NEW ZEALAND. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1991, 11 April 1885, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

CHRISTCHURUH, Jhurstlay. A i>m"UT\.tion of 16 ladies waited on Sir Jnlins Voflel to day to ask him to procure legislation providing that women should be allowed to vote on all questions under the Licensing Act. Sir Jul'ats cephed that he was in favour of the general franchise being pxtenrled to u omen not in this particular direction alone. Sir Julius Vogel has ai ranged for the Government to purchase the Rakaia and Ashluirton Forks Railway, subject to the ratification of the Cabinet, Parliament aud shareholders.

WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Governor has received a letter stating that tho lamb sent home by the Gcir Comnany to the Duke of Cambridge arrived in capital condition, and was served up at two parties. The flavour of the lamb proved excellent. M. de Harven has had an offei of 10,000 acres at Elthans, Opnnake-road, subject to certain conditions as to settlement and improvement, for the purpose of Belgian settlement. The land is bush land of fine quality. The resignations of Captain Moiris, of Taurauga, aud Mr S. E. Shrimski, of Oamaru, of their beats, are gazetted. Captain F. W. Garner. F. Battery Artillery, h.is been appointed to the command of Napier Volunteer district. The appointment of Lieutenant Arthur Percy Douglas. R.N, as Naval Staff Officer to the Governmont is gazetted. In reply to a deputation which waited upon him asking the teims upon which torpedo corps would be accepted, Mr Ballance said the want of funds would prevent tho Government from increasing the corps, therefore no moro volunteer companies could bo accepted unless they conseutnd to forego the capitation allowance. He led tho deputation to believe, if the corps could maintain itself, proper appliances would be supplied by the Government. A notice in the G*»ette revokes all

commissions in the New Zealand Militia held by olh'ceis ot such militia under the head of M.IJOI, with the exception of those holding apuoiiitments on the permanent staff of t!ie volunteer force and tho«e soning in the Armed ConstabuIsirv.

WANOANUI, Friday. Braithwaito, the local sculler refuses to accept the challenge from Hearn, olFeiing him half a minute in three imlea. He says the original offer made was to low tin ce miles, giving him half a mile, or two minutes start.

DUNEDIN, Friday. A firo occurred at Otaka early on Wednesday morning, by which two stacks of oats belonging to Mr Thos. Shniid. an-l one engine and threshing machine, tin- propel ty of Mr Fleniing.on lure, weie destroyed, The threshing 111 lu'iinc is bi iicved to be insured. Kiglitemi jmooneis are to bfi brought tip .it thu Police Court on Tuesday on a di.ugts of icfubiiig to work at the Heads. A p-isoiier mined McCoomb had com-planu-d of illness, and was brlieved to be •511 iinnnng, ami the others refused to go to woi k mile;}) he did.