Interprovincial News.

Hastings Standard, Volume V, Issue 1427, 18 January 1901, Page 3

Interprovincial News.

By Tklkurafh.) AUCKLAND. January 18. Arrived—Mimiro, from London, via Australia. Passengers : Mrs Gardner ; Misses Gardner, Scully, and Rees. CURISTCHURCH. January I*. In the nnal of the rink tournament Christchurch be sit Vautma (Wellington) by -0 points to 12. Iu the doubles final McLaren aud Morris (20) beat Maddison and Wauklyu (1*; and won. In the singles, Binnie (20; beat Underwood (13) and won the third prize. WELLINGTON. January 18. Evidence in the Colche3ter case was concluded this morning, and Mr Bell asked for the extradition of accused. Mr Skerrett raised technical objections as to tbe English depositions which had teen produced, and also maintained that the evidence of identification was unsatisfactory and was answered by documentary proof that the suspect was Lillywhite, not Blatch. In the Colchester case the Magistrate decided n extradite Lilly white, pointing out that it would be better for h'mself to go Home and have his identity completely established than to be a marked man here a; ha would be if released.

The troorship Cornwall left Sydney yesterday, and is expected in Wellington on Monday. It is not with the Governments concurrence that the Federation Commission's proceedings were closed to the press. George Scott was fined £lO at the Magistrate's Court to-day for practising medicine without registration. His conns; t stated that he was duly qualified, but his present name was not bis re :i name, and for family reasons it was inconvenient for him to register just now. He was, in fact, a traveller who had fallen on his profession for temporary support. A cable message has been received by the Deputy-Governor stating that, in accordance with the request made to the Admiral on the Australian station, he has given instructions that the Mildura, now at Akaroa, should be at Port Chalmers when the Orient arrives with the returned New Zealand t-oopers. Two three - storey warehouses in Willis street (those of Wrigglesworth and Binns (photographers) and Singer (sewing machine company) were totally destroyed by a fire which broke out at it o'clock this morning. It is presumed to have started in the middle floor of Wrigglesworth and Binns' at the back. Luckily there was a dead calm, and the fire brigade was able to prevent the spread of the flames to the adjoining buildings. The insurances on Wrigglesworth and Binns' building (owned by Mr Jacob Joseph) wore £I6OO in the Commercial Union office, (with reinsurances of £2OO in the London and Lancashire, £l5O in the Victoria, and £IOO in the South British). Singer's building was also owned by Mr Joseph, and was insured for £2050 in the Commercial Union office, and reinsured to the extent of £250 in the Sun, £250 in the Alliance, £l5O in the Standard, £2CO in the London and Lancashire, £250 in the Australian Alliance, £250 in the Norwich Union, £250 in the Liverpool and London and Globe. The contents of Wrigglesworth and Binns' building are insured for £IOO in the Alliance and £l5O in the Standard. The contents of Singers' are said to be insured in a Sydney office. The Deputy - Governor has been advised by cable that arrangements iu connection with the visit of the Imperial troops to New Zealand are to be left to tlie Government of the colony. Tho stay of the troops in New Zealand is not to exceed ten days, including the day of arrival and day of departure. Another message received by the Deupty-Governor states that the Viceroy of India has agreed to the request of the New Zealand Government that the Indian contingent should visit tbe colony. GISBORNE. January 18. The furniture manufactury of Mr John Townley, Mayor of Gisborne, was destroyed by fire this morning. The building was a two-storey wooden one, and when the fire was discovered at 1.30 an immense volume of dense black smoke was breaking through the roof. It was utterly impossible to save anything, and the whole place was consumed by fire. The Brigade, however, managed to confine the flames to this one building, and prevent it spreading to Mr Townley's ether extensive premises. The building was insured for £250 in the. Northern office. A large stock of valuable contents was uninsured, and Mr Townley is a heavy loser. Professor Morris, of Melbourne University, who is writing an Australian History ot Captain Cook, paid a visit to Cook's Cove, Tolago Bay, this morning. At a spring on the hillside overgrown with scrub, he found a substantial oaken cask, which is thought might have been placed there by the early navigator. On a papa rock, alongside another spring are cut certain letters believed to be the initials of a member of the crew of Cook's vessel. Mr Townley estimates his loss at £7OO above the insurance. New 3 has just been received that Henry Kirkman, the first man to leave this district for the war, who joined Roberts' Horse, died of enteric at Bloemfontein in April last. He resigned his position as a native schoolmaster to go to South Africa. Mr Pasley, Collector of Customs, held an enquiry into the loss of the man Eckhardt oyerboard from the ship Grace Hawar on December 2Guh while caught in a storm off Hawke's Bay. Thn captain said he saw the man hanging on by the weather main - brace and ordered him aft the poop ladder, which he tried to reach, but slipued whilst taking off one of his boots and went overboard. This was the last seen of him, as it was impossible with the heavy sea running to do anything to save him. This evidence was substantiated by three members of the crew. NEW PLYMOUTH. January 18. The annual report of the Harbour Board shows the total trade of this port to be 10,40k tons, compared with 30,822 in 1899. The revenue from dues were :—Wharfage £6580, against £OOBI , expenditure oil dredging £lls*, fact that ibe latter item was tbe smallest since 1*95, there is less sand than at any time since the breakwater was built. The report foreshadows the enlarging o£ the wharf. DUNEDIN. January 18. The sly grog eases are being heard before Mr Stratford at Dalclutba. Williim Marshall pleaded guilty to having liquor for sale. The Crown Prosecutor said the enormity of iliict traffic was shown by the fact that during the raid ekven gallons of whisky and two kegs containing fifteen gallons of beer and four duzen bottles of beer were seized. Defendant was lined £lO, or, in default, a month's imprisoHment. John Macdonald also pleaded guilty, and was fined £lO and costs. Similar fines were imposed on William Allen, Alex Bain, James Vial, juu., George Vial, jun., and Andrew Richardson. The charge Vial, sen., was withdrawn.

In the second house raided by the police they seized nine bottles of giu, cine and a half gallons of whisky, 10 bottles of brandy, a case containing 15 bottles of gin, 10 giillons of beer, and 81 bottles of beer. All the defendants pleaded guilty. NELSON. January 18. A sharp shock of earthquake was felt at threa minutes past ten. The direction was north and south.