INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 4952, 18 April 1891, Page 1

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

(by telegraph.) (per press association*.) WELLINGTON. April 17. Dymock's bacon factory, Kaiwarra, was burned, down this evening. Tlio insurance was LBOO in the New Zealand office, partly re-insured. The Post to-night says a movement is oil foot, and will very shortly be brought to fruition, for the formation of an association to gather within its range concessions of liberal opinion in the whole colony. The proposed body will be called the New Zealand Liberal Federation, and will consist of a central institution, with all the leading members of the party as its officers, and with trades unions, knights of labor, and branches of liberal associations affiliated to it. The main object is to enable expressions of opinion from a union of the Liberal party of the colony to be given upon all important questions coming before the Legislature. The plan is now pretty well matured, and more will be heard on the subject in the course of a few days. JDUNEDIN. April 17. The names of about 75 applicants for employment have been registered for Catlin's River railway. Of this number 65 are married, the others being single with parents depending on them. AUCKLAND. April 16. The annual chrysanthemum show, held under the auspices of the Auckland Chrysanthemum Society, was opened to day at the Choral Hall by the Mayor (Mr Upton) and was a great success. There are 1600 blooms exhibited, distributed over 24 classes, and the competition is very keen. Robert Kurtz, arrested some time ago on an extradition warrant, charged with the larceny of L 3, was formally handed over to Detective Williams, of Victoria, to-day. - _ ■ The late postmaster at Whangarei (O'Halloran) who has been committed for trial, charged with forgery and with 11 offences of larceny, was brought to Auck-. land to await his trial at the Supreme Court. A movement is oil foot to light Auckland city by electricity. A syndicate announces that they propose to apply to next Parliament for authority to supply the electric light to Auckland, Wellington, and Cliristchurch. April 17. The Board of Education, after discussing the Herald article of February 7, resolved to ask the Minister of Education to alter the syllabus, with a view of giving greater prominence to essential subjects. A gum digger named George Williams, who had been at one time an officer in the navv, was burned to death in the destruction of his whare by lire at Mangawai. NEW PLYMOUTH. April 17. The case against William Appleyard, for larceny, occupied the whole day at the Supreme Court. The jury brought ill a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was acquitted. There is only one case remaining on the criminal calendar—a case of indecent assault—which will be tried to-morrow. BLENHEIM. April 17. Extraordinary electrical discharges were noticeable at 11 Mils ci-oning in flip direction of the Bar, resembling a ship's rockets. No reports were heard, and the phenomena differed from sheet lightning inasmuch that the glare occurred at regular intervals in the same direction, and was not apparently subject to scintillations caused by condensation of the atmosphere. Nothing is known of the origin of the late tire. Mr 0. H. Canavan, editor of the Times, was absent for the day in Picton, and the statements of the foreman and other employees throw no light on the cause of the disaster. Mr Beckett, the proprietor, who has lost everything, will start again, and the Times will probably be issued on Tuesday next. Spontaneous offers of support and sympathy have been received by liim from all parts of the district, including money promises and every form of assistance. INVERCARGILL. April 16. At a meeting of the creditors of C. G. Thurston, Wendon, to-day, the DeputyAssignee stated that when the bankrupt's position began to attract the attention of his creditors, the New Zealand Pine Company and the National Bank, unknown to each other, proceeded to take steps to have him adjudicated a bankrupt. The Pine Company were first in the field, and the Bank stopped proceedings, but their solicitors had made a claim on the estate for costs incurred. The Deputy-Assignee said he could not legally pay the amount out of the estate, besides which the largest creditor was the Farmers' Agency Company, who absolutely declined to agree to the payment. The Assignee remarked that such cases presented a difficulty, because the creditors, in moving the Court to adjudicate, had to observe an amount of secrecy, and several might lie applying at the same time unknown to each other. Several creditors expressed the opinion that the Bank's action, having been bona fide, the claim ought to be paid, especially as the Bank had waived certain rights for the benefit of the creditors. It was resolved to adjourn for a week to represent the matter to the Agency Company. It was mentioned that the legal expenses, bailiffs, etc., in this estate would reach over LSOO. April 17. A meeting was held to-night to consider the question of amalgamating the harbor districts, the moving cause being the desire to remove the Invercargill harbor from the jurisdiction of the Borough Council, and raise funds for its improvement. A dredge was purchased and did excellent work, but operations had to be stopped owing to lack of funds, while the harbor is indebted to the town in several thousand pounds. If the improvement is carried out 17 miles of railage to the Bluff would be saved on a portion of the trade. Resolutions affirming the desirableiiess of amalgamating the Bluff and New River Boards, and appointing a committee to take further action, were carried.