INTERPROVINCIAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8410, 9 January 1899, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per Pbess Association.] 1 WELLINGTON. To-day. Laßt month theHttrborßoard staff handled foreign shipping representing 109,000 tons, which is 15,000 to 20,000 tons more than the previous record. The crops in the Wairarapa tire looking well. There are some traces of the Hessian fly, but nothing to be afraid of. Just at present the weather is unfavorable, being wet with high winds, which may affect the ultimate yield. i The Education Board's scheme of military drill in the schools meets with the warm approval of General French, commandant of New South Wales, who is on a visit here. The system in that colony is similar, and has been a decided success. General French suggests that MartiniHeury cavalry carbines should be substituted for dummy rifles. The latter are useless for defenco purposes while the former can be used if necessary by the militia or volunteers. They can be got in Victoria or New South Wales for half the cost of rifles. Lieutenant Mac Donald, the instructor, originally recommended carbines, but abandoned the idea in the belief that they could not be obtained. He will again recommend them to the Board. Only the bigger boys will be supplied' with weapons. AUCKLAND, To-day. The New Zealand Insurance Company have just issued their thirty-niqth annual report and balance-sheet for the year ending November 80th last, from which it appears that while other similar institutions had losses they have not escaped. The figures are largely in excess of any previous year, the total revenue being £328,590, an increase of £26,114. Owing, however, to the widespread and exceptionally numerous losses in the same fields, and on the same class of business as heretofore, the debit balance is £15,541, but as the company is strong in reserves, one of the expresß objects of which, when necessary, is the equalisation of dividends, the directors have encroached thereon, and pay a. dividend of 10 per cent, for the year, carrying forward £2,192 17s lid. After this is paid the paid-up capital (and reserves still stand at £400,000, being far in excess of any other Australasian company. Captain Coyle and the Submarine Corps blew up the old steamer Enterprise off Cheltenham beach on Saturday afternoon. The explosion was successful, the steamer being blown to matchwood. At the inquest on Burnand, of the Ponsonby Navals, n verdict that he was accidentally shot while handling firearms was returned. A child aged 2J years, belonging to Mr A. M. Burriball, of Waiuku, was caught by a reaper and binder and severely cut, one arm being left on the table of the machine among the oat sheaves. An operation was performed, and the child is doing as well as can be expected. HAWteRA, Today. Heavy and continuous rain is spoiliup the crops of all kinds. Much hay and cocksfoot has been practically ruined, whilst the grain crops are of small yielc and rank growth, the straw being long, Three and a-half inches of rain fell lasl week. Dairy fanners never had a bettei year for grass, and the output of dairj produce will probably be a record. CffRISTCHURCH. To-day. The participants in a prize fight allogec to have recently taken place in Christ church were charged at lie Police Cour to-day. On the advice of counsel wit nesses pleaded privilege on the grounc that they would incriminate themsclvc: if they t;<\vc evidence. On the applicatiot of the Crown Prosecutor the case wa remanded for a week so that the witnesse could be relieved from the possibility o prosecution. The case is exciting mucl interct.