INTERPROVINCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1476, 28 February 1880, Page 12

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, February 20th. At the meetiDg of the Waste Lands Board, the Chairman announced the receipt of a letter from Mr J. W. Tredwill, secretary of the WorkiDg Men's Association at (JhristOiurch, reciting the terms upou which tbpy wished to take up landß near Hamilton. One condition was that settlers with their families should be conveyed to the land free of c Bt, and that they should be provided with work for some time. Mr' Tonka observed that the writer had cinitted » vary eaueatiftl condition-

viz., that the settlers should be provided with a comfcrtablehome and supplied with full rations for the first year. Under the same terms be would like to '■etile down himself. Mr Tredwill's overture weie not accepted. Mr W. G. Hurst is exhibiting onions grown at his estate, Tukapuna Lake, weighing 21b 10:>z, and measuring 28J inches in circumference. The rmallest in the bed weighs over one pound. A chemical manure known as Hurdt's mixture was used.

February 22.

The foreman of Messrs Fraser and Tinne's establishment was drowned to-day while bathing at Mechanics' Bay.

Auckland, February 24th. Wm. A. Baker, a respHctably-connected young man, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour, for obtaining goods by false pretences by means ot cheques on the Colonial Bank of New Zealand. He fainted on being taken into the corridor of the Court. Wm. H. Bender, head master of the Newton East School, was charged with assaulting Edward Golding, a pupil 10 years of age, by flogging him for truancy. The case was dismissed, each party to pay their own costs. The boy bad bpen fiogijec l during the fiist quarter for some effanco. He was absent last quarter 68 times, &nd this q mrtcr 17 times. Six of the French Communists have gone to Whangarei to seek work afc the coalmines or gumfieldp, and the local police have been instructed not to interfere with them in any way that would prejudice their chance of employment.

Grahabktown, February 21st. There is small probability of Mr Rowe fl 'ating the Caledonian Company. Auckland capitalists have combined against him.

Gisborne, February 24th. There is considerable excitement about the oil-springs. A member of the firm of Clarke Brothers, of Melbourne, and Mr Fleming (representative of Canada at the Melbourne Exhibition, and an oil expert) have visited the springs. Mr Fleming says the indications are equal to anything in America. It is believed probable that a company with a capital of L 60,000 will be floated to work the oil.

Wellington, February 20th. A deputation, representing unemployed immigrants, waited on the Colonial Treasurer this morning, urgirg the necessity cf providing them with work or with means of gtttiug out of the city and into the country. The number of unemployed immigrants was stat9d to be 200. The Colonial Treasurer replied that the Government were giving the matter very serious consideration, and had come to the conclusion that the best; thing to be done was to provide work for the unemployed. With this view, they had determined to proceed with the construction of a number of roads and contracts for formation. These roads would be let at suitable prices to those who were unemployed at present. The total number of births for the month of January, 1880, in the boroughs of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Thamts, Napier, Wanganui, Nelson, Sydenham, Timaru, Oatnaru, Hokitika, Caversham, and Invercargill were 511, against 448 for the previous month. There wera 183 deaths during January, being an increase of 13 on the numbez of deaths during December. Of^the deaths males contributed 108 ; females, 75. One hundred and four of the deaths wtre those of children under five years of age, and 84 of theae were of children under one year old.

Wanganui, February 21st. Native matters at Murimotu are unsettled, Mejor Kemp opai ly boasts that ha ha? done witn the Government, and threatens to burn down Mr Moorhouse'n homestead and turn off the sheep. Be (K^mp) prevents wool from going to Napier. Kemp'd influence between Wanganui aud Taupo is now paramount, solely on account of his hostility to To Whiti. All the (settlements on the lower part of the river are des9ited by the males, who have gone either to Parihaka or to Murimake. Kemp has sent his gun to Tawhiao as a present ; his attitude is most bounceable, and he is rousing up a feeling of hos.ility against the whites. The dispute re bouudaiy is now said on good authority to be but a blind. Public feeling is very strong here that Kemp's pay as a Government officer should at once cease, and that he should be called upon to answer for his seditious conduct. Old residents on the river say they do not like to see a wide breach now between the Nativf s and Pakehas.

Lateßt particulars from Murimotu state that a disturbance has arisen in consequence of the Ngate whiti tribe taking money and permitting sheep to graze on land for which Major Kemp alleges they have no title. The Ngatewhiti have 150 men at Wftipune, headed by Kara tiana and Takana. Kemp has 80 men. The story tr at Kemp has (sent his gun to Tawhiao is not true.

Christchuroh, February 19th.

During 1879 the attendance at the North Canterbury schools was 21,653, alaiust equally divided amorgst boys and girls ; but the daily averaga was only 10,568. Tnero are now 120 schools in the d;'s net, besides aided schools and the Normal School, which latter has 719 children.

At the Rechabite District Meeting the levies for the current year were fixed 88 follows :—: — Contingent Fund, la 10J ; Tent Relief Fund, lsd. The election of < fficers resulted as follows:— D.O.R., Bro F. Sidey; D.D.R., Bro P. Rankin ; D.T., Bro J. O'Keel, Wellington; D.S., Bro F. H. Fraser, Wellington ; auditors, Bros A, J. Beunet and H. B. Par Bonage. It was decided that LlO be paid to a member on the death of his wife, whether she be a total abstainer or not; to establish an annuity branch ; and a scale of contributions and benefits wa3 prepared for submission to the Government.

So far the Mayor's list for the Irish Relief Fund amounts to LBB4.

The NewZaaland University Senate sat here yesterday. The annual report showed that a Gilchrist scholarship is to be given shortly for competition in New Zealand. Three essaya were Bent in for last yeai'B Bowen prizs, and L7BB 15s bad been spent in scholarships. There are now 148 undergraduates of the University, but of these 33 Lave not studied during the year. The Chancellor regretted the improbability of receiving repoits from his examiners before the close of the present session.

The membpra of the Public Workß Commifflion are said to be Messrs _ Curtis, Thotusou (late surveyor-general), Wiighfc (member for Coleridge), and Colonel Trimble (member for Grey and Bell).

February 20th.

The district meeting of the Rechabitea yesterday decided to hold the next annual meeting at Taranaki. A resolution was adopted asking the officers of the various teiitd to render assistance to Mr Matthew Burnett on hi 3 visit to New Zealand. The Temperance Herald was appointed the official organ of the Order. The newly-elected officers were installed, and the proceedings closed. The Resident Magistrate has decided that the Act Qi Charles 11, prohibiting Simd&y

trading ia not in fcrce here, and the charges against Marks for selling fruit were accordingly dismissed.

Fe' ruary 21st.

Yesterday morning a fire broktf out in the back kitchen of Hath away 'd store, Bast Oxford. The building was soon burned down, and the East Oxford town hall caught, before assistance could arriye, and was also destroyed. The insurances are : — Town hall, L3OO in South British ; flatbaway'd store and contents, LIOO in National, L 525 in New Zealand. Very little was saved from either place, except furniture from the hall.

Complaints are made of fires in the Rakaia district, caused by locomotives, which are very dangerous, and threaten to burn valuable crops if not seen to in time. A reaper and binder at wcrk in a field in the district caught firs by somo means and was burned. The horae^ were saved, and so was the crop, after some trouble. The engine is supposed to have been wanting oil on its bearings, or else a lighted match was carelessly thrown into the machine. A Beekeepers' Association was formed hub night, and appears likely to become a rather large one. It is intended once a, year tobave a special meeting for the exhibition of apiarian objects. On Thursday night the slaughterhouse of S. B. Lane, butcher, on Lincoln road, was burned down, with all premises. The damage is estimated at L4OO. It was insured for L2OO in the New Zealand Office. No cause is at present given.

A deputation to-day waited on the Minister for Lands asking him to grant a special settlement to working men here who bad formed themselves into a Bociety. Mr Bolleston held that the better plan would be for them to take up land on the deferred-payment syrt9in, as special settlements involved great; difficulty. He gave no definite answer, aa sufficient information was not laid before him, but offered facilities to applicants to go round and inspect and choose a block, when they could communicate with him again.

February 23rd. The Westland has now four cases of soarlatina and fiva cases of measles under treatment. The vessel has be?n ordered into quarantine. During the passage there were 47 cases of measles and 20 caßes of scarlatina. There were four deaths among the youngest children on board.

Mr Rolleston goes to Wellington to-morrow. He was interviewed today by a deputation from the City Council, asking for some Parliamentary help in the shape of a grant of land or money to Christchurch. It waß pointed out that the other big towns, by reason of their large or wealthy endowments, had to levy comparatively small rates, while Christchurch, with an endowment not worth more than L 16,000, and consisting of very uoremunerative property, that brought no more than L 156 rental, had the cheering prospect of a rate something like 3s lid in the pound. Mr Rolleston would give no decisive answer. He admitted the hardship of the position, but said the Government had determined to refuse grants of land to municipalities, and fresh legislation would be needed. He did not hold out much encouragement that anything would be done to meet the wishes of the deputation.

Christohuroh, February 24th. At the Canterbury College Governors' meeting yesterday a report on the Agricultural School showed that the entrance standard was po high that only two pupils had presented themselves, and they had failed to pass it. It was resolved that the fifth standard^ of tbe Government schools ba the future basis of the examination.

The University Senate yrsterday resolved " That a clause be introduced in any Hos pital and Charitable Instil utions Bill to be pas-ed by Parliament, containing the following provisions : — (1) That whßro medical Rchools exist in connection with the New Zealand University, the professors and lecturers of such schools to be ex offido members of the hospital established there. (2) That the Governor in-Comicil make equitable arrangements when necessary for hospitals being utilised for impartirjg practical instruction in such places aa aforesaid." It was agreed to recommend the re - eltcbion of Mr H. J. Tancred aa chancellor, and of Dr Hector aa vice-chancellor.

The Easter Review Committee are not going to usejthe Immigration Barracks, in consequence of the arrival of two vesssls with disease on board, and will make arrangements to camp out any men that cannot be accommodated at the hotels.

Sir Gforgfl Grey applied to the New Zealand University Senate for adraiision to the degree of D.O.L. ad eundem, but the Senate decided that tbft degree did not come within the scope of the University.

TIMAEU, February 19 th.

At the close of Pastor Chiniquy's lecture last night Mr Granger, our of the committee, stated that owing tj certain expression's used by the 'Pastor he would sever hi 3 connection with the committee, as he considered Chiniquy was not furthering tha interests of Pieabyteriarnain by his language.

Arrangeoipnts have been corapletei for a number of direct grain-vessela for London from Tiaaaru this season.

February 20tb.

The Geraldine County Council resolved to mako Timaru the county town instead of Tixnuka,

February 23rd.

A man named James Munro died in the Hospital yesterday from thfl effects of injuries received on Saturday while blasting rook. The charge went off toosoon, terribly mutilating him. He was a single mm. At the ioquosi; to day, a a verdict of "Accidental death" was roturned.