INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4241, 23 October 1874, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

AUCKLAND. A new hospital is about to be built in Auckland. A mail has now been established to Hikutaia (Thames district), so that the residents there can have their papers and letters twice a week. Lemons have been successfully grown at Gisborne, Poverty Bay. Specimens taken from the trees lately are described as being as good in size, color, and flavor, as those imported. There are evident indications of an improvement in mining affairs at the Thames, aud the tone of the share market, during the latter part of the week especially, showed very favorably as compared with the depression which has prevailed for some time past. It is an indication of the briskness of trade that native stores are being multiplied on the East Coast. Within the last three months five or six new ones have been established. At the Waiapu, where three already exist, an additional store is about to be erected by a Spaniard who resides at Awauui. This increase of stores will materially benefit Auckland, from which city the goods are wholly obtained. They are not, however, retailed at anything like reasonable advances on Auckland prices. One of, the perhaps unavoidable results of the abolishing of imprisonment for debt came to our knowledge the other day, says the Coromandel Mail of the 13th instant. A suit was maintained for the recovery of a certain sum of money, and a judgment for the amount claimed was obtained. The defendant in the action was a partner in a business enterprise, but failed to pay the amount due under the judgment of the Court. When asked for the money he is said to have rubbed his hands, and smiled all over his face and down his back, and said, “I have no funds; and you can’t come upon partnership property for a private debt. And lam happy to inform you that imprisonment for debt is done away. Good day, six." We know the parties in this case, and are sure the plaintiff had no reason to be surprised at the coolness of the treatment he had received, but perhaps the defendant may yet find that the new Act under which he shelters himself has some clauses about fraudulent transactions that may apply to his case. A correspondent of the Southern Cron writes that an accidental fire broke out in a house on the Pataua Kiver, the property of Mr. John Keys. In a few minutes the house was enveloped in flames, and before Mr. Keys arrived from the garden, where ho and family were at work, the flames had taken such a firm hold of the building that there was no hope of saving anything. The house, with its contents and outhouses, was soon a heap of ashes ; and Mr. Keys will bo the loser of about £2OO. The settlers around will do their utmost to help him. The Native whaling industry was attended with greater success last season than it has been for years past on the East Coast, and this encouragement is likely to stimulate those engaged therein to put forth greater efforts in this direction next winter. One boat—the owner of which is Mr. Heuaro Potac, of Tokomaru—secured four fish, each of which was of good size. The largest of those was one of a species of whale not seen on this coast for eight or nine years past. It yielded about seven tuns of oil, and a largo quantity of whalebone. Some of tho oil was burnt in the process of boiling, and this defect depreciated tho article in tho market, and it had consequently to be disposed of at a price far below its usual value. The loss is keenly felt by the Natives, who are determined to take proper precaution for securing a better commodity next season.

HAWKE’S BAY. A circular letter has been addressed by His Honor the Superintendent to the several members of the Provincial Council asking their concurrence in a proposal of a further extension of the sale of land on deferred payments, so that from seven to eight thousand acres more can bo disposed of in this manner. As it is, almost all the land to bo sold on deferred payments has been disposed of, and settlers aro leaving this province for Wellington, and other parts of the country, in consequence. To drive settlers away because they cannot get land on such favorable terras here as they can elsewhere, when there is land which could bo made available for them on reasonable terms, cannot be sound statesmanship.

Some idea of the amount of work that devolves on the Napier Telegraph Office may be gathered from the fact that fifteen officers are employed therein, and none of them are idle.

Johnston's Hotel, at the Western Spit, narrowly escaped destruction by fire on the 15th instant. It originated from the servantgirl falling asleep while reading in bed, and the candle setting fire to the curtains, the whole room being soon in a blaze. The girl escaped, but the furnitux’e was destroyed. The late gales were felt severely at Meanee, in this Province. That of the 15th instant was the worst. The Presbyterian Church steeple was blown off, numbers of out-buildings were thrown down, and in all directions evidences of the force the gale present themselves. The roof of the of Hastings railway station was stripped of its covering, the sheets of corrugated, iron of whicli it was formed being blown a considerable distance ; in fields and gardens great damage was done. A rope-walk has been established in Napier, by two immigrants by the Halcione. It is on a primitive scale, hut the enterprising fellows are getting on well, and have more erders in hand than they will be able to execute for some time. TARANAKI. The News of the 17th instant says:—We regret to announce the death of Mr. John Dunn, tlie old and respected head of the police force of the province, who died yesterday, from heart disease. He was a n itive of Naas, county of Dublin, Ireland. He entered the 65th Regiment about the year 1836 ; served with that corps for three years in America, and then in England, till 1815, when he was sent to Hobart Town in charge of convicts; and from thence proceeded to Now Zealand to' rejoin his regiment at Wellington. He was; several times engaged with the enemy during : the hostilities with the Maoris that terminated with the capture of Rauparaha, He was by the side of Ensign Blackburn, when he was shot dead, in the attack on Powhatanui. He received the New Zealand medal from the Imperial Government for his military services in the colony ; and left the 65th Regiment after a service of eleven years. He ex me overland from Wanganui with Messrs. J. S. Smith and G. Curtis, arriving here in February, 1850. He joined the police force here in October, 1351, and was made sergeant of it shortly after the Provincial Government was established, and Sergeant-at-Arms of the Provincial Council. On more than one occasion, he declined any increase of his salary, because the province could not afford it. He had rare patience, endurance, and firmness, and was essentially a peace officer in a sense that is seldom manifested, as he often produced peroe between different parties, who had called him in with a very differant object. He gave an instance of his ready wit, when called upon by each of two parties to take the other in charge for assault. Sergeant Dunn gravely informed them that there was only one cell empty, and ho would have to lock them up together till morning, when, as he expected, the party who first called him in said he would not press the locking up, but would proceed by summons in the morning. He was one of the best servants that the public has ever had in Tarsnaki—none better. He leaves a widow and two daughters. OTAGO.

On (lit that two actions for malicious prosecution are likely to arise out of recent proceedings before the Suproxno Court, and that large damages will be claimed in each of the actions.

During the trial of Dodd, for the murder on board the Oueca, an affidavit was read by his counsel, in which Dodd stated that he was bora in Nova Scotia, but had gone to New York in 1863, where he became naturalised, aud had lived ever since. Being a stranger in New Zealand, he could only prove this fact by procuring certain documents from Now York. His Honor refused to grant the postponement of the trial, as he held that the fact of Dodd’s naturalisation was not material, a British subject not being able to renounce his allegiance by removing to another country and becoming naturalised. This ruling is disputed. Some ausemeut and laughter, says the local paper, was occasioned in the Eesident Magistrate’s Court in Arrowtown during the hearing of an assault case. A witness was examining the arresting constable, and was anxious to elicit information on a certain point; but whether the examiner was too flurried, or the witness could not understand, was not altogether apparent. Certain it is the information was not forthcoming, and the examiner, seemingly at his wits’ end, looked serious, and coaxingly said, “ Come, now, honor bright, constable.” Surprising to say, this appeal to the honor of the constable had the desired effect, and the knowledge was gained. The first wool vessel from Southland this year will be the barque Columbus, which will be followed by the ship Ocean Mail. A pheasant’s nest, containing eleven eggs, has been on the grounds of the Bruce Goal Company at Akatore. At North Branch, a covey of partridges have taken possession of a gentleman’s garden, and wont be driven out. An old member of the Dunedin police force, Sergeant Bevan—who has for the last eleven years been the sergeant of the mounted force and drill instructor—has been deservedly promoted to the post of sergeant-major. Sergeant Bevan is a veteran both in the police and army, having been in active service in India at the time of the battle of Lucknow, at the Crimea, and elsewhere, for which he holds medals. He is, moreover, one of the few remaining warriors of the famous “Six Hundred.”

The members of the Green Island Presbyterian Church and other friends, through W. Martin, Esq., J.P., have presented the Rev. M. Watt, M.A., at a meeting of the Deacons’ Court, with a purse of sixty-five sovereigns. The committee appointed to present a suitable memento to Mr. D. Stark, who had been President of the Otago Typographical Society for some considerable time, has selected a handsome silver inkstand. The centre-piece is surmounted by a large mastiff in a reclining position. Tho inscription is as follows ; “Presented to Mr. D. Stark, first President, by the members of the Typographical Association, as a token of esteem, October, 1874.” The testimonial will be presented to the gentleman mentioned, who has recently taken an important position at Oamaru. The local paper reports that thingf- begiu to look like business in railway operations at Oamaru. The earthwork on the north line is made all through, with tho exception of some six chains of a small cutting on the esplanade, between tho manse and the lagoon bridge. This lino is a splendid straight run, there being only three curves in it. Platelaying on the Awoomoko branch is going on rapidly.

CANTERBURY. Speaking of the late floods in the river Asliley, the Lyttelton Times of the 19 Vh instant, says:—East Tuesday, as Mr. T. Trovurza, of Eoburn, was returning from Eangiora with a load, as well as three female passengers, the leader, which was ridden by a man named Doak, lost its footing in a deep hole, and before assistance could arrive it was drowned. In trying to rescue the horse, both Doak and Trevurza wore washed a long way down stream, so that for a considerable time the passengers wore in a perilous position. Eor several years the stream has done very little damage in the neighborhood of the township, but that immunity has ended and sad havoc has ensued. The railway embankment is now undermined, and further piling will bo necessary ; for some distance below the bridge, an average of half a chain has gone ; several chains of the school fence, threatened for years, have succumbed, and trees and bushes have been swept away. The railway bridge contractor had just reached the water when the fresh began, but has been working on terra firma ever since, as the whole current is now running between the two northern bays. It is now upwards of three years since the Timam and Temuka railway (the length of which is about twelve miles) was commenced, and it will bo a considerable time ere the two places are connected. The line is nearly a dead level. The General Government are proceeding rapidly with the construction of the Canterbury railways. Contracts have just been taken for additional portions of the line

between Timaru and Waitaki. Lor the first, which is tended “ The Hook ”, section, the tender of Mr. David Proudfoot has been accepted, the figure being £32,852. The contract for the “ Southern ” section, which completes the line to the Waitaki river; has been secured by Mr. Pratt for £IB,OOO. NELSON. The Provincial Council is about to }>a called together at the instance of the Superintendent, who has received an address from some of his constituents, who are dissatisfied with the Executive Government Act.

Mr. E. J. O’Conor declined to join the Good Templars at Westport, but to “ show that he had no spite ” against them, he has given the water-cure reformers the use of a house rent free in which to hold their meetings. The General Government have engaged Mr. Cooper, C.E., to make a complete topographical survey of the whole of the coalfields in the Duller (Nelson) district. He is good for two years’ work. MARLBOROUGH. A meeting has been called at Pioton to consider the advisability of adopting the Municipal Corporations Act. This is regarded in other parts of the province as a proof that “ wonders will never cease.” A vote has been taken at Marlboroughtown in favor of the establishment of a Circulating Library and Reading-room, to be under the name and management of “ the Marlborough Literary Institute.” Woodbourne farm has been leased by Mr. Thomas Redwood, to whose lands of St. Leonard’s it is adjacent. Mrs. Godfrey, of Woodbourne, retires to Nelson. A rather curious case of alleged fraud has been brought before the Magistrate’s Court at Picton. A man named Michael Higgins, who had a contract for supplying Messrs. Brogden and Sons with sleepers, lias been charged with having sawn off the branded ends of sleepers that had been supplied by another person, and getting them re-branded as his own by Messrs. Brogden’s Inspector of Works, thereby receiving payment for articles that had already been paid for by Messrs. Brogden and Sons. The wool season is commencing rather early this year. We noticed (says the Marlborough Times of the 20th instant) a waggon woolladen passing through Blenheim yesterday, and we are informed that it was not the first of the season, although that was the impression of many persons at the time. WESTLAND. The prospecting party fitted out by the Westland Government report (from Jackson’s Bay) that they have found gold at several places as far south as the point known as “The Cascades,” but not in a sufficient quantity to warrant a rush. The Times suggests that the Government should purchase Hungerford’s bridge at the Arahura before the haulage of the great pipes for the Waimea w'ater-race begins. There are 1310 pipes to haul across ; two or three horses will be required for each pipe ; only one trip can be made per day; and the tolls will, therefore, amount to something considerable. The survey of the damaged road between Hokitika and Christchurch has been begun. Tenders for the first section will be called for immediately, and the work of reconstruction is to be proceeded with energetically. A mishap, not unattended with serious consequences, has occurred near the Half-way House, Charleston-road. Mr. Nicholls and a man in his employ were splitting up logs on the beach, and to avoid a heavy surf roller coming in they jumped on a log, but the force of the water drove the timber away and they fell, the log rolling over them. Both were much bruised, and their escape from more serious injury was narrow. There is a chance of the vigneron industry being established on the West Coast. Two hundred two years old grape vines, designed to fonn the nucleus of a vineyard, have been imported from Victoria. They have arrived to the order of an Italian settler in the Lake Brunner district, who, it is hardly necessary to add, understands vine-culture thoroughly. . He is satisfied that the interesting strangers will flourish in that locality, and his experiment it is to be hoped will bo as successful as he can wish himself. A meeting of shareholders in the Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company was lately held at the Post Office Hotel, Hokitika, for the purpose of taking steps to raise funds to prosecute the appeal against the late decision of his Honor Judge Richmond, whereby the verdict of the jury in the action tried at Nelson was upset. Eully three-fourths of the shares were represented, and measures were agreed on, whereby the requisite funds will be obtained. Asale of pasturage rights has taken place at the Waste Lauds Board, at Hokitika. The following are the only local items referring to this district :—Run No. 1. —Area, 5000 acres, on Lake Brunner, at an upset price of £lO Bs. Id. did not meet with a purchaser. No. 2—5000 acres at Bell Hill Terrace, and boundary of Province, was purchased at upset price £lO Bs. 4d., by Mr. John Evans. No. 3 20,000 acres, at Tereraakau, north bank, fetched the upset price, £ll 13a. Id., Mr. Edward Horsey being the purchaser. No. 29 —40,000 acres on both sides of the Teremakau, which was put up with inqjrovements added, to the value of £565, was purchased by Mr. Daniel Hughes, the present occupant, at the upset price. No, 30, being 10,500 acres on the north side of Lake Brunner, was bought at the upset price, £21175. fid., by Messrs. ICeech and Malloy. Mr. Todd has resigned the office of Provincial Treasurer of Westland, and the position has been offered to, and accepted by Mr. Robinson, member for tfle Kanieri. The Westland Government Gazette, of Tuesday, announced the resignation of Mr. G. G. Fitz Gerald, as Returning Officer for Hokitika, and the appointment of Mr, Batham instead. Mr. Fitz Gerald resigned the conduct of the election to become a candidate for a seat on the Local Committee for the district of Hokitika.

A lively young messenger boy in the Telegraph 'Department, Hokitika, has been found guilty of destroying messages to save himself the trouble of delivering them. He used to affix signatures to the receipt forms himself. Through one of these freaks thirty-eight immigrants were landed at Greyraouth instead of Hokitika.