INTERPROVINCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1489, 29 May 1880, Page 19

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, May 25th.

The City of Sydney sailed for San Francisco at 5 p.m. In hauling alongide the wharf at 3 o'clock this morning, in charge of the pilot, she struck the main pier near the centre. The woodwork structure where tho steamer struck was crushed like an eggshell. The platform, for a distance of 50ft, was completely carried away, and damaged for a further distance of 100 ft, Ten piles were smashed off, and others Btrained to such an extent as to require removal. It ia estimated that the repairs will cost over LSOO.

The Hinemoa leaves Onehunga with the Auckland members to-morrow morning. The Hinemoa will probably return from Wellington in time to leave Onehunga on Sunday with the members who may not be prepared to leave to-morrow.

! Several through passengers per s.s. Orient 1 arrived here by the mail steamer thu morning. Th6y have done their journey in a surprisingly short time, the exact number of days at sea, not counting stoppages at Melbourne and Sydney, being barely 42, May 26fch. At the Police Court, Mr Bloom, a respectable storekeeper, was charged with obstructing the police in the execution of their duty. In. spector Pardy said he was satisfied tee con- 1 si-ables had used unnecessary violence, and withdrew the charge. Mr Bloom had laid a charge of assault against Constables Rosß and Pigoe, but withdrew it on tho promise of the Inspector that the men would be punished under the Policu Regulation?, and should pay Lll expenses. Tho facts are these : Bloom was standing in front of his own shop door, wheu he was told to "move on " He refused to do so, when tho two constables knocked him down, knelt on him, handcuffed hinj, dr<*t,«ed him to the station, and put him into n cell with two drunkards, &ud refusod to admit him to bail until Mr Cosgravu, J.P., procured his release. Tho oase has caused much public indignation, Eofis is a young member of the forco,

For a clerkship of Ll5O a year in theEducation Board Office there were 91 applications. Wellington, May 26th. An explanation has been suggested regarding the departure of a suspicious vessel from Aden on the 24th ult., which has some air of probability. It is thought that the vessel maybe the " Gervil " instead of " Genia," and maybe bound for Port Breton, New Ireland, and be one o! the vessels engaged in the New Ireland coloniaing expedition. In that ca3e 8h& would have on board stores and arms, ammunition and provisions, and would have French, Italians, Belgians, Swiss, and Germans on board,

Napier, May 26th. A curious case of one Maori roasting another came before the R.M. Court to-day. Herika^ a follower of Te Whiti, and a sort of minor prophet and missionary combined, wa» charged with assaulting one Heriona, an old, blind, andi weak-minded man. The evidence showed that, the old man was ill, and the prisoner, who was» consulted as a kind of medical man, declared that he was possessed of a devil, To cure him he had a Maori copper made and heated, and lined it with green leaves in the most approved fashion. He then [laid Heriona on the copper. The old gentleman tried to wriggle away, and then Herika tied his hands and feet. As this was not satisfactory, he sat on the poor man to keep him well down on the stones. Naturally the old fellow cried out, when Herika declared that was the devil trying to get out of his body. At last the bystanders interfered aud rescued j Herioua, but not before he had been dreadfullyburned. In fact a certain part of his body waa described aa thoroughly cooked. The case waa remanded to allow the old man to be examined by a medical man. A man was arrested up-country on Saturday on suspicion of being an absconding witness named Xiyons, who ran away when wanted for the prosecution of Macnamara for arson, at Invercargill. The prisoner denied his identity, but he had " Mary Murphy" tatooed ou his arm,, and otherwise he answered the Gazette description. However, a telegram from Inspector Fox, of Invercargill, stated that he would not pwsecute, so the prisoner waa discharged.

CnnisTOHracH, May 6th.

The whole of this season's produce of grain* belonging to Mr Cavanagh, of Mount Thomas, about 600 bushels, was destroyed by fire on Tuesday morning.

The Canterbury Jockey Club's programme for the Spring meeting includes a Maiden Race, to be ridden by boys who have never previously won a race of the value of 25 aovs.

The East Chriatchurch Pigeon-flying Club had a match to-day from Oamaru to Christchurch. There were 12 entries, and the distance had to be done in five hours or no prize would be given. Mr Hicks' Forest King did the distance, reckoned at 151 miles, in four hours 53 minutes, the next bird taking five houis 10 minutes. The second and third prizes will have to be flown for again,

Racing Fixtures. 1880. June 2— Waimate (Canterbury) Steeplechase. June 19— Wanganui (Wellington) Steeplechase. July 12—Oamaru (Otago) Steeplechases.

TO COBBESPONDENTS. Subscriber, Edondale. — The English horse Tom King has certainly been in New Zealand, for he was imported by Messrs Harris and Innes, of Canterbury. He was bred in 1559, and got by King Tom out of Deiopeia, by Defence, E. N., Oamavu.— Templeton won two Dunedin Cups; Lurliuc two Canterbury pups. Athlete, Dunedin.— The highest running jump is ! Brooks', 6ft. 2Jin.