INTERPROVINCIAL.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1950, 3 September 1886, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

(per united press association).

Auckland, Sept. 1

The house of Mrs McCabe, a sotller near Ta Awamutu.was burned down today with tho contents, The family had a wonderfully narrow escape. Mrs McCabe was aroused at 2 a m. by one of tho children, and on opening the door to get water was met by a rolume of smoke and Ham.'*. The family escaped in their night-dresses. Insurance:—£2oo South British. At a meeting of the New Zoaland Frozen Meat and Storage Company to-day the directors report for tho year ended 30th Juno last showed a loss 0f£15,421 2s. The loss was chiefly in the freezing, shipping, and meat preserving departments, and the butter department showed a net profit of £6lO, and the acid and manure works a net profit of £145 with 800 tons of manure on hand. Tho losses are attributed to the depressed state of the markets of the world. The wage and salaries last year absorbed £12.186. The directors expressed their determination to carry on tho business to a successful issue. Sept 2. Lawrence and Alfred Nathsn, in memory of their brother David Nathan, have made a donation of £IOO to the Auckland Benevolent Society. Invercargill, August 31 . Richard Forrest, aged 60, committed suicide to-day by drinking a lotion for external application. After taking the mixture he went to the police camp and told what he had done- He stated he had taken poison to relieve himself of the sufferings of this life, as there seemed to be no hope of his being able to earn a living. He was removed to the hospital wfyere it was found necessary to perform the operation of tracheotomy to prevent suffocation. He died about six hours after taking the poison. Forrest was a very respectable man, formerly a leather merchant in Dunedin, and well to do. Latterly he has fallen into low circumstances, his only means of sustenance being a little clerical work, which ill health compelled him to relinquish. He leaves a widow. Justice Johnston to-day refuted to issue a mandamus to the Waihopai Licensing Committee, ordering them to grant a license to W. Shields, whose housi at Menzies’ ferry they had closed on the ground that it was not required. His Honor said that if the slightest irregularity did occur in the Committee's proceedings it would serve no purpose to order them to re-consider, as they wouid give the same decision. QLD f?QLI}IEB,S CL A J MS. Wellington', Sept. }.- ; It is Btated that the Hod. Capt. Kenny, M.L.C. will accept the position of Com, missioner to enquire into the claims of old soldiers, and that the first commission will be held at Wanganui, on the 16th instant. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. Wellington, Kept i, The (Sovermnent have received the following dable Message from the AgeotGenetai, relating to the Midland Rahway: “ Midland— First contract signed twentyfive miles Still-Water to Teremakau ; first issue shares placed,' Hoare leases at th« shd of Ssptsiabfr via ’Frisco,”

Mr Hoare alluded to is one of the directors of the Midland Railway Coy, and also a director of Lloyds, Barnett’s and Bonnquilt’s bank, London. THE CUSTOMS RETURNS. SERIOUS FALLING OFF. Wellington, Sept 2 * The Customs returns for the month show a great falling off at the principal ports ; —Auckland L 21,162, Wellington L 20.657, Christchurch L 15,501, Dunedin L 27.578, total for the Colony L 108.641, against L 121.016 for August last year. The estimated monthly average was LU7.500. Boer Duty : —Auckland LBOV Wellington L34+. Christchurch L 832 Dunedin L 670, total for the raonthL3462’ againßt L 3758 for August 1885. The estimated monthly average wa* L 4553.

THE AUSTRALIAN CABLE. Wellington, Sept 1. A special meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerco was he : d this afternoon to consider the question of cablo rates between New Zealand and Australia. The following resolution was carried : “That this Chamber communicates with the Chambers at Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, asking their co-operation and actual representation on a deputation to the Premier and Postmaster-General to urge the temporary continuation of the subsidy to tho Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, on the condition that tho rates be reduced from tenpence to sixpenco per word for ordinary messages, and threepence for Press meesages, and that failing a reduction in tho rates on tho basis suggested, tho Government be urged to tako steps, as early as possible, to lay a duplicate cable between this Colony aud Australia.’’ The Post to-night says, with rogard to the question of cable rates, that the Government have withdrawn from further negotiations with the Eastern Extension Company. After the Government had taken steps to ascertain tlia coat of a now cable between New Zealand and Australia, the Company opened fresh negotiations with the Government, proposing to accept a five years subsidy if the Colony would agree to join the other colonio3 m subsidising the European line. This tho Government refused, whereupon tho Eastern Extension Co asked whether the Government would give a guarantee of their revenue, including the subsidy authorised, in which case the Company would be willing to lower tho rates to any figure the Government might determine. After some consideration the Government declined to give tho guarantee and in» formed the Company that if they did not raise the rates they would not propose the construction of a new cable at uro3ent, but if tho rates were raised they would construct a now cable. Since then the Company enquired whether the Government were willing to fall back upon a lire year* subsidy as originally proposed, and tho Government have now replied in ths negative. There the matter ends. Auckland Sept. 2.

Re the cable subsidy and a resolution forwarded by the Wellington Chamher to the Aucklaud Chamber of Commerce, it was decided to-day to leave the matter in the hands of the Government, who ate understood to be making other arrangements, which they are hopeful will eventuate in a roluction of the rates. [Reuter’s Telegrams.] M ELBOURNE, Sept 2, The Melbourne and Sydney Chamber; uf Commerce are actiug in co-operatiou to try and induce their Governments to bring about a resumption of negotiations for the reduction of the cablo tariff between Australia and New Zealand,