INTERPROVINCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1481, 20 June 1879, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per "Timaru Herald" Special Wire.] Auckland, June 19. A fever has broken out among the natives of Waimea, Bay of Islands, and Dr Watling has been despatched to render assistance. At a meeting of the creditors of Robert Atkinson, clerk, the liabilities were shown to be L 379, and the EBsets nil. A poll of the Auckland ratepayers, regarding the adoption of the Public Libraries Act, resulted m 728 voting for, and 91 against it. The result surprised all. It is rumored that the people's champion, Mr George Stains, organised a movement to defeat the project. Mr Bryce's report on the Bay of Islands electoral roll scandal has been favorably received by the local press, as being moderate and impartial. The Town Sewerage Clerk suggests m his report to tho City Council that one of Adams' filtering machines for carrying the sewerage into deep water should be procured. This machine's estimated cost is LIOO. Joseph Davies,fa miner, died suddenly on board theßowena on her passage from Coromandel to Auckland. Ho appeared m good health on coming on board, but he retched slightly, which was attributed to Bea sickness. The cause of death is unknown. Joseph Bennett has purchased the steamer Tain o' Shanter for the Wangarei coal trade. St. James' Presbyterian Church was opened by a soiree, at which 400 sat down to tea. At the Native Lands Court, Cambridge, investigation, counter claims are set-up, and legal talent is engaged. A serious disturbance arose through the indiscretion of a European. Order was restored by the Mayor, Mr Watson, J.P., and Constable Brennati closing the publichouse. Wanoanui, June 19. A man named John Smith, who was formerly a brewer m business at Nelson, was, found dead m tha street this morning. It is supposed that death was the result of excessive drinking. The Herald advocates the compulsory advertisement m local papers of all bills of Bale, for the protection of the mercantile community. Wellington, June 19. At a meeting of Wesleyans held last night L9OO was promised towards rebuilding the Wesleyan church. The opera "Maritana" will bo produced here shortly by amateurs, for the benefit of the sufferers by the late fire. An inquest was held on the opera house firo to-day, but nothing was adduced to show its origin, and an open verdict was returned. Several pilferers at the late fire received sentences of 14 days imprisonment today. The Kinross perjury case was still furthur adjourned to-day. Mr Rees stated that he had not received any reply to his letter to the Speaker of the Legislative Council, asking him to allow the Clerk to give evidence. linogeue Linders who was m the hospital since he attempted to commit suicide, avoided legal proceedings by levanting. It is supposed that he has gone to Melbourne. A statement that the New Zealand S. S. Company intend to reduce seamen's wages is denied. It is understood that, owing to the present condition of the State revenue, and the falling off m the land returns, the Government will not propose any further reductions m the Customa duties this year. A new Representation Bill will be one of the first measures introduced this session. The New Zealand Titanic Steel and Iron Company obtained judgment m the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day against a large number of shareholders for amounts due for calls. These amounts ranged from LlO to LSO. Mr Reeves, M.H.R., on his return to Wellington, waited on the Minister for Public Works, who assured him that tenders will be called m ten days for the first section of the Brnnner-Amberley Railway ; also, for the extension of the Foxhill and West Coast line. The Hutt writ will be issued to-morrow. Blenheim, June 19. A quarrel between some Maoris at Canvas Town resulted m the death of one of them named Kermona. A Nelson native constable and a doctor have gone over to examine the body, and to obtain full particulars. Christohurch, June 19. In the course of an auction sale to-day, Mr J. G. Hawkes, of Hereford street, mentioned that instructions had come out to a large firm m Christchurch, to purchase a large block of land, on which it was proposed to erect a carriage factory. It was supposed railway carriages were meant. It is understood that the warrant for the appointment of a Resident Magistrate at Lyttelton has been sent to the Governor for signature. Oamahu, June 19. The body of a man was found floating m the harbor this morning by some of the meu employed on the wharf, who brought brought it ashore. From the appearance of the body, it being disfigured beyond recognition, it has evidently|been m the water for some time. The only clue to the unfortunate man's name is found m some papers m the pockets of his clothes, which are receipts for certain sums of money from John McGregor. A large sum of money was on the body, and also some deposit receipts for nearly LSOO from the Union Bank, Cromwell. It is supposed that he had been a shepherd at Clyde, and was going to the steamer late at night, when he fell off the wharf. A flask of whisky was found m one of the pockets. Au inquest will be held to-day. Dunedin, June 19. The residence of Mr W. C. Norman, the goods traffic manager of Otago railways, at Green Island, was totally destroyed by fire at a little after four o'clock this morning. All the contents, except a bedstead, were destroyed. The insurances are — On the houso, LSOO m the Australian Alliance Company ; on the furniture, L 415 m the South British, L3OO m the Colonial. Circumstances of a startling nature have come to light regarding the recent fire at the Athensaum, and the manner m which that institution has been managed. It is known that, the Assistant-Librarian, Mr Oummock, has been guilty of misconduct and irregularities of the grossest nature ; m fact, he has confessed to defalcations amounting to about LlO7. The fact of the books having been burned by the fire on Monday night, of course, has destroyed part of the evidence of the crime that had been committed. Certain facts which came to the knowledge of the Committee induced them to make inquiries, the result of which was that the defalcations were discovered. One of the features of the case ia thac the culprit endeavored to throw suspicion on an innocent person, by asserting that he had paid into the Bank, money belonging to the Athenaeum which he had himself appropriated., It will no doubt surprise many to learn that the matter has not been placed m the hands of the police. An inquiry into the origin of the fire will now probably be held.

Between May 16th and June 13th, applications under the nominated system of immigration were received by the authorities at Dunedin for 272 souls, equal to 233 statute adults. The Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the working of 'Universities, Grammar and High Schools, met at the office of the Registrar of the University on Tuesday, and again this afternoon. The proceedings were private. A Chinaman named Ah Sung was charged m the City Police Court to-day with sweating coin, and was committed for trial, Mr Watt, R.M., failing to find an authority to the effect that half-a-crown is no longer current coin. At the Port Chalmers Police Court today, William Russell was charged with harboring and concealing seven seamen belonging to the ship Oregon. Several witnesses were examined, and the presiding Justices — Messrs Elder and Mills— considered the case fully proved, and lined the defendant LlO, v.ith LI 3s costs, or m default of payment ordered to be imprisoned for one month. A deputation, representing a large number of the electors of Dunedin City, waited on the Hon. Mr Stout this afternoon, to ask him to reconsider his determination to resign the Attorney-General-ship and his seat m Parliament. Mr Stout said that when he first went into politics it was no breach of agreement with his partner, but with his consent. He intended to retire m 1877, but at the urgent solicitations of his friends he did not do so. Now, however, hia business had increased so much that he felt he could no longer throw the burthen on his partner, and this was his sole reason for the step he was about to take. He went on to say — "I may Bay that I do so with reluctance, and after a good deal of thought, on various grounds. The first is that it is known through the Press that the Ministry are likely to be attacked, and one dues not like to leave friends when he knows that they are threatened with attack. At the same time, I feel this — that if the new electoral roll is passed there ought to be a dissolution after the next Bession of the Assembly, and if I went up for this sesaion I should be bound m honor to go k to the country at the close of the session, and to enter into the very thick of the fight. Thus, it seems to me, I should be prevented from going out of politics for some time to come. I may say that my remaining here the last two years was a breach of my promiso to ray friends at Home to visit them, which breach has annoyed me very much ; but, gentlemen, Bince you havo waited on me, 1 shall consider the matter. I may say that I have now ready, m fact they are m print, many of the Bills which will be brought forward by the Government this session. Were it only pecuniary matters that were concerned, I would not grudga to make considerable sacrifice m that respect ; but there are my duty to my partner and other engagements, not of a pecuniary character. I believe I shall be able to give you a definite reply on Monday. I have been m communication with my colleagues on the subject, and am awaiting some communications from them. Of course, I feel indebted to the deputation very much, because I see here sonio gentlomen whom I know to have differed from ma m public opinion, and I cannot tell you how grateful I feel to them for calling on me to-day."