INTERPROVINCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1421, 15 February 1879, Page 17

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, February 6th. Mr Hislop, secretary of the Working Men's Club, has circulated an anti-Chinese petition similar to the Wellington one, and it has been largely signed by the various trades. A meet* ing of trade delegates was held at the Club last night to take further action. Great excitemenp prevails over the sailing match of Ll6O a, side between the Transit and Torea. The course is round the Watchman, off Cape Colville, 100 miles distant. A splendid start was made under a medium breeze. Round* ing the North Head the Transit was slightly leading. The Chamber are taking steps to have Auckland represented by exhibits at the Sydney Exhibition, and appointed a committee to act with the Royal Commission. February 10th. The City of Sydney, mail steamer, coaled at Russell with 250 tons of Bay of Islands coal. OwiDg to the unremitting exertions of MrR. J. Creighton, an old Auckland resident, 1,000,000 whitefish from Lake Michigan, U. S. , are expected to arrive by the mail steamer tomorrow. The New Zealand Government, to whom they are consigned, at Mr Creighton'a urgent request has apportioned 250,000 to the Province of Auckland, and the remaining 750,000 are to be deposited in Southern lakes. In accordance with the request of the Government, Mr Firth will take charge of the transhipment of the ova in boxes from the mail steamer by the Hinemoa, the Government having instructed Captain Fairchild to convey the ova South. Mr Firth has completed the insulation boxes. Warned by the experience gained in past experiments, he has provided eight wooden insulating-boxes, 18 inches square and 12 inches deep. The necessary ventilation and drainage, without which transportation of ova is rendered difficult, and attended with, much greater mortality, is provided. The sides of the boxes are lined with a double thickness of boiler felting, which is covered with American cloth, the upper edges of which being securely fastened to the box, all wetting of the felting ia prevented, so preserving its insulating pjwer intact, Mr John Grey, by Mr Firth's instructions, ba3 prepared a ton of ice, which the latter gentle, man thinks will be sufficient to secure the safe transit of the ova from the mail staamer to the lakes for which they are intended. Immediately on the arrival of the mail steamer the Hinemoa will hasten alongside, and on the completion of the tranship, ment Captain Fairchild will lose no time in con* veying his freight to its various destination?, Mr Firth goes down to Tauranga, from which poxt he will start with 250,000 ova for the lake? at Tarawera, Taupe*, and possibly Rgto!U%

The Government has instructed the officers of the Armed Constabulary to render every assistance in their power. The Natives are exceedingly pleased at the intelligence that whitefish are to be placed in the lakes, and are anxious to co-operate in every possible way to secure the success of the enterprise. The presence of Dr Hector, who is here on the Education Commission, has been of great advantage to Mr Firth. February 12th. Major Gordon, Jate Inspector of Volunteers for the Auckland district, died at Onehunga to-day. He entered the 73rd (Perthshire) Highlanders as an ensign in 1854, and saw service in the Crimea. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1858, became an adjutant, and rose to captain. Having left the Imperial army, he obtained the post of commander of the Colonial forces in the Northern district, where by strict impartiality and soldierly efficiency he rendered himself very popular with the officers and men. Owing, however, to late political causes, a change was made by the Government in the command, and Major Gordon accepted a position in the South. He had been ill since October last. The Education Commissioners have appointed the following sub-committees to inspect the subjoined institutions :— Auckland College, Professors Shand, Sale, and the Rev. Mr Habens ; Church ot England Grammar School, Parnell, the same subcommittee ; St, John's College, Professors Cook and Brown, and Dr Hector ; St. Mary's College, North Shore, Professor Ulrich and Mr G. M. O'Eorke. The city land tax valuers report but little progress. At Parnell, out of 320 schedules issued, 160 have been returned. In Auckland city 300 were issued and_ only one-third are returned. In a large Bection of the City West only one person is returned as liable. Thomas Fidget, generally said to have been once a lieutenant on board one of her Majesty's Bhips, has been committed for trial at Otahuhu for setting fire to a number of wheat and hay stacks in that district on the 25th January. The contest for City West, Auckland, is likely to be between Messrs Peter Dignan and David Goldie. So far as appears at present the only issue to be submitted to the constituency will be a religious one, raised by the Roman Catholics, on the education question. A meeting of Mr Goldie's supporters was held this evening, to arrange a canvass of electors. Mr Hugh Knox, Camp Farm, Otahuhu district, has threshed his wheat crop, and found it to average a fraction over 58 bushels per acre. The yield of wheat on Mr Bombridge's farm, Whangarei, is also very large. One of the valuers for the Thames Countyunder the Land Tax Act has had one form returned to him endorsed as follows :— " Being a Christian, pure and simple, and a pilgrim on earth waiting for my Lord from Heaven, and for the City of my Lord in the new Jerusalem, I hold no property, landed or otherwise, on earth. I am simply a lodger in the house I reside in, and must refer you to who is the owner, thereof. —Yours respectfully, ." Wellington, February 7th. A telegram from the Agent-General dated February 4th announced the departure of the Westland for Port Chalmers, with 167 emigrants. February Bth. The ship Hyderabad is afloat, and anchored, outside the breakers. The racehorse Saunterer is reported to have changed hands at L2OO. February 10th. The ship Hyderabad, when being towed off by the steamer Glenelg,sprung a bad leak, and as she would have sunk in deep water, she had to be left. She is now abandoned. The meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association to-night decided on a programme which includes 16 matches, in which the aggregate prizes vary from L 25 to L 75;7 5; and the total amount to be fired for is L6OO, or more [if subscriptions come in. This sum is exclusive of plate and other prizes presented by private individuals. Some very handsome Seizes have already been promised in this way. to entrance exceeds ss. The barque Aberdeen, from New York to Wellington direct, is now_ 145 days out, and some anxiety is felt regarding her. The salvage frem the Carterton 'fire was so large that the insurance companies are not likely to lose more than 60 per cent, of the sums insured on Casaelberg's. After consultation with Lloyd's agents, Captains Gibbons and Holmes have determined not to abandon the Hyderabad. They will beach her, and ascertain whether the leak can be repaired, and discharge the remainder of the cargo. If the leak can be stopped another effort will be made to get her off. Ray has bought the colt Volunteer for L2OO. The annual meeting of the shareholders in the Wellington Coal Company was held this afternoon ; Mr J. R. George in the chair. A balance-sheet was brought up showing a debit balance of L 982. No report was presented, but the directors explained verbally that additional capital was absolutely necessary to work the company successfully. It was resolved that the capital be increased to L 20.000 by the issue of 1000 LlO shares, and failing shares to the amount of L3OOO being taken up this month, the company should be wound up, Mr D. T. Stuart in that case being appointed liquidator. The retiring directors, Messrs George and Kebbell, were re-elected. February 11th, At the Executive Council meeting to-day, the Ministers advised the Governor that they saw no reason to interfere so as to prevent the law taking its course in regard to Welsh. The Governor approved of their advice, and Welsh is accordingly to be executed. The brig Neptune has arrived at Newcastle, with D'Urville Island copper ore. The Jackson's Bay Commissioner will probably Btart for the scene of inquiry on Saturday. Since his return, the Hon. Mr Sheehan has given most careful attention to Welsh's case. At the Executive Council today the Ministers advised the Governor they saw no cause for interfering with the sentence. The Governor approved, and the usual intimation was ordered to be sent to the Sheriff. A Royal Commission has been asdgned to Mr Bryce, M.H.R., to inquire into the Bay of Islands election roll case, about which so much was said last session. Mr Bryce was asked to undertake the inquiry immediately after the session, but it is only now that he is able to give his time to it. !Fobruarv 12fch. The New Zealand R'fle Association Committee to-night finally decided on the programme of the Nelson meeting. The number of matches is increased to 19. The entries are to be made to the secretary, Nelson, on or before February 28th. There is to be a special Licensed Victuallers' prize, and a Tradesmen's prize. A deputation was appointed to wait on the Commissioner of Telegraphs to ask that a station may be opened at the camp during the meeting. It is hoped the total prize-money may be considerably in•creased by returns not yet received from several •districts.

Th« body of J. F. Jones, who has been missing for several days, was found in the harbour, •Aa inquest was held, and a verdict returned of

"Found drowned." Deceased served three years under Colonel Haultain in the Waikato, and afterwards had a school in Auckland. He had been in low spirits, and on a previous occasion had shown a suicidal tendency. The Chief Justice to-day dismissed the appeal of Captain Sellars, of the Zealandia, against the Magistrate's decision giving LSO damages to a boy injured on New Year's Night, 1877, by a rocket fired from the Zealandia. Napiek, February 6th. The Hawke'a Bay Eifle Association prizefiring was completed yesterday morning. M. N. Mackintosh, of the Napier Volunteer Engineers, was the highest aggregate scorer, making 157 points out of a possible 204. Nelson, February 6th. There was considerable excitement over the election to-day. The result of the polling was— Adams, 369; Pitt, 252. Hokitika, February 11th. A fresh discovery of gold is reported at Back Creek, three miles above Woodstock, in the Kanieri district. Payable washdirt was met with on Saturday. February 12th. A man named Stafford was killed at Staffordtown by a tree falling on him while working in a sluicing claim. Death was instantaneous. He leaves a widow and seven children. Westport, February 7th. The Commissioners have received the Governor's permission to inform Warden Broad that the charges of intemperance were not proved, and that no imputation rests on his character. He has applied to be removed from Westport. Christchurch, February 7th. Mr Saunders, the member for Cheviot, last night addressed a portion of his constituents, at the schoolhouse, Waikari. About 30 electors were present. The speech was chiefly devoted to explaining why he did not support the Grey Ministry throughout the session. In reference to the extension of the Northern Eailway, he gave Messrs Bowen and Richardson great credit for the manner in which they had exerted themselves in the matter, and stated that the work now under contract was merely a short length, viz., to Waipara River, and there had been nothing definite done with respect to the continuation of the line. At the conclusion of the address several questions were answered by Mr Saunders, and a unanimous vote of confidence was accorded to him. A special vote of thanks was also accorded and ordered to be forwarded to Messrs Bowen and Richardson, for the pains they had taken in the matter of Northern Railway extension. Messrs Robert Allan, Fred. Jenkins, and H. Sawtell were nominated to-day to represent the City on the Lyttelton Harbour Board. There are two vacancies. February Bth. By the last Suez mail an advice was received by the Railway Department informing them that the ironwork of 100 waggons had been forwarded—so for Lyttelton and 50 for Port Chalmers. It will arrive in about a fortnight The woodwork is finished and waiting its arrival, and the trucks will be running a fortnight after it comes. The additions to the Kaiapoi woollen mills are now complete, and the new machinery will all fee erected and at work in a few days. The Company will then be able to turn out any kind of tweed that maybe required. February 10th. Sergeant Beck has resigned. The Christchurch Tramway Company held their first annual meeting on Saturday. The rolling-stock will be shipped from Home and America in about three months. Messrs D. Craig and C. W. Turner were elected by the Chamber of Commerce to represent it on the Lyttelton Harbour Board. Messrs Revans, Nathan, Wood, Beaumont, Turner, and Cunningham were elected a committee to co-operate with the Royal Commission for the Sydney Exhibition. February 11th. An instance of contempt of Court committed under the authority and sanction of the General Manager of Railways was brought before the Bench at Rangiora to-day. It was shown that in a case in which the Bench had made an order for the delivery of certain goods on payment of a specified sum, the stationmaster demanded an additional amount, and refused to give up the goods under the order of the Court, also stating that in doing so he was acting strictly in accordance with instructions from the General Manager. February 12th. A child named Esther Cane, 14 years of age, was yesterday committed for trial for stealing a L5-note and some silver. There was a long meeting of the Hospital Aid Board last night. The principal business was Mr J. E. Brown's motion relative to cancelling the appointment of the present medical staff, with a view to receiving offers from practitioners for attendance at the Hospital during the ensuing year. After much talk, the motion was carried, Dr Turnbull and Mr Montgomery only dissenting. Edward Clarkson was committed for trial this morning for indecently assaulting his mother. The case was of the most disgusting description. The Governor arrived at 10 minutes past 6 this morning, and held a levee at 1 pm. Addresses were read from the City Council and the Selwyn County Council, and a number of gentlemen were present. His Excellency leaves to-morrow for Wellington again. Sixty-three pounds has been collected towards the Chess Congress. The first prize will be LIOO, and a the second and third prizes will be in proportion. A lad named Higgins met with a dreadful accident on Tuesday, He was working a Saunderson's self-delivery reaper in a paddock near Harndon Junction, when he accidentally fell in frontof the machine. The^ guiding-rod was driven into his side near the hip, and came out near the neck, literally impaling him. Great difficulty was found in releasing him, and he died in nine hours, after suffering great agony. Timaru, February 6th. The Board of Governors of the Timaru High School resolved last night to call for competitive designs for a school to hold 200 pupils, and to cost L4OOO. The annual parish festival in connection with St. Mary's Episcopalian Church was attended by fully 2000 persons, principally children. February Bth. The body of Captain Evans, of the ketch Palmerston, who was drowned at the time of the shipping casualties on lnt September last, was found to-day buried in shingle in Caroline Bay. It was hardly recognisable. At the Waimate Police Court yesterday, Sarah Steel and Robert Lee were committed for trial for forging and uttering cheques in the name of the female prisoner's husband. Other similar charges will be preferred against the prisoners for offences committed at Christohurch.

A public meeting is to ba held at Temuka on TueecUy to urge on the Government tho im*

mediate commencement of the inland trunk line from Oxford to Temuka. The diving apparatus for the Harbour Board arrived from London to-day. Ib is supplied with the electric light. February 10th. The contractor has notified that the GO-ton steam crane for harbour works is now ready at Christchurch, and it is expected to be delivered withia a fortnight. The works will then be pushed on rapidly. I The first meeting of the Milford Harbour Board, and a meeting of the newly elected Timaru Harbour Board, take place tomorrow. The Levels Road Board, at a meeting today, objected to the Chairman Bitting on both Harbour Boards, and gave a strong hint to him to resign from the Milford one. The Levels Board have decided to dispense with the services of their engineer, as, owing to the dropping of the land fund, their funds are not so ample as formerly.