Interprovincial News.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 805, 23 May 1876, Page 6

Interprovincial News.

A singular story of crass ignorance comes to us from the country, not very many nnl<:s from Napier. In a household in a certain district a child was born which, from the hour of its birth, gave evidence of an early death. A travelling preacher was accordingly called in to perform the baptismal rite 3 ; but the holy man confessed his inability to accede to the request, as he had not been admitted to Orders. A few days afterwards the child died ; and the same itinerant " lay reader" was requested to give sume ghostly consolation on the occasion. This he did to the beat of hia ability, but he took care to inform the bereaved that the child having died tinbaptised, it could not receive Christian burial. It would have to be taken at the dead of night to the cemetery, and at midnight thrust into the grave. Under these circumstances the parents did not see why they should go to the trouble and expense of such nonsense, and accordingly buried the baby in the gardeu. The " lay preacher " should certainly receive some token of public recognition of hia knowledge of the religions persuasion of which he is supposed to be a chosen and burning light. When the blind lead the blind, can we be surprised at the so-called irreligion of the age ?— ' Telegraph/ April 24. The * Thames Advertiser ' says :— " Our Auckland correspondent informs us that Mr Creighton, the late editor of the ' New Zealand Times,' and for many years the editor of the ' Southern Cross,' left by the Colima for San Francisco, whither he has gone, we believe, with a view of accepting a professional engagement. Mr Creighton will be a loss to the press of the Colony. He was well-informed upon the politics and history of the Colony, and had a facile and vigorous pen. He was for some time a member of the Provincial Council of Aucklaud, and also a member of the General Assembly " The 'Thames Advertiser' of May 10th sa y S : — " There was an immense crowd of visitors, male and female, to the Maori camp yesterday. Most people were gratified in observing the solemnity with which the Sabbath day was observed by our Maori visitors. All games were stopped, and religious services were held. Wo are compelled to hold over an interesting account of the war dance which was held at Karauna's settlement prior to the breaking up of the cain-,1. Several of the leading chiefs, taking cognisance of the indecencies of this dance, have requested that European women may be kept away from the gathering on the occasion of the next dance. They say that the Maoris feel a restraint in performing the dance in the presence of European ladies. We think the Pakelia wahines ought to exhibit a reciprocal feeling, and keep away from a scene which is totally uusuited to them." Welearn from the 'Southern Cross' (Auckland) that His Honor tlie Superintendent and.

i he Inspector of Police have given their consent to what is called an art uniju, but is neither •More nor less than a lottery, agents and sub agents for carrying out which have been already appointed. By this scheme it is proposed to raise £10 500 by 10.000 members at £1 Is each. The money so raised is to be thus disposed of. — £5000 in purchasing and making the race course at Rilerslie a beautiful recreation ground ; £15')O to be devoted to agriculture and local industries in the province; £500 to be paid to the Auckland charitable institutions , £3000 to be paid for the 900 prizes to be distributed amonst the ticket holders. The first is to be worth £1000, and to consist of a magnificent dinner service in gold. The other prizes range from the value of £150 to .£1 each. The balance of the money, £500, will be required for various expenses which may be incurred. On dit that Mr (Jurtis, the Superintendent of Nelson, will accept the vacant portfolio in Sir Julius Vogel's Ministry, Mr Curtis is a good departmental man, a fair speaker, but not an over brilliant politician. He has administered the affiirs of Nelson for some considerable time, apparently to the satisfaction of the people of his province. Mr Curtis has always consistently supported Centralists principles. — ' Hawkes Bay Mercury.' The 'Hawkes Bay Advertiser' says: — "The ' Otago Daily Times' has published a statement to the effect that tho Government has sent home secretly for an Inspector of Prisons. The visiting justices of the Dunedin gaol intimate their intention of resigning when thi3 new functionary makes hia appearance. We have already three or four imported Inspectors of departments whose oflices could have been better filled by persons in the Civil Service, over whose heads the imported gentlemen have been placed. In the other Australian colonies the attainment of these high offices held is out as an inducement to the officers of the Civil Service to remain in it, and look forward to get to the top of the tree by promotion. This fair system to its officers was adopted by previous ministries to the present one, but a change is now being made, and Inspectors of Post Ofliot'.s, Inspectors of Forests, Inspectors of Railways, Inspectors of Gaols, and Inspectors of various other Departments ire to be imported to the Colony, while men with greater colonial experience, and more ability, are thrust on one side. We notice that a contemporary mentions the name of Mr Cald« well, the Governor of the Dunedin Gaol, as the iinn above all others fitted for the position (if Inspector-General of Gaols, and why he should be passed over to make room for a stranger is a marvel only to those who are unacquainted with the manner in which the present Ministry are filling the best offices with their own relatives and friends, or those ot their hungry supporters.''