LAST NIGHTS TELEGRAMS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 85, 12 April 1888, Page 2

LAST NIGHTS TELEGRAMS.

Pobt Chalmbes, April 11. The b.s. Tainni anchored ou^sida Otago Heads last night, crowed the bsr tSi9 afternoon, and wftß moored at Ge«rge-Btreet Pier. On hor way up lh«i harbor chs tvas boarded by the Hetlth Offio« and ihe Surveyor of Customs, but on coping to tha pisr the yellow flag wan rua np, and alt oomtnunioation was s'.riotly prohibited. The roison for this w«s thafe a cfiß9 of scarlet fever or scarlatina had broken oat the tame d««y. Nothing bub tbe mails wert latded, and a strict «mb»rgo was phc-d on tke B»eamer and pM»enger?. Immediately on loaviog tho ship the H»alfch Offior telegraphed to Welli«gt«a the fall state of affaire, and till he receives a reply strict quarantine will be maintained. She is commanded by Captain Barlow, 8.N., wko has Mr B. E. Brans as his chief offioer. - She has 21 packets of mails for New Zealand ports, and a numb-r of passengers, of. whom 17 are for Ofcftgo, 18 for Lyfctelton, I for ' Napier, 27 for Wellington, 29 for Auckland, 8 for the Bluff, 11 for Westport, 7 for Gisborne, 16 for Patea, and 6 for Hekitika. Her cargo is 2017 tons gross. She left Plymouth on February 23tb, and had fine weather till Ist Maroh, whtn eha encountered a strong gale with heavy head Bias; after leaving Teneriffe moderate and variable weather was experienced. April 12. The steamer Tainni having been fumigated was admitted to pratique this forenoon. F. Nankhood, a child years of age, who is suffering from soarlctina, together with his ; mother, are passengers for Wellington. They \ have been removed to the quarantine Island. Wellington, April 11. The question as to the power of the Government to remove Provincial District Auditors is assuming' a peculiar aspect. Mr R. Macalister, wh» received aotioe from the Government some time since that hi« services would be no longer required after the end of the last month, disputes the power of the Government to remove him from office, and has occupied his office until to-day. Ho has however been evioted. On arrival this morning he fonnd the doors of his office looked, and was informed by the chief messenger that orders had been given to exclude him from oooupanoy. There will probably be some further interesting developments in connection with this matter, as it under • stood that tie questio* will crop up next session. John M'Kenrie M'Donald, prisoner in gaol, who has served geventeen years penal servitude, has been released from custody on account of enfeebled health through old age, and on the certificate of the medical authorities. Over seventeen, years ago M'Donald set fire to an hotel in Wanganui, and a lodger was burnt to death in the building. He received a death sentence, but this was afterwards commuted to penal servitude for life. Several attempts have since been made to get a remission of the sentence but without avail. Chbtstohuboh, April 11. A deputation of the Knights of Labor waited on the Premier to-day, in regard to various matters. Sir H. A. Atkinson said that the Government would do wrong to interfere with local bodies in the administration of charitable aid. With regard to the men being obliged to leave their homes, it was not the duty of the Government to provide work near them, nor could be promise it, for he iid not admit their right to claim it. He would like it to be understood that prisoners muit work for their living, though, aa far as possible, they should not be allowed to compete with free labor. The so-called exodun did not distress him at all, nor was he going to be induced on that account to do what he did not think right. No doubt the Colony had been losing during the last month, but up to that time it had not. Those now going would in a few y»ars return each with two or three friends. At a Conference of School Committees to night, representing 17 Committees, it was decided to recommend the use of uniform school books throughout the Colony , that grants for repairs should be expended by the Committees instead of by the Boards ; that one visit of the Inspector for examination is sufficient for one year ; that a Conference of one delegate from each Committee in the district be held annually shortly before the eleotion of members of the Board.