New Zealand. (Press, 24 May 1890)

On 24 May 1890, significant events unfolded across various regions in New Zealand, reflecting diverse societal concerns and local developments. In Auckland, the Auckland Railway Reform League decided to host a public meeting to discuss railway administration matters. A discharged patient, who had been admitted to Avondale Asylum in 1884, expressed grievances about his treatment, highlighting that after the sale of his farm for £331, he was left with only £7s to his name after incurring £1 weekly charges while in the asylum. He felt he had been treated harshly during his confinement. Bishop Cowie was reported to be recovering from a severe illness. In political affairs, T. Thompson, Member of the House of Representatives for Auckland North, spoke to his constituents about pressing issues, vehemently opposing property tax, which he predicted would be a contentious topic in upcoming elections. Thompson called for substantial retrenchment in public service spending and proposed that any potential revenue deficits could be managed through this approach and by implementing a land tax. As preparations were underway for the Wellington session with the impending departure of Sir F. Whitaker, Bro. R. McCullough was appointed as Deputy Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Masonic Lodge, and Bro. W. Anderson as Substitute Grand Master. Additionally, anticipation built around the debut of Mr Christie Murray's new play, scheduled for performance in Auckland the following week. In Gisborne, a farewell gathering for Mr. Kenny, the newly appointed Resident Magistrate at Westport, took place amongst leading citizens and members of the legal profession. An inquest into a fire at A. J. Cooper's shop revealed that a gas pipe had been deliberately cut, leading to a verdict of "Incendiarism by some person unknown." Meanwhile, the steamer Tuna, operated by Nelson Bros., was found rapidly filling with water after striking an object, complicating efforts to manage the vessel's integrity. A significant legal ruling was made by the Waiparo Commission Judges, who reinforced the original judgment from 1885 declaring that Tula Nanomiatu's party had no claim to the 30,000-acre Waiparo block of land after a rehearing of the case. In Dunedin, Amy Bock, also known by several aliases related to her past as a kleptomaniac, was remanded for trial after admitting to fraudulently obtaining £822 from a money lender. The Mayor contributed a second donation of £5 to the Art Gallery fund, alongside a £20 donation from Mr. John Bidey, enabling the committee to acquire "A November Pastoral" by McKay. Lastly, in Invercargill, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals decided to cease operations, transferring those responsibilities to local police. Observations of unusual fish, suspected to be salmon, were noted in the Aparima River near Fairfax, marking an intriguing development for local fisheries. The Shire Company's Maori King reported the export of 4,000 to 6,000 sacks of oats to the British market from Bluff, indicating the region’s agricultural activities.

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