INTERPROVINCIAL,

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 10

INTERPROVINCIAL,

Auckland, October 4 L h.

Mr Jackson, son of J. D. Jackson, of Onehunga, and Mr Sberrard narrowly escaped drowning off Tararua Point. A sea struck the boat, washing Sherrard overboard, and Jackson jumbed out after him. Both succeeded, in swimming ashore, though the night wa3 dark and atoriny. A three-roomed cottage at Parawai, owned by Mr Savage, was burnt down. It was insured. The only occupants at the time wero two gir's named Davidson, who were roused up, and escaped with a few articles of clothing.

Wellington, October 3r3. The following tenders »vere received for wayside stations, contracts Nos. 1 and 2, KivertcmOtautau railway : — Contract No. 1 : Accepted — R. Burns (Invercargill), L3lB. Declined — B. Bonthron (Invercargill), L 339; P. Isaacs, L3BBj W. Birri, L 49- Contract No. 2: Accepted—R. Burns (Invercargill), L 630. Declined — B. Bonthran (Invercargill), LG4S. October 6th, With regard to the cessation of overtime hitherto paid to telegraph officers, it is under stood the following is tho proposed arrangement: — It is proposed to do away with the system of overtime at all large stationn, but this will not be done until the staffs are bo strengthened that no operator will be called upon to do more than eight hours' duty. The proposed system will prove more acceptable and pleasant to the officers than the present one. The staffs of the following stations have already been brought up to the standard to enable the overtime to be suspended from the Ist of October, viz., Hokitika, Greymonth, Timarn, Oamaru, Auckland, Nelson, Grahamstown, New Plymouth, and WanganuL It is anticipated that tho abolition of overtime aud the les»eaing of officers' hours of duty will have a beneficial effect, and the percentage of sickness will be greatly diminished. The extra duty on Sunday i« from 6 to 7 p.m., and no overtime tor this will be allowed, but as Sunday is taken alternately it will not bear heavily apon any particular officer.

October 7th

Three Greek fishermen left town ou Saturday morning to go fishing in Island Bay. They were seen leaviDg the bay in their boat about moon the same day, but as they have not sinoo been heard of, it is feared they perished during the heavy gale which sprang up that evening. The rudder of a boat, corresponding to the one attached to the boat in which they left, has been found on the beach.

At a meeting of* the Wellington Licensed Victuallers' Association, a question as to the advisability of winding it up was discussed. It was ultimately resolved to call a general meeting to consider a circular received from the Auckland Association, which was the foundation of a petition to be presented to Parliament.

Mr S. M. South is to be Appointed Warden and Resident Magistrate at Beef ton.

Wanganui, October 7th. The new Drill-hall, costing LIOOO, was opened today by the Mayor. The Volunteers of the district mustered in full force, several hundreds being present. The day was observed as a half holiday, and being a sunny day an immense crowd turned out and witnessed the

proceedings. Major Noake was in command of the Volunteers, A laudatory speech was made t by' the Mayor and acknowledged by Captain Watt, of tae Wanganui Rifles. The Volunteers, accompanied by the Fire Brigade and bands, proceeded through the town. A grand ball was held to-cightin the new hall, which is 80ft by 60ft.

Blenheim, October 7th.

A man named Thomas Farmer, who left Havelock for the diggings last Friday, was found drowned yesterday in Flat Creek.

New Plymouth, October 6th.

There has been great mortality at Parihaka during the past few weeks. Over 100 Maoris have died.

Hokitika, October 6tb. The Clematis, ketch, arrived to-day from Lyttelton. Captain Russell reports that on the 4th instant, about 25 miles south of Cape Foulwind, the vessel being hove-to in a gale of wind, at about 9 a.m. a heavy sea struck the ketch, and swept off the mate, Richard Parris, a passenger named Stenhouse, and the captain's son, a lad seven years old. Parris was washed back aboard again. Stenhouee caught hold of a rope hanging over the side, and in doing to bad to let go of the little boy, whom he was supporting at the time. Stenhouse was hauled on board, but the lad sank and wag seen no more. The ships in harbour hoisted tke flags half mast high, and much sympathy is expressed for the father.

Gkahamstown, October 2nd. A special to the Star says that the Ngatihakos are beginning to fear that the inaction of the^ Government bodes something serious for the tribe — probably in the direction of confiscation of land. They have endeavoured to entice members of the police force to the settlement on various pretexts, but the constables were not to be had. It is stated that they wish to get Europeans as hostages and then surrender the aggressors. At the Harbour Board last night great dissatisfaction was expressed with Sir John Coode's report. Information has been received that Sir George Grey cannot legally resign the Thames seat until 30 days after the opening of Parliament.

Messrs BagaaU, of the saw-mills near the loute of communication between the Natives of Piako and those of the pah being constructed, applied to-day to the major commanding the district for arms for then* protection, and the enrolment of their employees as a contingent of the Thames Scottish.

Chbistohdbch, October 2nd.

Mr Matthew Henderson, who is a member of the East Christchurch School Committee, was arrested last night for libel, on the information of Mr Thomas Bates, furnituredealer.

The body of one of the two fiahermma reported drowned three weeks ago in Lake Jj,lle3mere was found yesterday floating in the lake, a mile from the shore.

October 3rd.

The portion of the old Cook Strait cable has been presented by the Government to the Harbour Beard, to be laid across the mouth of Lyttelton Harbour, from the pilot station to Godley Head lighthouse. The Telegraph Department has undertaken to lay # the cable. When, the cable is laid, it is intended to establish telephonic communication between the Board's offices at Christchurch and Lyttelton and the sigHaUower, lighthouse, and pilot station

October 4th.

Mr Maddison, architect, has consented to his selected design for the new r IWn Hall and Municipal Buildings being referred to the ratepayers. Iv the event of non- acceptance by them, he will have no claim upon the Council. A German named Eckhof, living in a lane off Lichfield streeteast, dragged his wife out of the house by the hau to-day, and struck her twice on the back of the head with a bottle. The woman was picked up with her head bleeding prof asttly, and conveyed to th*e Hospital, where it was found that the wound was about an inch in .length and a quarter of an inch in depth, severing a small superficial artery. So far, tho woman seems likely to do well, but this cannot be positively known for a day or two. Eckhof cleared out after the assault, and had not been arrested up to this evening. The case oi P. Kirby, agent, v. Frost and Davis, proprietors of the Victoria Loftus Troupe, a claim of L 169 7e, for salary at the rate of LlO per week and money paid out of pocket on behalf of the troupe, was decided in the Magistrate's Court to-day, with judgment for the defendants. The plaintiff admitted that he filed his schedule in Auckland on the 16th of July last, and has not obtained a certificate of discharge. Mr Joynt, who appeared for the defendants, argued that under tbese orcumstanceß the plaintiff had no locus standi, and could only sue with the conseut of his trustee. The Magistrate, in giving judgment, agreed with Mr Joynt'a contention, and s*idthat under the 58th section of tho Bankruptcy Act all the property of a bankrupt, before he obtained his discharge, was absolutely rested ia the The police authorities here believe that the gems recently offered for sale in Auckland are a portion of thoae stolen from the^ Christchurch Museum, as th«»y bear the description of those missing from the lot found on the man who was arrested at Lyitelton. About 11 o'clock last night, as Mr H. E. May was driving borne along Riccarton road in a buggy, with his wife, he was stoppad above the Riccarton Hotel by a man, who demanded his money and fired at bim twice, one ball grazing his shoulder. Mr May jumped out and closed with the man, and threw him down. A person happening to be passing, May asked him to go to the police station for assistance, which he did, and returned with Detective Benjamin, May having meanwhile stuck to his man. On prisoner being taken to the lock-up, he was found to be a lad of about 18 years, who gave hi« name as Albert Pillow. He had a sixchamber revolver on him, feur barrels being loaded, aIBO a dagger-knife about one foot long. He was brought up at the Magistrate's Court this morning, and remanded till Monday week. The accused is respectably connected in Christchurch, and until a month ago was employed in the Telegraph Department. Wbea searched, he had 14 revolver ball cartridges in his pocketß, and a mask, and three or four different pairs of trousers on. On a detective searching his room this' morning at his father's house, he found, concealed in a canvas bag, a number of Japanese weapons which were recently stolen from the Museum. October 6th.

The meeting of the Chess Club was concluded on Saturday night with the discussion of matters connected with the Chess Tournament Nona of the officers turned up. The grievance seemed to be the Managing Committee. The late Congress had gone outside the rules made and published for the guidance of competitors. After some discussion a resolution was carriod condemning the way the Managing Committee carried out the Congress as very unsatisfactory. The man Eckhof, charged with assaulting his wife, was remanded for a week at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day. Three prisoners, named respectively John James, John Irvine, and Wm. Thompson, attempted this afternoon to escape from che Lyttelton Gaol. They were all very soon recaptured. John James was convicted at the laat sessions of the Supreme Court of attempting to commit an abominable offence at Timarn. John Irvine, who bears the aliases of John Jack and Jack M'Guire, was convicted and sentenced to 10 years' penal servitude last Hessions; and Wm, Thompson was sentenced about 12 months ago at the Christchurch Supreme Court to 10 years' penal servitude for housebreaking.

October 7th.

During tbe calling yesterday of the names of the Grand Jury, a member of the Assembly called was absent, and Judge Johnston said he could not exempt anyone, and provision should be made to send information to sheriffs of the names of gentlemen elected to the House of- Representatives. The Cemetery Board are about to take action to get trams formed to the new cemetery, which is five miles from Christchurch.

Timabu, October 7th. About 100 unemployed obtained free passages to Albury to-day.