INTERPROVINCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2057, 27 April 1881, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per Press Association.] Auckland, April 26. About half-past three this morning a firo was observed at the sawmill of Jaggar and Parker on the reclaimed land, Freeman'a Bay. The fire-bell rang, and soon a crowd gathered at the spot. Before the firo was discovered it had a firm hold on the building, and there wus no chance of saving any part of the premises. In a short- time tho Firo Brigade was on the ground and began to play upon the adjoining premises and the stock m the yard, thus preventing the fire from spreading. Tho sawmill had a large stock of timber m, which was all destroyed. Tho mill and stock wero worth nearly L3OOO. The fire was first scon m tho centre of the building, near the steam engine. Recently the premises and machinery were sold for about LISOO, and additions had since been made. The only insurance bn it is LSOO m the National office to cover a mortgage. Some Hau-hau natives near Huntley havo destroyed the fencing and foiled trees on the land of a settler named Hill, whose titln they dispute, though the land is held under Crown grant. The occurrence has no political significance. Tawhaio'a Hikurangi meeting is a failure At no time have there been more than from GOO to 700 natives assembled. Nothing lxiyond tho customary feasting aud nosu-rubbing has been accomplished. An attempt has been made to conceal failure by adjourning until the middle of July. Evidently the King movement is undergoing the process of rapid disintegration, and if loft alone, it will evaporate. The leading Kingito natives show a disposition to sell laud, and the Mukau natives withdrew from the meeting, declaring their intention to havo no more to do with tho King. It is stated on good authority that if money were available, no groat difficulty would be experienced m getting a railway right through the King oountry to New Plymouth. The Lauds Court at Cambridge has pnssed another large block through, opening up 90,000 acres hitherto closed toEuropcans for settlement. The Kingites como m freely to provo titles boforo tho Court. It is estimated that half a million acres of native lands beyond Cambridge and bordering on the King territory, havo boen opened for settlement.

The result of the meeting of northern natives to celebrate the signing of the treaty of Waitangi and the opouitig of the Waitangi ball, was a series of resolutious affirming the necessity for a Maori Parliament to make laws for the Maori people. They reaffirm their unflinching loyalty to the Queen, but the memorial declares that the "Governmentof New Zealand hare milked the cow that was sent by Queen Victoria as a covenant to the tribes of New Zealand. They are those who hare deceived us, and that is the cause of the Maori people being weakand oppressed m the land. This is why it is now asked that the Maori tribes shall be gathered into one sheaf. All our grievances shall be settled by this Parliament. "We are to manage things concerning Maori tribes only, and not break the law. The first grievance we felt m this island has been tho purchasing of land by ministers that brought the Gospel to New Zealand. Their mode of purchase was, first, of seizing land at that time having no surveyor. Our Becond grievance is that ministers say that all seized land has gone by purchase. Let us know the name of this monster as ' The land swallower ;' tho whole of this island of New Zealand is swallowed m his belly." The mail steamer brings Lady Gordon, Miss Gordon, two children, two nurses and Captain Knollys. Two stowaways wero given m charge to the police, and the case was adjourned to give time for the payment of their passage money. The City of Sydney sailed this afternoon for San Francisco, with a large number of passengers, amongst whom we're the Rev. A. Reid, the Wesleyan representative for the (Ecumenical Conference, and the Rer. C. M. Pym, whose services here were recognised by a farewell meeting. Cole's circus is also on board. Tauranga, April 2G. The Native Land Cmirt, now sitting at Gisborne, has passed the Maungatu block of 190,000 acres, and Waipu block No 2, of 37,000 acres, both m this district, and sold to Mr R. Cooper. The Taurartga County Council yesterday passed a resolution to proceed to sell all absentee lands two years m arrears of rate 3. This will bring a large area of good land into the market. The Bettlers. are getting 'impatient at hearing nothing froni the Public Works Department about the much needed Nairuni bridge. Wanganui", April 20. A fife broke out m Leslie's plumber's shop last night. The building and its contents were much damaged. There was an insurance of LI 50 on tha stock and tools m the North British, and of L2OO on the building m the New Zealand. The Supreme Court was opened yesterday. Paul Debruker, for larceny, was sentenced .to eight months' hard labor ; William Miners, larceny, 18 months' hard labor ; F. Christie, larceny, 12 months' hard labor. The Grand Jury threw out the bill against Hall and hi 3 daughter, Christina Goodman, for alleged child murder, the medical evidence not being conclusive. Wellington, April 26. At the Resident Magistrate's Court today, a number of women of ill-fame were charged under the Vagrant Act. Hia Worship held that prostitution per se is not unlawful, but if accompanied by disorder, or indecent exposure, or any thing that grossly shocks the public mind, then it is unlawful. In pronouncing this decision, His Worship pointed out that although the -trade the defendants were pursuing was not denounced 'by any law of the land as unlawful, it was a mistake to suppose that it had been made lawful. He bound the defendants to appear this day week for sentenfle. The annual report of the Patent Slip Company, shows a credit balance of L 2307. The Directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 5 per cent. Christohurch, April 20. A woman named Day, 43 years old, committed suicide to-day by taking strychnine. She was intemperate, and fond of quarrelling with her husband, who was m the house engaged m cooking when she swallowed the poison. A man named Stacker dropped down dead while attending a sale at Ashburton yesterday afternoon. The supposed cause of death is apoplexy. At a recent meeting of the corps of Engineers here, two non-commissioned officers, described m the returns as unqualified, were ordered off parade by the captain. They refused, and were dismissed. The company aided with them, and have since absented themselves m a body. An advertisement has been issued m consequence, calling m all arms tind accoutrements. Oauaru, April 26. The Board of Governors of the Waitaki High School to-day accepted the plans of Messrs Forrester and Lemon for the High School buildings. The buildings when completed are estimated to cost about LSOOO. There were three competitors for a bonus of L2O, one set of plans being from a Dunedin firm. It is not contemplated to spend at the present timo more than about half the sum mentioned, tho plans being arranged so that the buildings can bo completed so soon as necessity arises. Dunedin, April 26. Garrett, who was injured m tho tramway accident, still remains unconacious. The Hon. W. Rolleston was m Dunedin to-day. Sixty of the Maori prisoners are to bo released, and will go North by the Hinemoa on Thursday. Thirteen remain behind. Invercahoill, April 26. Edmund Froggat, aged three and a half years, a son of Mr C^leb Froggat, of Longbnsh, was drowned m a water-hole on Monday last. The Bluff Harbor Board, at its meeting to-day, declined to endorse Mr Craig's motion affirming the desirableness of purchasing a steam tug for the use of the harbor, the majority of the msmbers being of opinion that the trade of the port did not yet warrant it.