INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8294, 24 September 1903, Page 1

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

By Telegraph.

Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON. September 23. At the inquest on the body of Lopez Wilkes, of the Education Department, who cut his throat with a razor yesterday, a verdict of-suicide whilst temporarily insane was returned. Tasmanian ports having been declared free from infection it is understood that the restrictions in New Zealand against vessels which have called at Hobart will be discontinued at an early date. The Anglican Synod for the diocese of Wellington opened its session to-day. The afternoon was spent in routine work, and in the evening the Bishop of Wellington delivered his opening address to the Synodsmen. Referring to Bible-readmg in schools the Bishop said he was as strongly convinced as ever of the extreme urgency of reform in this direction. He urged continued activity in making the opinions of those in favor of Bible-reading known, and at Parlimentary elections.

A meeting of delegates of the -Soldiers' South African Graves Guild, representing various parts of the colony, was held today. The report submitted by Mrs Seddon showed that £675 had been subscribed in New Zealand. Letters ware read in reference to the graves of many New Zealanders who fell in the war. The secretary of the Klerksdorp branch of the Loyal Women's League of South Africa wrote stating that the branch had erected substantial wooden crosses over the graves of the New Zealand soldiers in Klerksdorp cemetery. It was resolved that the executive should decide how the funds should be distributed. Mrs Seddon was elected President, and thanked for her past services. The ratepayers of the Hutt River district, by 274 to 59, have sanctioned an addition to the loan of £15,000 for carrying out further river protective works.

DUNEDIN. September 23. The annual conference of the Master Builders' Association was concluded to-day. Among the resolutions passed were the fol- - That the attention of the Government be drawn to the unfairness of accident insurance policies on Government contracts being deposited; that the attention of the local authorities be called to section 27 of the Municipal Corporations Act, by which owners of irregular sections of land are placed under great disabilities in building; that the incoming Committee should endeavor to get a clause inserted in the Arbitration Act that awards just made should not apply to contracts in progress when the award is made; that a copy of awards should be sent to the'employers before the award comes into force ; that tho secretary of any industrial union should be a thoroughly competent man in the craft of which he is secretary. Mr C. E. George (Dunedin) was elected President, .Mr N. King (Stratford] Vice-President, Mr W. Jacques (Christ-church) permanent Secretary, and Messrs G. Simpson and J. Lunn and the Secretary the Committee. At a meeting of the New Zealand Bowling Association, Mr J. Hislop, now of Wellington, submitted a suggestion that the two Associations in the colony might amalgamate, to secure uniformity of rules, each conducting its tournament, the winners meeting subsequently to decide the champions. It was resolved that the executive should formulate a scheme for amalgamation, having for its chief purpose the framing of uniform rules, the scheme to be first submitted to delegates, and then to the Clubs. Mr W. Jacques (Christehureh) presided.

Sir Joseph Ward arrived from the north to-night, and will leave for uie south in the morning.

CHRISTCHURCH. September 23. A fire-year-old boy named Murchie was drowned to-day in the Waikari Creek, Scargill. The body lias been recovered. Mr Watson Dering, who is representing the English company formed to trawl New Zealand waters, states that the company, with a capital of. £300,000, has been formed, and operations will be begun about June next year. Ten trawlers will be used, and tiiree of these it is proposed to build in New Zealand. Shares will be offered to New Zealanders. The company will open fish shops in all the towns of the colony that will take a certain quantity of fish. Works for preserving fish will ba established atAuckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin and Bluff. After the New Zealand demand has been satisfied the fish will be sent to Australia and South Africa, and also probably, it is expected, to England. AUCKLAND. September 23. The Governor left for Wellington by the Ngapuhi this afternoon. He will pay his next- visit to Auckland about the middle of November, when he will open the Veterans' Home. INVERCARGILL. September 23. The Otago v. Southland football match was a draw, neither side scoring. The visitors lost chances of kicking goals and the local men of securing tries, the latter showing signs of fag, following so many interprovincial matches and tne small number to select from. The visitors had slightly the advantage in the first half, and Southland in the second: The day was fine with a breeze blowing across the ,ground. GISBORNE. September 23. Keen interest was taken in the polling today on the borough loan proposals. The proposals had previously been carried, but the limit to be paid for interest was found to be insufficient, and the poll had to be. taken again to give the enlarged power. The question as to the sources for the water supply figured largely in the fight, and the proposals were rejected by 28 votes.