INTERPROVINCIAL.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1062, 28 January 1879, Page 6

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, January 24. At the Wesleyan Conference it appeared that the income for the Contingent Fund was £766 ; Education Fund, £742 ; Children's Fund, £630. Nine new chnrches have been erected, also three new parsonages and one school, during the year, at an expenditure of nearly £5000. Twelve sites have been acquired by gift during the year, and others by purchase. The estimated cost of new erections is £10,000. The Home Mission and Church extension has been warmly supported The Hon. Mr Sheehan, in concluding his speech at Whangarei, said he intended to visit the whole of the North, and would then enquire into the nature of the proposals to be made by the people next session. He hoped the proposals would be reasonable and temperate. He would charge the people to ask for something under rather than over, else their case might be damaged. He hoped they would not ask for such an absurd thing as half a million of money. He felt quite sure that if their claim were moderate members of the House would fiud very great difficulty in refusing. He said that it was a great pleasure to know he was held in such esteem by the people living in such remote parts of the Colony. Before leaving, he wouid endeavor to squeeze the Government purse to assist some road-making in the district by Native labour. They bad not much of it at their disposal, but he believed they did much good by employing Native labor on the roads. He , wished their railway success, and hoped it would develope and promote the prosperity o | the district. Mr Sheehan was cheered as he resumed his seat. Breuen, the master of the Meg Merilles, has supplied the following statement to the ' Star ' of the murder of Captain Moller at Samoa :— " When we arrived at Butaritari, we went up to Rennells' place. As far as I understood, Rennells was then indebted to Messrs M'Arthur's firm to an amount which I did not hear specified. Captain Moller did not see how he was going to recover the amount, and things did not go to his satisfaction, and he decided to square up altogether with Rennells. According to Captain Moller's notion and mine, Rennell ought to have squared up, because Captain Moller was the man who put him there. I abvised Captain Moller that if Rennells had not sufficient means to square up he should be compelled to give goods. I went ashore on Sunday and brought some things off, and on Monday, when Captain Moller went ashore, he said he did not want me to go. I told him that Rennells must have money, and that if he had hot he (Moller), should take some provisions. The next thing that happened was, that Captain Moller was brought on board shot. I sent him down to the black missionary station to see if they could do anything for him. After I got the vessel right I went ashore, and with the assistance of others I arrested Rennells, and brought him on board, He insisted on my taking him ashore again to see what was in the store. I went with him. There was plenty of provisions still in store. They say Captain Moller was leaving him destitute, but the goods I saw there would have kept Rennells for six months, and there was a vessel lying there at the time. We did not confine Rennells until Moller died. Rennells said he wished he had shot himself first ; that he never intended to shoot Moller. It appears that when Captain Moller went ashore in the afternoon he asked Rennells for cash. Moller said if you have not got cash I will take this keg of beef, and that is when Rennells shot him." January 25. The railway employes pic nic to-day is a great success. An accident occurred to an express cart, which, hurrying to the train with about twenty women and children, capsized, and one woman was badly hurt, while several children were cut about the face and body.

January 26. The schooner Coronet, after a cruise of three months, arrived from Rarotonga, with a cargo of cotton seed, coffee, and copra. The captain reports that the Pearl Shell, lost at the wreck of the Talisman, purchased by Owen and Graham, 1 is being recovered A A large quantity of cargo was brought to Raro-' tunga, and it is believed that the whole will be recovered. Native matters at Rarotonga are very quiet. * On Saturday night a man named Duville was attacked . by two savage dogs, and severely bitten about the body in several places. His trousers were torn off, and his legs were fearfully gashed. About 14. Volunteers will represent Auckland in the Rifle Association match at Nelson. The 'Waikato Times' yesterday says — " Rewi has just sent a messenger to Mokau, with instructions that the survey of land which has been proposed by Europeans for some time is to be proceeded with." Mr Sheehan left Whangarei yesterday for the Bay of Islands. Strong dissatisfaction is expressed at the management of the Auckland College Grammar School. The head master is brother-in law to one of the Governors, and there are others in the clique who form the majority Instead of the examiners' reports being published, they have been referred to the head master, so that he may dispose of any accusation of negligence or short-comings. The Board also neglected to comply with the terms of the Act by forwarding a full and accurate report of the receipts and disbursements, assets, liabilities, and engagement to the Minister of Education. The annual receipts from fees amount to £1600, paid by 200 pupils, at eight guineas each. No one knows how the money was expended. No exhibitions or scholarships were provided There was only nine under-graduates for Auckland last year ; while Otago produced 29 ; Canterbury, 20 ; Wellington, 14. The Board now proposes to build a palatial college, costing £9000. There are only £5000 voted by Parliament, but they propose to raise the balance on interest, pledging current receipts. The board seriously proposed asking for Government House for a College and Grammar School. This excited general ridicule, and what the ' Star ' calls snobocratic weakness for ostentation and display. A patient in the Luatic Asylum, named Simpson, made his escape last night, but was found in a paddock and conveyed back this morning. The Hannah Broomfield, from Wellington, arived at Hokianga to-day. The final competition for the choice of representatves at the Volunteer meeting a*i Nelson in March next took place this afternoon. The highest scores were ; Rifles — | Cooper, 87 ; Allen, 87 ; Fairs, 82. Carbines -— Bowden, 91 ; Woolley, 90. A man this morning enticed a little girl, named Annie Cameron, into the train at Auckland and took her up the line. His intention was discovered, and on arrival at Drury the child was taken possession of by a settler. The traffic manager in the meantime wired to the police at Whangarei. Napier, January 25. The Kouiui hotel, situated 20 miles inland, was burnt down, with stahles and outbuildings. A quantity of oats and wheat waa destroyed. The fire broke out in a room in the upper part of the house. Nothing sa^ed, O'Brien, the landlord, with his family, was in Napier at the time of the accident. The hotel was insured in the Standard for £1000, which waa reinsured in the Union for £500. A narrow escape from a serious accident occurred here to-day. A Mrs Loader was extinguishing a kerosene lamp, when by some means it exploded, and the oil spilt over the table and over her dress. With remarkable preseno of mind, she moved the table into the yard, but, while doing so, the flames caught her dress. She was, however, saved from serious harm by her husband wrapping some clothes around her, and so smothering the flames. The only injury Mrs Loader sustained was having her wrists scorched. New Plymouth, January 25, At a meeting of the Harbor Board to-day, the report of the Committee, exonerating Kelly and Iveston from the charges brought against thera, was adopted on the motion of Mr F. A. CarringtonFielding, January 25. The new township of Cullinham, Kuritea district, eight miles from Fielding, was sold by auction to-day, and realised £120 per acre for land purchased three years ago for £1 per acre. Wellington, January 24. The Benevolent Institution are discussing the question of charitable aid, which was lately taken out of tho hands of the police. It was resolved that the Mayor be requested to undertake the distribution of the money for charitable aid ; if he refused, that a letter should be sent to the Government showing the evil results of taking the matter out of the hands of the police. The Hons. Colonel Whitmore and J. T* Fisher visited the new hospital yesterday, and inspected all the completed portion. They expressed great satisfaction with the arrangements* Fifty-nine pounds was collected as admission fees on the wharf in aid of the regatta. The Mauriceville settlers are demanding permission from the Waste Lands Board to take up additional land oh deferred payments. The Board said they had no power to grant such a request.

: The Wellington Trust, Loan and Invest* gg ment Society has paid 12^ per cent. divHend W& for the past year. .--*■/ b| The D'urville Island Copper Company jfv;*) ||| insured a cargo of copper they are B hip^j^||| to ' New South Wales to be smelted a ty||| premium of a £1000. It is expected that ths Wi mine will be properly opened out in ths p|l middle of February, and arrangements hay« ||| been made for regular shipments to New fil South Wales thenceforward. ||| It is understood that in consequence of |j| Lord Normanby's commission as Governor Wi of Victoria only having been sent from Eng. ||| land on the 2nd January, via San Fran- |f|| cisco, it will not arrive here until the AM middle of February, and that therefore hia ||| Excellency will not go right on to Melbourne 'Am in the Arawata, as orginally intended, but 'Am will probably leave here, stay at Christchurch, ||1 and remain in the South Island, travelling 111 overland to the Bluff, so as to embark on ||| board the Bingarooma there on the 20th ||| February. Mr Le Patourel, his private |||| secretary, will go on to Melbourne in the j||| Arawata, so as to arrive a few days before £t|** Lord and Lady Normanby. A| Mr Andrews, in charge of the Wellington yjff waterworks, was riding near the large receiv. ing reservoir this morning, when he was A thrown from his horse and killed in. stantaneously. Wellington, January 25. The Hutt racing privileges were sold to. day for £350 ; last year they realised £387. The gates realised £305 ; publicans' booths, from £28 to £33. Mr Walter Johnston will address his constituents about the end of February. A petition is being circulated to further the object of increased wharf accomodation. The number of hands at the Petone rail way works hope to be increased. The inquest on the body of David Andrews shows he died os heart disease, and not through a fall from his horse. Messrs J and T. Meek, of Oamaru, have completed arrangements for taking over and re-opening Thomas Kebbell's flour mill, which has been closed for a long time past, The intention of the new proprietors is to grind all the wheat obtainable from the RangitikeiManawatu district, where it is said ahout 100 tons are grown every season in excess of what can be worked off in the ordinary channels. At the annual meeting of the Wellington Gas Company a dividend at the rate of 15 per cent for the year was recomended. £100 is to be added to the reserve fund, and the balance carried forward. The maim have been extended four and a balf miles during the year, making seventeen miles now laid. A vey considerable increase has also been made to the plant during the same period. Mr W. M-Beth, of Hawkins and Co., was out riding last night when his horse fell with - him, and he was taken home in an unconcibuj state, from whice he rallied this morning, and is now much improved. t , — j-Jfv. Invercaegill, January 26. ' [ Yesterday was the hottest day of the season The thermometer stood at 86 in the shade, A hot north-west wind blew. There is a change to-day ; the wind is round to S. W., and rain threatens. g The Weß tern Monarch's immigrants an iving some trouble by [demanding exorbitant wages. Many employers left the barrscka in disguat. An offer of temporary employment by tho Corporation at ss'per day, wet or dry, was indignantly refused. Drs Skae and Kemp, two of the examiners in Welsh's case, left for the North by tho express train yesterday. The remanded case of Samuel Gray, a tailor, charged with stealing £48 from Mr Lorenaon, of the Mataura Bridge, came bafore the Court yesterday. Sergeant Tuhoy i said the missing " swag " supposed to contain the money bad not been found, and asked for a further remand. The Bench said the circumstances were very suspicious, and granted the remand. Queenstown, Januajy 24. A number of visitors from Christchurch, Dunedin, and Balclutha arrived at Queenstown at six o'clock last night, and started at six this morning, proceeding to the head of the Lake^ Moat of them return to Invercargill to-night. The weather has been delightful, and all are enchanted with the magnificence of the scenery they have passed through.