INTERPROVINCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1444, 26 July 1879, Page 9

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, July 17th. The Thames Harbour Board, after years of agitation, got the title to the Thames foreshore yesterday. It comprises 620 seres ; present rentals, L6OO a year ; cost to Government of extinguishing the title, L 3500. The Young Men's Christian Association's free public library and free reading- room have baen opened,

July 18th. Peter Murphy was charged with attempting rape ou Mrs Jessie M'Carthy, near Pisnmure. The prosecutrix refused to give evidence against the prisoner. The magistrate, on committing her to gaol for eight days, and remanding the case, induced her to yield and give evidence, and the case was resumed. The SubInspector said efforts were made to compromise with the husband pecuniarily. The case is now going on. July 19th. There has been correspondence in the Press as to the anomaly of nautical assessors appointed by tbe Government to hold courts of inquiry being also in the employ of the insurance companies. A ssaman named Martin was precipitated into the hold of the barquo Stag. He was badly gashed on the forehead.

New Plymouth, July 21st. The schooner Arthur Wakefield, from Lyttelton, with wheat for this port, foundered in the Straits on Saturday night, and the captain and crew, in an open boat, made New Ply mouth, arriving in the roadstead at 8. 30 last night, having been 12 hours in the boat. The particulars given by Captain Andrews as to the foundering of the schooner Arthur Wakefield are as follows: — "She left Lyttelton on Tuesday last, and made Cape Egmont between 11 and 12 o'clock on Friday ni -^ht, when the wind lulled. A heavy sea wai running on Saturday, and when the mate tried the pui»p3 ho found an unusual quantity of water in the hold. The captain then went forward and found six inches of water there. Buckets as well as pumps were then used ia the endeavour to keep the vessel clear, but this was of no avail, and her course waa then shaped for Wanganui, with the wind west. When off Opunake she showed signs of settling down. At 825 p.m. the captain gave orders to launch the boat, but owing to the heavy sea this waa a matter of much diffie ilty, and it was dotibtf ul if a small boat couldlive. However, the brat wa3 launched safely, and had scarcely left when the vessel foundered, going down head ■firrft. Nothing was saved beyond the ship's register. The crew had but scanty clothiug, most of them being in their shirts and trousers. The captain ordered the boat to be headed for Opunake, but on reaching there it was found impossible to land owing to the heavy sea, and consequently they stood out to sea, working at the oars all night, while some were engaged in baling the boat. At daybreak the captain determined to make for New Plymouth, and during tho whole of Sunday they were without food or water. They readied New Plymouth at dark, and when entering the surf the boat was upset and its occupants thrown out. One seaman obtained possession of a life-buoy, while the others struck out for the shore, which they reached safely, but much exhausted. Their legs were cramped from having satin the boat for 24 hours. They managed to reach Brougham street, when they wore taken to the Imperial Hotel and well cared for. Tho captain can give no reason for the disaster. The Arthur Wakefield was built at Auckland, by John Burwell, in 1873, to the order of Captain Cross, of Nelson, her present owner. She was insured for about L6OO, and her cargo of wheat, which waa consigned to Mesßrs Webster Brothers, was insured for L7OO. The captain and crew have lost everything they possessed.

Wellington, July 19th. The circuit sitting of the Supreme Court will commence on Monday. Dr Hector has received the following telegram from the Secretary to the International Commission, Sydney :—": — " There is no authority for the statement in the Press that the Exhibition will not open before the Ist of October. It is impossible at present to fix. the date, but it will probably be towards the end of Sep. tember." The secretary to the Exhibition Commission (Mr Callis) will leave Wellington at tho end of this month, for Sydney, in charge of the New Zealand exhibits.

July 20th. The Press dinner last evening was a great success. A number of members of the House were present, including the Native Minister. The s. s. Hawea left for South at 2 p. m. this afternoon, but owing to the tremendously heavy head sea sha was compelled to run back to Wareer'a Bay for shelter.

July 21st. A boat containing two Italians, which left the pilot station for Cape Terawiti, is missing, and it is feared the occupants have met with a watery grave. Another boat has gone out to search the beach.

The Government steamer Hinemoa arrived from New Plymouth with IS more Native prisoners, who have been lodged in the barracks. A deptitation of all the Ofcago members now here waited to-day on Sir George Grey as Colonial Treasurer to urge the claim of the County Councils of Otago to tbe payment of the L 54,000 of land revenue kept back from them, and which the Public Accounts Committee last session recommended should be refunded. Mr DeLautour acted as spokesman, and after hearing him, the Treasurer expressed himself much, impressed with the force of the arguments, and promised to consult his colleagues with a view to giving effect to tbe requirements of the deputation. At_ a meeting of footballers held this evening, it was decided to canvass the town for subscriptions to send a team to Chriatchurch to play a match there. They also expect to meet a Dunedin team which will be coming to Christchurch about that time.

July 22nd. Samuel Locke, late Native Resident Magistrate at Napier, was found in the water last night by the night watchman of the wharf. On being taken out, it was found tbat he had sustained considerable injuries, having a compound fracture of the leg. An operation had to be performed, and five pieces of bone were extracted. It is not known how he got into the water.

Nelson, July 18th. Nelson is sending over LBOO worth of articles to the Sydney Exhibition.

Christohuroh, July 17th. The work of raising the barque Bells in Lyttelton harbour is in progress. Chains have been put under tbe stern of the vessel by Connel, the diver. It is proposed to lift her with two coal hulks. Steam pumps and the tugboat Lyttelton will be employed to pump her out.

Fifty- seven cases of Canterbury exhibits for the Sydney Exhibition were shipped by the Rotorua. A few more go by the Wakatipu. Three tenders have been received for two iron traversers on the Lyttelton railway:— J. Anderson, of Christchurch, L 99 each ; Davidson and Co., Dunedin, LBS each; Scott Brothers, Christchurch, L 65 each. The latter tender was accepted. A cursory glance at the Newton Hall designs show styles of Venetian, Gothic, Italian, and Elizabethan. A committee will be appointed to-night to award the premiums.

A commencement has been made with the water-supply experiments at the Waimakariri. Cable adivces have been received of the ■ale in London by th« National Bank of N»w

Zealand of the Lyttelton Harbour Board loan of L 200,000, bearing 6 per cent, interest, at an average price of LlO2 7s lOd. The Christchurch District Drainage Board debentures of Lloo,o€o, also bearing 6 per cent, interest, had besn sold a few days previously at 106 by the Bank of New Zealand.

July 18th. An artesian well, with a two and a- half inch pipe, sunk on the Christchurch tramway promisss, 192 ins. through lower stratum gives a magnificent flow of water, rising 11 feet above the level of the ground. In consequence of Mr Hannay's appointment as traffic manager of the Timaru-Palmersfcon section of railway, Mr C. A. Badham, late Commissioner's chief clerk, will become secretary of railways in the South I-land. The Lyttelton Harbour Board bayo determined to connect their offices in Chiistchurch and Lyttelton and the pilot station at the Head* by telephone if possible. The cost is estimated at LSOO. The Lunatic Asylum, two miles from town, which is already connected by telegraph with the fire brigade and police stations, will probably be furnished with a telephone apparatus.

Twenty-three designs for the town hall have been sent in, and the City Council are aghast at the prospect before them. They have selected a committee of 10 men. to help them, ia their examination and choice.

July 22nd. A sample of winter barley, quits ripe, waa shown in town yesterday. It was sown in January, at South Rangitata, and reaped last week.

A seaman of the ship Soukar, loading with ba'last, was yesterday knocked over by a basket, and fell 24 feet down the main hold. He escaped, fortunately, with a severe shaking. The work of stripping the female trout for ova has commenced. It is anticipated that nearly 80,000 eggs will be obtained. Mr W. M. Haunay, the newly-appointed manager for the Temuka-Palmerston section of the railway, was yesterday presented with a handsome timepieca, with an elegant plated teapot added,for MrsHanuay. Mr Hannay left this morning for Oamaru, where he will in future reside.

In the Supremo Court this morning Mr Macassey obtained a rule nisi for leave to* move for a new trial In the celebrated Waimate bush fire case — Court v. Studholme — on the ground that the verdict, which had been for plaintiff, was against the weight of evidence, and that since the trial new and important evidancd had been discovered.

Tisiaru, July 17fch. Tubb and Targus, contractors for the newGovernment buildings, commenced work today.

A protest has been entered against Ada, the winner of the Consolation Eace at the steeplechases yesterday, on the ground that her rider (Lyford) was disqualified at Dunedin for foul riding, the decision being upheld by the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Club. The stewards will meet to-morrow to consider tho protest. The racehorses Royalty, Silver3tream, Tha Agent, and Ada left for Chrißtchurch to-day. v July 18th.

It is understood that Mr Stout, in reply to the Harbour Board* request, hag given his opinion regarding the loan of L 25.000 to the Borough Council for waterworks purposes, and that it is to the effect that the Board cannot legally lend the money.

Ashbuiiton, July 18th. The poll taken yesterday of the burgesses in favour or otherwise of the proposed municipal loan of L 15,000 resulted in a majority of 65 being in favour of the loan. The Borough Council intend to place the raising of the loanu in the London market through the Bank of New Zealand.