TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1303, 14 February 1885, Page 1

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Ten candidates —five Blue Ribbon representatives and five moderates—were nominated for the City Licensing Bench, Dunedin, on Wednesday. His Excellency the Governor opened the new Boys’ High School, Dunedin, on Wednesday. There was on imposing ceremony. Amongst the speakers were the Rev. Dr Stuart, Mr Macandrew, M.H.R., and Dr McDonald, the Rector. In acknowledging the vote of (hanks, His Excellency referred in feeling terms to the death of General Gordon. Gordon had been a personal friend of his, and a more pure, generous, noble-minded man than Gordon never lived, and ho was a pattern to the rising generation. Trinity Church, Maungatoroto (Auckland), was burnt down last Tuesday night. Nothing is known as yet as to the origin of the fire. A deputation waited on the Hon. Mr Ballance at Auckland on Wednesday, respecting the ’removal of the restrictions from Native lands. Mr Ballance said the policy of the Government was not to remove the restrictions. The question how these lands would he disposed of would have to be decided by comprehensive legislation next session. Peter Carroll, who has done fourteen years’ sentence for rape, was on Wednesday at Auckland arrested for indecent assault on his grand-daughter, Margaret Carroll, aged five years. The mother is in gaol, and the child lived at his house in Chancery Street. Intelligence by the mail from; Tonga states the long-talked-of secession from the Wesleyan Church has taken place. 1000 adherents of tho Wesleyan Church, including one European minister, ami twelve ordained native ministers, 800 local preachers, 600 school teachers, 600 leaders, and 6000 members are among the seceders, and have joined the Free Church of Tonga. The illicit distillation eases were concluded at Hawera on Thursday. The sentences are as follows John Anderson and Peter Smith, the makers of the whiskey, six months each ; Geo. Moss, hotel keeper, of Woodville, for supplying materials to make the still, fined £100; Burke, brewer, of Hawera, fur carrying the whiskey, fined £200; Thos. Lloyd, hotel-keeper, of Hawera, for having whiskey in his possession, fined £SO. All the fines were paid. A telegram from Feilding states that a man was killed oil rSn el son’s contract near Halcombeßay on Thursday evening, by a fall of earth in a gravel pit. It is intended that the Governor shall turn the first sod of the North Island main trunk line at the Wellington end, Tawhiao performing a similar operation at Te Awarautu. No date can of course be decided upon until a tender is eccepted. Mr Gerald Massey and Mrs Lena Cooke, a lady from America, conducted a public spiritualistic seance iq the Lyceum, Dunedin, lust Wednesday night, but tho manifestations were hot considered successful. ■ • ' ' 1

The following telegraphic despatch from the Governor of Adelaide is gazetted ; —“The Secretary of State directs me to telegraph to inform your Excellency tiiat the French Government are about to instruct their navsll forces in China to enforce belligerent including the right of search of neutral ships at sea for contraband of war." The Post of Thursday night says “it i« rumored in well informed circles that Sir George Des Voeux, the Governor of Fiji, who is at present visiting New Zealand, will in all probability succeed * Sir Wra, Drummond Jervois as Governor of this colony when the latter’s period of service expires.” The Standard Insurance Company's report for the year shows an amount available for distribution of £11,611 10s 9d. From this £lßl2 10s had been paid as dividends in June, and the balance is recommended to be appropriated to the payment of a dividend at the rate of per cent. (£2812 10a), and to bo carried forward £5996 10s 9d.