INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1650, 22 October 1887, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

While sinking an artesian well on Mr J. G. Crawford’s properly ot Miramar, Wellington, an escape of gas was disl covered, and upon a light being applied ■ (lie gas ignited. Two bottles of gas have r been forwarded to Sir James Hector for j analysis. At a meeting of the Land Board, the Westport Coal Company, who are proproprietor* of the Wallsend Coalpilhealh Mines at Brunnerton, applied for a new inase of sixty-three years, the same as the Brunnerton Mine. The Board decided to grant the Wallsend lease for the time named, provided the Company’s output for the first seven years be 50,000 tons per annum, the fourteen years following 80,000 tons per annum, the remaining portion of the time 100,000 tons per annum, royally to the Crown sixpence per ton. Both mines will ho worked from the Wallsend shaft, the Coalpitheath being reached by a tunnel under the Grey river, a large portion of which is already made. At Dunedin on Wednesday two young men, Wrn. Guy and Andrew Leokie, who amused themselves by breaking the windows of shops and bouses between three and four in the morning, in one case seriously frightening a dying girl in one of the houses, were fined £1 on four charges, and ordered to pay the damage or ten daya’ imprisonment. The money was not paid. An open boat has been picked up at Whangapora, and it is feared that five persons, Miss Rebecca Hobbs, Mrs Hobbs, and three Natives, who left Russian Bay in the boat have been drowned. About 10 p.m. on Wednesday the Birkenhead, ferrry steamer, ran down a cutter at anchor in the Auckland harbor. The cutter filled and sank immediately. It is believed that there was no one on board. The Alton (late Woodville) Hotel, at Palea, was burnt to the ground on Wednesday eight. Nothing was saved. The occupants only managed lo escape in their night clothes. The insurances amounted to £550, A robbery of a watch and ring from the mail bags, which took place some time ago on the railway between Wellington and Longburn, has been traced to a lad who is now in the Burnham Industrial School. On the youngster being taxed with the theft he admitted his guilt. At Oamaru on Thursday the produce store of Mr F. H. Townsend caught fire, but was extinguished after much damage had b«en done. The insurances amount to £BOO.