INTERPROVINCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1442, 12 July 1879, Page 11

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, July 9lh,

It i 3 contemplated to form the various Auckland Volunteers into an administrative battalion.

At the Criminal Sessions D. M'Gee, charged with perjury, was acquitted ; David Edward Rhira, obtaining money under, false pretences, wa3 acquitted. The Oity Council has arranged for the introduction into Parliament during the session of a bill to cocsolidate the present Corporation loans and make provision for future loans, to transfer the Improvement Commißsioners, trust to the city, and a bill to transfer the Mechanics' Institute to the city a^ a site for a free public library, al«o to secure adoption of suggested amendments by the Council in the Municipal Corporations Act. The Hinemoa has sailed from the Manukau, taking the Hon. Hone Nahi, James Williamson, Dr Pollen, Chamberlain, Patterson, and Dignan, Members of the General Assembly — Messrs Whitaker, J. C. Brown (of Tuapeka), F. J. Mos3, M'Minn, J. S. Macfarlane, W. A, Murray (of Bruce), E. Hamlin, W. Swanson, J. A. Tole, D. Goldie, Morris, and Hori Tawhiti drove out late and missed their passage. Among the {passengers were Messrs C. O. Montrose, W. Berry, W. Wilkinson, J. Chambers, Mrs J. C. Brown, Mrs O'Rorke, Misses Williamson, and other ladies.

A portion of the anti-Chinese petition, bearing 2534 signatures, was forwarded per Mr Swanson for presentation to Parliament. Unfortunately the Thames portion of the petition, which was very numerously signed, has gone astray.

New Plymouth, July 9th. The mountain road is in a dreadful state, and there is a continuous sea of mud for a distance of several chains in different places through all the length of the road.

The Herald authoritatively states that the staff of the survey department in this district will not be reduced.

The Harbour Board have let a heavy contract;, and, with other work, over L 250 per week will be expended in labourers' wages during the next three or four months.

Te Whiti's itfluence is fast on the wane, and it is probable that it -will soon be necessary for him to clear out of the district. Natives formerly loud in Te Whiti's praise now say nothing in his favour. The downcast and dejected women whose husbands have been taken to Wellington are dreadfully enraged at what they consider Te Whiti's humbug, and it would pot be surprising if at the next meeting at Parihaka they are ready to tear the prophet to pieces for misleading their husbands.

Wellington, July 9 th. Brother C. J. Toxward baa received commission from H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, as Grand Master of England, appointing him successor to the late Donald M'Lean as District Grand Master of the Wellington Masonic district.

Morton Quin, late district secretary to the Foresters, has been arrested and remanded on a charge of embezzling funds of the Order.

The Land Tax Revision Court sat to-day. More than four-fifths of the appeal called on went by default, as the objectors did not appear. The appeals were sustained in only a very few instances. A large number of appeals were withdrawn after the sitting of the Court had commenced. There were 2200 appeals set down.

The following tenders were received for the river Temuka bridge contract of the Canterbury interior main line, Oxford to Temuka : — Accepted : Henderson and Fergus, Dunedin, L 4318. Declined! T. J. Parsone, Christ church, L' 481 7; W. Paisley, Dnnedin, L 5070 ; J. Philips, Timaru, L 5252." And for the River ■Eyre Bridge contract of the same line :—Accepted : Henderson and Fergus, Dunedin, L 3788. Declined : James Butt, Kaiapoi, L 3916; F. Benham, Christchurch, L 4199; Thomas Hill, L 424 1; Downes and Proctor, Dunedin, L 4450.

The telegraph authorities have received a message from Mr Todd, in Adelaide, stating that the break in the cable is believed to be about 380 miles from Port Darwin. If all goes well, it is hoped it will be repaired by Sunday. A steamer with telegrams may be expected at Port Darwin on Thursday or Friday.

In the Supreme Court to-day, George England, of the Hutt, was convicted of malicious injury to property in his father's house. The father was recently declared insane by a commifsion. As the matter was a family quarrel, and the prisoner agreed to repair damages, he was released on his own recognisances to come up for trial when called on. The wreckage found at the Heads has been recognised as belonging to the barquentine Swallow, recently wiecked at Tcry Channel. Some spars were washed ashore to-day, and the pilot has gone to examine them. The late&t canard is that the hitherto unfilled portfolio of Mines is to be given to Mr Gisborne. It is intended also to fill the portf Ho of Minister of Agriculture, and that, as ploughing has lately assumed considerable pol'tical importance, the portfolio will be given to the Native Minister, Mr Sheeban. The Commifsioners to open Parliament on Fi iday will, it is said, be Sir William Fitzherb. rr, Sir F. D. Bell, and Colonel Whitmore. The Governor's Speech will not be delivered till Tuesday, as the House has first to elect a (Speaker, and the Government has to approve thf choice.

Tjio Post hears on good authority that the G iveiMment will propesa the reimposition of tLo and timber duties.

Th-i Hon. J. 11. Wilson will probably be a f.-urlb. Oommisnoner for opening Parliament. Numbers of Nelson, Marlborough, and West (!iM*t m nabers^have already arrived. Tiie Governor's Speech will not be a particuJnily L'tig one, and Government do not intend in r icluoiiig very many bills.

Mr Sheehan will manage the House business dv iag the session.

Chkistohukch, July 9fch. Forty membsrs of the City Guards, with Captain Hawkes and Lieutenant Wolfe, offered their services to the Government to go to the

front. No reply has yet been receive.! from Colonel Whitmore.

A little boy, eight years of age, named Goodall, sou of a widow, was playing yesterday afternoon on Madras bridge, and fell into the river head first, floating down the stream faoe downward. John Tasker, a butcher, was passiog, aud jumped in. He dived twice bsfore he got tin boy, as the latter had sunk. He got safely to land, and Lad the boy attended to before he restored him to his mother. Mr Tasker, 10 yexrs ago, recovered a child from fire at the Bu'ller, and afterwards saved the life of his inata, named George Kirkland, who fell out of a canoe.

Mr C. C Howard, principal of the Normal School, has received notice to quit from the Board of Education.

Not a single exhibit of ham or bacon has been received for the Syiney Exhibition, and of cheese there are only two exhibits. The Supreme Court was occupied all day with tbe charge of arson agaiost Lswis, occupier of a fruit-shop opposite tb.9 Bank of New Zealand. At 5 o'clock the case for the Crown closed, but the counsel for the defence demurred to entoriog into the defence after an exhausting cross examination. The Judge made some difficulty, but eventually, seeing there was no chance of concluding before midnight, agreed to adjourn. There is still another defended case to try.

ASHBOETON, July 9th.

A meeting of the borough ratepayers was hold last evening, and a resolution was passed in fovour of the proposed loan of £15,000 for drainage and other works in the borough. There was only a small attendance. The voting will take place on tbe 17th inst. Farmers are very busy prenftTing land for spring sowing. It is expectea a large acreage will be under crop this year, owing to the favourable condition of the plains since the recent rains.

Timaru, .July 9th.

The South Canterbury Board of Education have determined to take a decided stand in reference to the appointment of teachers by school committees, and the result will be that if they consider a committee doe 3 not select the bast of the applicants whose iiam?s are handed in to them, they will appoint the taach:r themselve3. This step has been decided upon owing to the Timaru School Committee ( ; n particular) and others apparently doing all they can to ignore and hamper the Board. Mr Turnbull, M.H.R., left for the North today by express train, as well as many other Southern members. Mr Wakefield will probably leave to-morrow.