INTERPROVINCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1339, 4 January 1879, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Pee " Tijiaru Hebald" Special WlRB.] Auckland, Jan. 3. The amount of gold from the Thames district last year was 61,607 ounces, being 5192 ounces leas than the quantity raised last year. During the month of December 2532 tons of quarts wt-re crushed, yielding 4,405 ounces of melted gold. Gkahamstown, J-m. 3. Mr Stewart, C.E., ai.d Mr Beer, C.E., arrived to-day, and commenced preparations f'>r the first section of the Thames Valley railway. The local authorities have also been communicated with re the acquisition of land for the lines, the greater portion of which is expected to be given. Napier, Jan. 3.. It is rumored that Mr E. H. Bold, District Engineer for Hawke's Bay and Wiiipawa Counties, succeeds Mr Floyd as Chief Electrician on the West Coast. A man named Alder was run over yesterday, by his horse bolting. Alder, m attempting to jump off the dray, got hia legs entangled m the reins and fell, and one. of the wheels passed over his left side and wrist. He lies m a very dangerous position. Colonel Whit more, accompanied by an engineer, is to day taking soundings near his estate at Clive. It is proposed that a company should be formed (Murray, Common and Co., Mr M. R. Miller being at the head of the movement) to purchase the Grange Eslate, six miles from Napier, to form a township, erect a breakwater, and form a harbor. The continued drought causes much .apprehension m the farming districts. New Plymouth, J;m. 3. The southern mail by coast, route with Wellington dates, from the 2lst to the 24th December, only reached this place to-day. Steamers frequently bring mails four or five day's before the previous overland one reaches here. The Rev. Mr Isitt, Wesleyan minister, has obtained twelve months leave, to visit the Hot Spring for his health. A man named Samuel Chapman working on the railway received a severe scalp wound through a winch he was working running away, and the handle striking him. ' Wellington, Jan. 3. At the railway site deputation to-day the following scene occurred : — His Worship the Mayor asked, without desiring to be too pressing m the matter, whether they might assume the two sections referred to would be withdrawn from sale, so as to be us«d for a passenger station. Mr Macandrew replied, "If necesssary." — Mr Gardner Baid, that Mr Macandrew qualified his promise by the words "if necessary." — Mr Macandrew said he thought that the responsibility of the necessity or otherwise of any given course of action should rest upon the shoulders of the Department. — Mr Nathan did not agree with Mr Macandrew on that poiut. He thought a great deal more weight should be given to the wishes of the public under the circumstances. Every interest m the city was represented by the present deputation, and he thought the Government should pay respect to their wishes. (Hear ! hear !) This was not a political matter ; it was a matter purely of common sense, and what they asked was for the good and the interests of the public, and whether it should be carried out or not should not be left altogether with the Department. They knew quite as well as the Department did what they wanted. At the present time thoy had to pay 2s 6d cartage on goods to the railway, whereas were the station more centrally situated, they would have to pay only Is. This represented a good deal on the sales. (Hear ! hear !) The people of Wellington, under such circumstances, should have something more than a half-promise from the Government. (Hear ! hear !) Otago had not to come m this manner for what she wanted. (Hear ! hear !) This was a necessity, anc they had a right to demand that their wishes should be complied with. (Hear ! hear !). — Mr Macandrew informed Mr Nathan that he did not m tend to go on the stump. — Mr Nathan replied he did not intend to go on the stump either. This was not a political matter, and he did not deaire to introduce politics. — Mr Macandrew (to Mr Nathan) : " You might have saved your virtuous indignation. lam of opinion that the Public Works Department has a right to be judge of what is necessary." (Crie3 of "No ! no ! ")._Mr Nathan said he thonght the people ought to know be3t what they wanted, and had a right to a<k for that.— Mr M icandrew said he thought th« people did not always know wh it was best f>r them. However, he had nothing further to siy m the matter. He hud no personal interest to serve, but he did not think the Government could afford to give up all the reclaimed area which would be necessary. — Mr Dransfield pointed out that they only a*ked that two sections referred to should be reserved. — Mr Macaudrew said he understood Mr Nathan to practically ask the Government to give up all for railway purposes. ("No! no!") Mr Macandrew continued to say that all he could -promise the deputation was

that: the re-erve asked for should be made if it were found necessary. There were lamled from the Otaki yesterday 1,700 rounds of Armstrong shot and shell for guns already m the colony. Mackie, who managed the Upper and Lowvr Hutt branches i.f the B>m >f New Zealand, and was committed for trial for fnrgery and larceny to-day, had only £lTsayear. Mr M-icandrew's promise to a depntat;on to-day, that when the reclaimed land is solil, the cmatruc ion of the Wt-at C.iast railway will be commenced, gives very general satisfaction. The gate takings at the Caledonian games on New Year's Day amounted to £IGS 7a 6d. S. J. Hill, who has for some time past been m gaol for contempt, for disobeying an order of the Supreme Court not to molest his wife, there being a deed of separation, was released to-day. Local nominations for 83 adults will be sent Home per mail to-morrow. The second prize of £400 m Hughes' sweep was drawn by Mrs Harry Bennett. Mr Varley, tile lecturer, sails South on Monday. Colon-1 Fielding has presented a very handsome " Communion Service" to the Anglican Church at Fielding. A Gazette issued to-day contains the boundaries of the Neison Borough, and contains an Order m Conncil making a change m the Telegraph Regulations, so as to legalise the present wire arrangements, and give the evening papers 1500 words per day at evening rates. The Hon. G. M. Water-house, Mr W. T. L. Travers, and Mr Thomas Mason are reappointed Governors of the New Zealand Institute. Mr John Sperry, Wellington ; Mr S. Y. Cllins, Napier ; and Mr Thos. McKay, Nelson, are made Justices of the Peace. The Mayor to-day received a telegram from the Secretary of the Seamen's strike m Sydney, announcing the termination of the strike, and stating that no more subscriptions were required, and expressing thanks fur the sum sent. A serious fire is reported from Marton, Ran-^itikei. It bmke. out during the afternoon m the new Temperance Hotel, and dentmyed it and Russell's house. It was burning at tive o'clock, when the Telegraph Station clewed. Several other buildings then seemed likely to go. Martojn, Jan. 3. The fire was confined to two buildings. Lyon's premises were saved with difficulty. The fire broke out m Russell's carpenter's workshop. The Temperance Hotel was insured m the Victoria office for £600 and m the National for £100. The insurances (if any) on Russell's are not known. Nelson, Jan. 3. The Fernglen sailed for Wellington last nighi. The Westland immigrants are to go to Wauganui. TheMarlborongh «nes will be sent there from Wellington. Christchurch, Jan. 3. Mr Bowen, M. H.R. for Kaiapoi, will, it is generally understood, succeed Mr Carruthers a3 Inspector of the Trust anil Loan Company. It is not known yet whether this will create a vacancy for Kaiapoi. Messrs Parker's property of 9500 acres m the Waimate district, was sold durini; the week to Messrs Driver and Co., of Dunedin. The price has not transpired, but it is believed to have been satisfactory to the sellers. This property was withdrawn from sale a short time ago at £9 10s per acre. A builder named Christopher Reynolds, residing m Sydenhatn, died suddenly, early yesterday morning. T.vo doctors were s^-nt for, but he had died before they reached him. An inquest will be held to-morrow, at noon. Fifteen additional railway carriages were to have been brought up to Cliristchurch for the holidays, but were detained by the breaking of the Rangitata bridge. They will reach Christchurch to-morrow, and be kept here permanently. There are a great many complaints of the want of a steam crane at Ly ttelton, and a man. on asking for the use of one, was told he could not have it for two weeks. The Harbor Board are constantly extending the Harbor accommodation, but there is no corresponding increase m the appliances. The total number of prisoners m the Canterbury gaols at the end of December was 167. 69 males and 20 females were discharged during the same period. 30 prisoueis less were received into prison during the past year than m 1877 ; the numbers were 346 and 376 respectively. Oamahu, Jan. 3. Mr Henderson, the waterworks contractor, having thrown up the contract, a special meeting of the Municipal Council was held to-night to consider the question of proceeding with the work. The Engineer submitted for the consideration of the Council several recommendations as to completing the work partly by tender, and partly by day labor, and recommending the Council to appoint a certain staff as suggested. The recommendations were, with slight amendments, adopted, and it is now understood the work will be reaumed with all possible despatch. The prompt action of the Council is to be commended, because there are a large number of men thrown out of employment by the stoppage, and thereby suddenly deprived of the means of substance. Four cases of temporary insanity, caused by excessive drinking, have been before the Resident Magistrate during the past week. The vital statistics for the past month were : — Births, 37 ; marriages, 8 ; deaths, 4. For the corresponding month m 1877 the births were 36 ; marri-iges, 6 ; and deaths, 3. The totals for last year were : births, 406 ; marriages, 94 ; and deaths, 92. For 1877 the numbers were : births, 416 ; marriages, 74 ; deaths, 90. The Customs receipts for December amounted to £1511, and for the corresponding month of 1877 to £966 6a 81. The total value of the exports fir the quarter ending 31st December was £7240, and for the corresponding quarter of 187 V, £4466. The difference is to be found chiefly m the item " wool. " Dunedin, Jan. 3. The second charge of forgery against H. L. Metz was heard at the Police Court to-day, and he was committed for trial on both charges. The Clydesdale Kilbowie, per Norval, has arrived m good condition. Owing to the decrease of duty on tea and sugar, a large quantity of these articles were taken out of bond yesterday, the sum ot £1741 14s 6d being paid as duty upon th-m. The total of the receipts at the Custom House yesterday was £2562 4s 8 I. Mr Basing, M.H.R-, addressed his constituents at Waikaia last night, and received an unanimous vote of confidence. The Tablet, m concluding an article on the year, says m New Zealand the year has been one of injustice to Catholics, and of preparing the way to the debasement of the colony m general. It has been a year of secularism, and this, for us, make* it dark ; but,

on the other hand, New Zealand Catho- \ i lies liave made a valiant st.md against m- I jmtice ; have maintained their «wn ! : schools independently ; and the examiu- ' . atio-is which have taken place have proved j their schools t > be a credit to their conductors and to the Catholic body g.-neraliy. ' Nodouhtif tliM injustice continues another ' year, we shall have a like boast to make this time twelve months, and it is a boast of which we may be proud. The lea ling ! article m the sim* Tablet dealt wi'h the, a ime subject, and advises C.itholius to j abst ii ii from taking put m the election i>f . Scliool Committees, and to u=e the block ! vote against all who favour the secular j system of education. The committee of examiners for the Otago Education Board have recommended that the scholarships be awarded to the following pupils — Senior — John Murray, Adolph Hanunn, William McGregor ; William Alexander Fleming, Robert M. Laing, and J. R. Fergusson. Junior — Ann Forbes, John Somerville, Donald Fraser, John Montgomery, James Parlane, and Laura Darton. Invercargill, Jan. 3. Mr Andrew Kinross, one of the candidates for Macau ra, vice Mr. W. Wood resigned ; addressed a meeting of the electors to-night. In the course of his address he declared himself as most ! decidedly m favor of the Grey party on all j general questions. He approved of the deferred payment system regarding Crown lands, and claimed credit for having suggested such a system m the Provincial Council, when he was a member of that body. He would support a reduction m the price of deferred payment land, and an extension of time, so that at the end of three years dummies could not hand over holdings to capitalists He advocated manhood suffrage, with one years' colonial, and a short local residence. The numbers should, m his opinion, be eliminated from the backs of the billot papers. He believed m an elective Legislative Council, but the power to electy should be vested m the proper parties — the capitalists. He agreed with the principle of the land tax, and thought it desirable that subsequently there should be an income tax. He would support the Ministry m any measures they might adopt to restiict Chinese immigrants. At the conclusion of his speich, he received a unanimous vote of confidence.