INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 271, 13 December 1876, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Hokitika, Wednesday. Another rich lode has been struck in the Mount Rangitoto silver mine, nine feet deep below the present working, which gives in average of 340 ounces to the ton. A large reef, ten feet thick, of porphyrite quartz, impregnated with silver, has also been discovered on the Company's lease, a quarter of a mile from the present working. Gold is also Visible in a stone reef which has been driven, on for a distance of sixteen feet. The Company haTe 366 feet of tunnelling in-, and are prepared to slope out hundreds of tons of ore. They have just erected a complete assay furnace. The Government have given great satisfaction in calling for tenders for the- couttruction of the remainder of the road, which mil materially assist the development of the mineral resources of the district. Auck&and, Wednesday. Tbe Wellington sailed South yesterday. Passengers for Nelson — Messrs Hawkes, Andrews, Hussey, Harris, and Hop well, • Gn-YBiojTH, Tuesday. A large public meeting was held last nigbt under fche following circumstances: —A few weeks ago a company was formed for constructing a tramway from here to Kumara and application was made to the Government for protection to it under the thirteenth saction of the Goldflelds Act. The Minister for Public Works directed the company to come under the provisions of the Tramways Act, 1872. The directors urged that the Tramways Act was quite unsuited to goldflelds, and that the delay in complying with its provisions would be fatal to the undertaking. In the meantime the company pr-oceeded, feeling convinced that protection under the' tGoklfields Act would be granted, as the line goes through a virgin forest, and will be the means <*£ opening up a large tract of land. The Waste Lands Board made a temporary reserve for the tramway; and upon Mr Bonar receiving the delegated powers under the Goldfieids Act, application was again made to him for protection but Ue refused, and insisted upon fche company proceediqg under the Tramways Act. Finally a telegram from Mr John Knovvles, Under-Secretary for J»ublic Work 3, came to stop the works, and the company was warned accordingly. Great Sadionation is felt here afc fche conduct of tlie 'Gorernment Agent, Mr Bonar, who, to prevent Gcg/mouth competing for the Kumara •trade, has from the first opposed the line, which is fourteen miles long, and traverses (country where probably man never before «et foot. The fotfp**/;ng resolutions were -passed unaainjously, apd _9*rwarded to the •Premier:—" i That this meetipgji>^f opinion that the Greymouth and Kumara

being a work calculated to be of great public advantage, should have received every reasonable encouragement from the Government. 2. That the refusal to grant protection under tho Goldfields Act, and the difficulties thrown in the way of a line which would opfen up a large tract of country, reduce the costs of supplies on Kumara goldfield and generally promote pubiic convenience without interfering with private rights, are not justified upon any grounds of public policy. 3. That this meeting regrets that one of the first administrative acts of the Government in this part of New Zealand, since the abolition of the Provincial system of Government, should be an irresponsible and vexatious use of powers as exemplified in the present case, that would have been impossible had the Provincial Council of Westland been still in existence." Christchurch, Tuesday. The heavy rains of yesterday caused one of the greatest floods in tbe Selwyn and Ashburton rivers experienced for many years. The railway traffic was stopped, and the Selwyn bridge and Main South Line were seriously damaged. The permanent way between Rakaia and Ashburton is very much injured. It is reported that the Selwyn bridge on the Southbridge line has been partly washed away, also Homebush Railway Station, and White Cliffs branch line partly destroyed. The Christchurch Union Rowing Club has decided to send a crew to the Nelson Regatta, but it is feared a really good one cannot be obtained. A large number of stock will be sent from Christchurch to the Dunedin Exhibition. The heavy rains yesterday have done considerable damage to crops, which are extensively laid. The Acclimatization Society have decided to send to San Francisco for Prarie hens and humble bees. Dunedin, Tuesday. The following is the result of the inquiry into the los 3of the Otago:— That the Court attribute the wreck to the second mate, Thomas G. Palmer, in not keeping the course ordered by tbe master*; in neglecting to check repeatedly the steering compass by the standard compass; and neglecting to call the master, or to take the usual precautions in thick weather, when so near land, by slowing speed and heaving the lead. The certificate of tbe second mate was suspended for two years. The other cerificates were returned. Captain Csdder was commended for tbe way he acted under such trying eircurastauces. Invercargili,, Wednesday. Information has been received here that the barque William Akers, which left the Bluff on Monday, for Lyttelton, with a cargo of 185,000 feet of sawn timber, struck on a reef off Waipapa Point early yesterday. She drifted oh to the beach and is a total wreck, seven of the crew are said to be drowned, including the captain, and three saved. Another account says that the crew are supposed to be saved. So far as can be ascertained the cargo is uninsured. Bluff, Wednesday. The Arawata left Hobson's Bay on fche morning of the Bth, and anchored afc the Heads until the arrival of the R.M.S. Assam that evening, when mails and passengers were transhipped. Fine weather passage. Passengers for Nelson— Mr J. Nicol, Mr and Mrs J. Smith, Mr Norman, and eight in steerage, eight tons cargo.