INTESPROVINCIAIi.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3894, 15 January 1878, Page 2

INTESPROVINCIAIi.

[PL—t —BBSB AGENCY.] WRECK OF THE SCHOONER NELLIE. REDISTRIBUTION OF MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS. REDUCTIONS IN THE RAILWAY STAFF. AucKLtjUm, January 14. The schooner Nellie, of Auckland, bounc from Lyttelton for thia port* ran tahore 91 Astrolabe Reef. There waa a smooth sea ant all hands were saved. The canto conafc-d 0

idstuffs. The wreck lies on the eastward re of Makiki Island. All valuables were cd. The master sustained a fracture of his i. The Nellie belongs to M. A. Owen. ■ was 60 tons register, built in 1876. Bhe i insured for £1000 in the New Zealand Napibb, January I*. [?he remainder of the immigrants by the afrewshire were placed in the Quarantine racks on Saturday. There has been a good kl of trouble in connection with them. On ;urday the sailors who took them over from i ship continued to get to the place where t stores were kept, drank all the liquor they ild, and took the remainder with them on ird. In the afternoon some half-dozen or of male immigrants made their way to rndale, and were served with drink before was known who they were. Yesterday yen of them went to Tarndale and did the ne. It is said that on Saturday night the gle men broke into the single girls arters. Two police constables have been it down to remain in quarantine. The police constables did not go to the arantine barracks, as the immigration icer found that he had no power to send em, and he did not think the circumstances uranted his applying to Wellington for thority. The wines and spirits which the ilors took were given to them by Dr. Dale, c ship's medical officer. He says he gave em because he considered the men must be jaried with pulling the boats two miles, ie intrusion of the male immigrants into c female ward was not so serious aa was at ■st reported. The breaking of quarantine •eviously telegraphed was a fact. The jmmissionere of the Board of Health are s>king inquiries. WKtiiiNGTOH , , January 14. Forsometimepast acommitteeof inquiry has sen investigating certain matters in connecon with claims for extras by the contractor ir the water-works contract, in respect of hioh he was paid one oheque for £2970 on scount. During Mr Blackett's examination c took exception to one item, of £1011, set own ac an extra, eajing it belonged to the riginal contract and ought not to be an extra, 'he contractor thereupon enclosed the cheque i dispute to the Mayor, pending the ooncluion of the investigation, remarking that he id not wish to be paid a penny more than he ras entitled to. Very keen interest is taken iy the public in this inquiry. A " Gazette" issued this evening contains lotificatione that Sir George Grey has resigned he appointment of Commissioner of Customs, md that Mr Ballance has been appointed 7ommiseioner of Customs and Minister of Sducation. It is stated by the "Argus" hat several other ohaDges are about to take jlace in the Ministry as regards the distribuion of portfolios. Mr Ballance is to become Colonial Treasurer in place of Mr Lamach, »ho will remain in the Ministry as Minister >f Public Worke. Further , changes than ihese are not anticipated before next session. The three-masted schooner Prince Alfred, from Lyttelton bound to Kaipara, has put into Worser's Bay through loss of sails. To-night'e "Post" says: —"Wβ are inFormed that as a result of an investigation into the working of railways it has been found possible to dispense with the services of ibout forty clerks in that department alone." Dckkoik, January 14. Mr John Hislop, Secretary of the Otago Education Board, is likely to be appointed Secretary for Education. A hotelkeeper, for allowing intoxicated persons in bis bar, was fined £1. [feom ottb ows oobbbbpohdbkt.] DtnrßDnr, January 14. After the declaration of the acceptances on Saturday Prince took 1000 to 200 about Hippocampuß from Snider, the largest wager made in this colony. The Crown has entered a noUeproseqm in Proudfoot's case. The "Star" has a very severe article on the features of the ease, strongly condemning the action of the Governnfent.