INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 36, 14 August 1880, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

[pee united peess association.]

Wellington, Friday night.

The schooner Sarah and Mary, which was wrecked at Motuara Island, Tory Channel, caught fire, and was burnt. The origin of the fire is supposed to b© through a stove in the cabin breaking loose, and setting alight a tin of kerosene. Nothing was saved.

It is stated that a great public meeting will be held- next week to protest against the action of the Government in ignoring the Wellington and Foxton railway. The funeral of the late Mr. George Hunter took place on Wednesday, and was numerously attended, chiefly by old residents.

The reductions at present being made in the Civil Service will be carried out strictly on a 10 per cent, scale, taking effect from the Ist instant; pensions included.

At a meeting of the Hutt County Council, it was resolved to ■ reduce the salaries of the chairman and councillors 25 per cent.

It is probable that the Wairarapa railway will be opened as far as Caterlon on the Ist September.

Auckland, Friday. A young man named Smith, aped 17, a recent arrival from Wellington, has been arrested for rape on a child 7 years of age. William Smith, arrested for issuing valueless cheques, was remanded. Mr. George, who appeaeed for the prisoner, said he was of a high English family, and would shortly receive an instalment of £2000. Prisoner, who seemed to feel his position acutely, alleged he was heir to a large estate vrorkh J20,000.

The German Consul intends to transmit a report to the German Admiralty as to the facilities of Auckland for a coaling station.

Dunedin, Friday night. At the inquest on Mrs. Young, who was so brutally murdered at Kyeburn, an open vordict was returned, with a rider recommending die Government to offer a reward, as it was hopeless to expect to convict without the assistance of Chinese evidence. The evidence was very strong towards implicating the Chinese, but not sufficient to convict. Several Chinamen are still in custody. Christchuhoh, Friday night. An inquest was held into the cause of a fire which took place at the railway station on Sunday. The following verdict was returned : — " It is the opinion of the jury that the place had been wilfully set on fire, but there is no evidence to show by whom." The jury regret that the premises were not left as they were found after the fire.

The Canterbury Saleyards Company declared a dividend of 5 per cent, for the half-year. Another party of men have left for the Okarito goldnelds, and other parties are in course of tormation.

At the R.M. Court to-day, a boy named John Denham was sentenced to 48 hours" imprisonment, and 18 strokes with a cat-o'-nine-tails, for stealing a money-bag containing fourpence, the property of the Railway Department.