INTERPROVINCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1479, 18 June 1879, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per " Timaru Herald " Special Wire.] Auckland, June 17. At the inquest on the fire at Cunningham's Hotel, Onehunga, au open verdict was returned. In baukruptcy,GeorgeKitchen, plumber, received his discharge to-day. JHis liabilities aye H4.60, and the deficiency is L 640. At the Licensing Court adjourned meeting, the Magistrates granted licences to houses which had effected the repairs required, and to the Nevada Hotel, whicli had blocked up an aperture m the wall. The Magistrate stated that after two conconvictions m one year they wonld not renew licences or grant new ones. At a Government land sale to-day the bidding was nofc spirited. The Governor, the Hon. J. Sheehan, and Rewi go to Waikato on Thursday. His Excellency returns on Saturday, and will leave for Tauranga on Monday. Wellington, June 17. The Insurance Companies to day voted LSO to each of the Fire Brigades, and L 25 to the Naval Brigade, for their exertions at the late fire. The Wesleyan Church is to be rebuilt, but as its permanent structure will take a long time, authority is beinp; sought for a temporary wooden building. The Working Men's Club are looking oufc for fresh promises. The Government have rented the Athenreum Hall as a temporary Police Court. An agitation is on foot to get the Corporation to procure a floating fire engine. At the Resident Magistrate's Court today, the case of Regina v. Kinross, for alleged perjury, was continued. A long argument took place as to proof of oath having been administered to Mr Kinross m 1870, before the Committee on Native Lands, and Mr Rees put m a copy of the Journals of the Legislative Council. Mr Travers contended this document was no evidence, unless an officer of the Council produced it and deposed to its being genuine. The Council's permission had not been obtained for any of its officers to give evidence. The Speaker had power to grant permission for an officer to attend, but the Council only had power to grant an officer permission to give evidence. Mr JRees denied this. He asserted that the attendance of an officer with Journals of the House meant, iv fact, giving evidenco. Turning to the Journals put m, Mr Travers pointed out that the evidence required was contained m the appendix, which was not part of the Journals. He quoted from Acts showing that no appendix could be taken as evidence of the proceedings of the Council. Mr Travers went on to point out that Mr Kinross had now been waiting for six weeks, yet no prima facie case had been made out, and he thought it would be unfair to delay the case till after the meeting of Parliament on July llth, for the production of the evidence of the Clerk of the Legislative Council. Mr Travers was then put m the witnessbox. He said be had. been present as counsel at the Committee m 187 L He was not present at the beginning when Mr Kinross was examined, therefore he did not see him. sworn. He, however,

saw several other witnesses sworn before] the same Committee. There was a reso-lnti-in of the Committee that all evidence should be < ak>. n on oath. The case was then iurther adjourned till Thursday next. It is understood the Governor will pay a visit to Kawau. It is also not improbable thut he will return via the E.ist Coast, going round the North Cape from Onehunga m the Hinemoa. Christcuukch, June 17. The coursing meeting was postponed till to-morrow, owing to wet weather. Another lire epidemic has set m. This evening Mr W. Hoskins' hou--e m Tuam street caught fire, and was completely gutted at half-past seven o'clock. It was raining pretty heavily at the time. Very little was saved, and that was damaged. The house belonged to Mr Collert, and was insured for JL3OO. Mr Hoskins will be a heavy loser. A breeze was blowing at the time, and luckily from the right direction to Bave a row of contiguous cottages. The first production of the play " H.Ivl.S. Pinafore " drerr a crowded audience at the theatre last night, aud il was fairly successful. Three lads, named Watkins, Fitzgerald, and Roach, respectively, were convicted at Rangiora tv-day of pouring kerosene on a dog and setting fire to it. The evidenco disclosed the grossest cruelty, and the magistrate said that he regretted he conld not order them to be flogged. Ho took time to consider the sentence. Later. Mr Hoskins' house, which was burned down this evening, was insured for L3OO iv the New Zealand Insuranco Company, and belonged to Mr Collett. Mr Hoskins saved a good portion of the contents, whicli were insured for L4OO, also m the New Zealand Office ; but he loses heavily m the shape of manuscripts, wardrobe, &c. He estimates his loss at L2OOO, but it is impossible to appreciate the value of some of the articles which formed the collection of a lifetime. Oamaru, June 17. The body of a man named Donald McInness was found floating m the lagoon this morning. It was much decomposed, having been m tho water for about a fortnight. Tliere is no clue as to the cause of the deceased's death ; but at about the time the deceased got into the lagoon he was known to have been drinking. An inquest will bo held to-morrow. Ddnedin, June 17. The contract for the Dunedin railway reclamation works has at length been definitely signed. The) successful tenderers are Messrs Pritchard and Co. , and the amount of their tender is L 58,487 10s. On acconnt of an intimation that Miss Dalrymple lias m the press a pamphlet on the subject, the Dunedin School Committe did not discuss the question of Penny Savings Banks m schools laat night ; but it is understood that the bead masters of the city schools have reported adversely on the movement. The branch line connecting the Shag Point Coal Company's mine with the main trunk line, was formally opened for traffic to-day. The line is a mile and three-quarters long, and cost L 5400. Shag JPoint Coal has for some time been used on the engines running between Oamaru and Palmerston, and instructions have been given for its uso betweon Oamaru and Dunedin. Tho Company, which consists of 80 persons, have spent L 25,000 during the past year m the construction of the line and the development of the mine. Mr E. H. Carew, R.M. of Lawrence, will probably take Mr Bathgate's place at Dunedin, and Major Keddeil, who is on his way from Auckland, will go to Lawrence as R.M. and Warden. Mr J. C. Brown, M.H.R., was married yesterday to 'the widow of the late Dr. Halley, of Lawrence.