INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7215, 20 May 1898, Page 1

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

S (BY TBLEGBAPH.) (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON. I May 19. i It was announced some time ago thab s the South Australian Government intended to take immediate steps to. im- " prove the Porb Darwin line, which' had proved incompetent to deal with the , work thrown upon it. Since the out- " break of the war matters have been worse than ever, owing to the great increase of j messages, and the delay, especially to the a Press messages, is intolerable yeb all the South Australian Government have done * so far is to order some copper wire, which, 3 a message-to the Postal Department here says, will not arrive for.some time. As lb then has to be erected, no improvement ' upon the present state of things can be 3 expected for a considerable period yet, 1 The City Council to-nfgbb accepted the ' award as to the damage done to goods in Bing, Harris and Co.'s warehouse by the j overflow of sewage from the city drainage 3 works. The Council decided that the damage was caused by the neglect to close

the valves of the ejector station in Victoria street, in which the warehouse is situated ; and in order to mark their seuso of the gravity of the offence have reduced the salary of the chief engineer of the pumping works by L3O per annum. _ The total cost to the City Corporation will be about LI6OO. The City Council decided to ask the co-operation of the other local bodies in its efforts to secure the Mount Cook site for Victoria College. A recommendation from the Firo Appliances Committee was adopted by the Harbor Board to-day, in effect that the committee be permitted to approach the Government, City Council, and Underwriters' Association, with a view of obtaining L2OO from each to purchase a steam fire float capable of pumping 1800 gallons of water ppr minute under a pressure of 2001ba to the square inch. It is proposed to have the machine constructed in the colony. The Native Appellate Court decided to-day that the lineal descendants of Te Whatanui are entitled to 600 acres (onehalf) of the Horowhenua No. 9 Block, and that the descendants of Hitaura are entitled to the other half. Professor Benham, who was for some time assistant to Professor Ray Lankester at Oxford University, arrived in the Ivaikoura to-day, on his way to take up the duties discharged in the Otago University by the late Professor Parker. Admiral Pearson arrived by H.M.S. Royal Arthur. He landed and paid his respects to the Governor and Ministers, the visit being returned in the afternoon. The usual salutes were fired. Admiral Pearson will accompany the Premier to the large native demonstration at Papanui next week. May 20. The Aorangi, with the colonial mails dated April 28th, reached Victoria (8.C.) on May 18th ; one day early. Mr A. H. Johnson, who has beon appointed signal engineer to the New Zealand .railways, has had a considerable experience In England and the United States. It will be his duty to design and develop. a system of interlocking points and signals, an improvement in the present system having been found absolutely necessary. The signal cabins in uso are to be fitted up with more modern appliances and their number increased. Extensive plans are preparing and the first steps'towards the now installation will be taken in the Wellington yards. Out of 10 applications for the pest of pilot the Harbor Board selected Captain Dawson, second mate of the steamer Wainui. A deputation of brewers asked the Premier to modify certain penal clauses in the licensing legislation which were felt to press unfairly on the trade and cause considerable hardship. The Premier said ho was in sympathy with the deputation, whose views were moderate and reasonable, and he promised to do all in his power to bring about an equitable read justmenb. AUCKLAND. May 19. The produce market is still advancing. Dairy butter has advanced 2d, and is quoted at Is per pound wholesale. All cereals have advanced. Oats are quoted at 2s lOd ; seeci oats, os 2d to 3s 6d ; wheab 4a 7d; potatoes, L7to L 7 10s. Inquiries are being made for flix at Ll4 to Ll4 10s. CHRISTCHUROH. May 19. The Industrial Association to-night decided to recommend the Industrial Corporation to instruct their delegates to co-operate with the Wellington Industrial Association in meeting the Trades and Labor Council should a meeting be arranged. A sub-committee was appointed to take steps for obtaining data in connection with the early settlement in Canterbury with a view to celebrating the jubilea of the province in connection with the suggested industrial exhibition. May 20. Expressions of deep regret and sympathy were general throughout the city lasb night, when news of the death of Mr Gladstone was received. The Cathedral bell tolled at intervals of a minute, one toll being given for each year of Mr Gladstone's age. NAPIER. May 19. Messrs Nelscn Bros, to-day received the following cable from the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company " London frozen meat market. —There is a still further decline in prices to-day. Quotations are : Best Canterbury mutton 6Jd per lb, best Dunedin and Southland 3d per lb, Napier and North Island 2;Jd per lb. The reduced prices are duo to the action of outside holders. Stocks of frozen meat of all kinds are moderate. Lamb—First quality 4d par lb, second 3|d per lb. May 20. William Douglas, a very old settler, is dead. The cause of death was a complication of chest affections following an attack of influenza. The deceased, who arrived in the colony 48 years ago, was well known in connection with racing, Mutiny, Toriki, and Donald M'Kinnon running under his colors. STRATFORD. May 20. The Hon. John M'Kenzie addressed a packed meeting last night. His speech was mostly devoted to Mr Scobie Mackenzie's address at Auckland. He twitted him with never being for years on the same side, and denied that the Government ever influenced the votes of Civil Servants. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by acclamation as against one of thanks only, and the meeting gave cheers for the Government. TIMARU. V; . May 19. The sittings/of the Revision Court today for a portion of the Levels County j was remarkable for the conflicts of opinion between' the local valuer (Mr E. P. Sealey) and the district and supervising valuers (Messers Ai, Allan and A. P. O'Callaghan). Mr Sealey's valuations in several important caseß . have 'been considerably increased by the supervisor. The former admitted that one of. his. principles in valuing had been consideration of what.the land ought to sell for,'actual sales being disregardable if plainly too much was given by the purchaser for. land as an industrial investment. "The Court made partial reductions in most cases, in one going back to the local valuer's figures. There were tiffs between the valuer and supervisor, and on one occasion the former appealed for the protection of the Court against a reflec- j tion upon him.