LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1973, 28 February 1885, Page 2

LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

The 'Frisco Mail. AiXKUM), Friday Night. Tiih Austialn, with the Fnglish Mail, lift 'Fnseo for Auckland on the 16th ui&t , two days l.it<"

The Markets. Butter is iath<-i scirce at lOd per 1b (wholesale), and \s (retail) ; eg«s, Is 6d ,t do/ (\t holes »le), and Is !),1 (retail.) Other lints li.i\e veiy *»!i!»htly altered. O.itaaie.i litcle SL.uc-Lr tlnn last week, and aie now woith fiom 2s Sil to 2i lOd,

Volunteers for the Soudan. Up to the present 630 names of persons desirous of proceeding to the Soudan have been sent to Mi Bennett. These include l>7 from the Thames and 70 from the Kaipaia dis-tnet.

Death of Mrs Stratford. The widow of Dr Stiatford died today-

Extensive Bush Fire. Intelligc »cc reached town to day of an extensive and destructive fire which u now raging at Tairua in forests which are being worked by the Union Sa^h and Door Company. A largo tract of country, embracing the entire bush contract, has been devastated hy tlie devouring element. Two biiahmcn, whose namea are not given, are missing, and are believed to have perished in the flames. The los« is not considerable. It is believed that £300 would cover the *a!ue of store building and stock. The bush has been pretty w 11 woiked out.

The Rotorua Railway. The annual meeting of th<? Rotorua Railway Company was held this afternoon The annual report said the directors forbear on the present occasion from entering into any history of the pisst year with regard to the railway, inasmuch ns negotiations are pending which may result in an arrangement with the (lot eminent, whereby not only the completion of the first section, but also the construction of the second section will be secured. Through railway communication between Auckland an-i Hot Lakes district, will thus be estaalished without th«» necessity for making further calls on the shareholders. The engineer's report stated that the plant and material required had been delivered, the locomotives elected, and their trials under steam were i-atisfaetory. The formation of the LichHeld con ti act under Mr Fallon had been satisfactorily finished. "We regret that we ctnnot report the same re the Oxford contract, wlrch, waiving all allowances for extra work, is now about nine month* over time, and we are yet unaMe to ceitify to its completion. The sleeper contract is being rapidly evectited, about two thuds having been delneied." The leport and balance sheet -ncic a lopted. The retiring diiectors, M--s>sis D.ildy, Halcombe, and Howard weie ie-elected. Mr Waymoutb. was appointed auditor.