AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3999, 22 October 1881, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

This day.

The Telephone Exchange now numbers 50 members, and. it will probably be extended to the various suburbs, as well as to the gaol and hospital.

There has been a good deal of speculation as to how Sir Arthur Gordon received intelligence of the native crisis in this colony, and it was erroneously stated that a telegram was sent by way of Cooktown. Conjecture has been set at rest by the arrival of the s.s. Southern Cross from Fiji, and it now turns out that the intelligence was conveyed to Levoka by that vessel, and very soon after her arrival steam was got up on the Emerald, and Sir Arthur set out under full steam for New Zealand. Whether Sir Arthur obtained his information from telegrams or from private source does' not appear, but a report obtained currency in Fiji that war had actually broken out in New Zew Zealand. Fiji News, A Fijian on the Sai Levu coast hurled a spear at his wife, which entered her back, penetrated the lung, and caused her death. The man was committed for murder. The Fiji, Times says :-r-" As will be seen from our New Zealand intelligence while Sir Arthur' Gordon has been busying himself with affairs in connection, with which his services were neither desired nor appreciatpd, matters which are his own proper concerns have assumed, a very serious complexion." Cases of elephantiasis are very serious among the natives.,, ■ . . . A Fiji German line of steamers intend to make a monthly service from Brisbane, ' via Fiji to Samoa. The mast and bowsprit of a cutter about 25 tons were washed ashore at Lakemba. The Auckland built schoone, Coral Queen, has been .floated off. the reef where she went ashore, and repaired. The schooner Louisiana was totally wrecked at Ninfou. Walter Hunt was arrested on his arrival at Samoa. He was sentenced to three months imprisonment by the High Commissioner's Court, but subsequently he was released on an order from the Commissioner.