INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 4953, 21 April 1891, Page 1

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

(BY TELEGRAPH.) (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON. April 20. The Minister for Defence shortly leaves for Auckland to consult the Governor on defence matters. It is stated that the report of Captain Castles and Lieutenant White on the Shelly Bay disaster will not be made public in the face of the rumor that an action for damages is threatened against the Government on behalf of one of the men killed. The Harbor Board's 40-ton crane was successfully tried to-day. The s.s. Pakeha arrived in London on Saturday last, and the Mamari left Rio for London on Friday. The frozen meat in both vessels is reported to be in good condition. Sir Robert Stout has been retained by Mr Yogel to apply for a writ of quo warranto in the Aldridge case, which challenges the legality of Judge Edwards' appointment. DUNEDIN. April 20. An uninhabited house of eight rooms, in which was stored a quantity of grain, was destroyed by fire at Chatton on Saturday night. The property was owned by P. Ford, and was insured in the South British office for Ll5O. Mr James Mills, managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company, says there is no foundation for the report of further amalgamation. The report possibly originated in the fact that there is a likelihood of some arrangement being arrived at to terminate the cut-throat competition carried on along the Australian coast. CHRISTCHURCH. April 20. The agricultural returns for Akaroa, Asliburton, and Selwyn comities, just published, show : —Wheat—Akaroa, 431 acres. 12,033 bushels ; Asliburton, 70,741 acrosj 1,199,504 bushels ; Selwyn, 50,344 acres, 857,451 bushels. Oats for grain— Akaroa, 171 acres, 5167 bushels ; Asliburton, 20,992 acres. 657,087 bushels; Selwyn, 25,025 acres, 452,405 bushels. The whole of the proposals of the City Council Works and Finance Committees to dismiss the city surveyors and employ one inspector instead of two, and reduce the assistant town clerk's salary, were rejected by the Council to-night. GISBORNE. April 20. A lai-ge meeting of natives was held to day to consider the dismissal of the five Native Land Court Judges. Several speakers denounced the injustice of dismissing the Maori-speaking Judges while retaining those who do not understand the language or customs of the Maoris. Ultimately it was decided to petition the Government on the subject.