) and staff ; Mr Ollivier, cashier ; Mr Lowe, Engineer (who will for the future have charge of the maintenance of the line from Amhcrley to Kington) ; Mr Floyd, Inspector of Telegraphs, with his instructors and a lineman ; and Mr Armstrong, engineer. Dunedin will for the future have charge ot the locomotive department of the Otago section. Cent Per Cent in Trouble. A charge against a notorious money lender named Michael Murphy, of obtaining two guineas by false pretences, from one of his victims, is exciting considerable attention to-day in the Police Court. The Constables Case. The charge of assault recently preferred against two constables is, by their request to he heard this aflornoon before Mr Mclish, and not on Monday as originally fixed. Criminal tLibel. Wanganui, Feb. 11, —A prosecution for criminal libel was instituted against Samuel Johnston, of Blenheim, by John Odder, now residing in Wanganui. The libel was based upon a paragraph in the “Marlborough Express,” which stated that Calder had been given free quarters by a grateful country for two years for experiments in illicit distillation. It came out in evidence that the paragraph was inadvertantly inserted and that afull apology was published. The bench ruled that a prima fade case had been made out and committed the accused to take his trial at Blenheim. His own recognisance at £25 was taken. Another Dose. Dunedin, Feb. 10.—Henry Fell, a prisoner undergoing a sentence has been committed for trial for forgery. Suicide. The sucido of a man, name unknown, is reported. He went over to Vatixhall, cut his throat, and then jumped in the Bay. “ Walter Pierce ” was found inscribed in a note book on him.