INTERPROVINCIAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3288, 11 April 1885, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAN.

(By Teleoeaph.) • Auckland, April 10. A twelve hours' walking match between McOlure and Rayner, for £50 a. Bide, commonces to-morrow. A detachment of the A.C., under Captain Capel, arrived to-night from Kihikihi to form the nucleus of an Artillery force for working the big. guns m the harbor defence, .. . . W. Blew, a city contractor, was brought up at the Police Court to-day on throe charges of challenging the Mayor, Mr Waddell, to fight. He apologised and paid all costs, and was bound over to keep the peace for three months. Oswald Hertzog has been committed for trial on a charge of defrauding the Colonial Insurance Company by falte representations after the Lyceum fire. It was mentioned at the Chamber of Commerce meeting to day that a number of merchants had mooted the desirability of laying down a cable between New Zealand and Fiji, and that probably the Committee would consider the matter. It was proposed that Mr Stout be interviewed m regard to it, and Sir Julius Yogel be communicated with. Wbllwgton, April 10. Sir Julius Yogel returned to Wellington m the Ruapehu this afternoon. The Government have received a reply from Colonel Hewitt definitely accepting the position of Commander of the New Zealand Volunteers. It is understood he will leave for New Zealand almoßt immediately. i It hue been decided to connect th* defence [■work* vifch the tow» by telepoono.

" Wbswobt, April 10. Tiro shocks of earthquake were felt here last night. ; The Resident Magistrate made an order today that the colliers now on strike vacate the Westport Colliery Company's houses within five days. Chbistchubch, April 10. The Canterbury Frozen Meat Company have decided to increase the capacity of their present freezing works by one half. Mr Ballance, Minister of Lands and Defence and Native affairs, accompanied by Mr Butler, Private Secretary,' arrived this morning by the b.s. Hawea, from Wellington. This afternoon the Hon. Colonel Brett, the Mayor, and Mr B. J.S.Harman, officers of the Canterbury Reserve Force, had an interview with him, but the proceedings were private. He leaves on Tuesday next for Oxford, Aahburton, 'Ximaru, and Waimate, m order to see what amount of really good land is available to be set aside for the special settlements scheme. Mr Ballance received a telegram to-day from Hone Tamihana, a son of William Thompson, the " king-maker," repeating his offer of 200 Waikato natives, and agreeing to drill them for service m the Soudan or elsewhere. A deputation of dealers m armß waited on Mr Ballance to-day and requested that the restrictions on the sale of armß (as to sending m returns, &c.) might be removed m the South Island, and he agreed to grant the request. The settling on the C. J.C. Autumn Meeting took plaoe yesterday. The following amounts were paid over :— Mr D. O'Brien, £766 ;Mr G. G. Stead, £395 ; Mr G. Clifford, £309 j Mr T. Sheehan, £237 ; Major George, £214 ; Mr P. Butler, £181 ; Mr B. Vallance, £124 ; and smaller amounts, making a total of £2519. The local option polling at Sydenham resulted m an overwhelming majority against any new licenses being granted. Colonel Reader visited Lyttelton yesterday on defence business. Yesterday Mr F. Baok, Traffic Manager, was entertained at luncheon by the railway employees, prior to his departure for London.. Oamabit, April 10. Messrs Hislop, Hutchison and Lord Reidhaven will be candidates for the Oamaru seat m the House of Representatives. Major Cautley visited the town to-day to inspect the place for the purpose of defence. His opinion was unfavorable to placing the town m a state of defence with the means at the Government's disposal, and that it would be better to allow the enemy to take what they wanted than to resist without being able to defend the town properly. Dunbdin, April 10. It is stated that the Union S.S. Company have been addressed by both the Victorian Government and the Admiral m charge of the Australian station with a view to the purchase of the Botomahana for a fast patrol boat, but as yet no definite arrangement has been come to. A fire occurred at Otatia, m Taieri County, early on Wednesday morning, by which two stacks of oats belonging to Mr T. Shand, and an engine and threshing machine, the property of Mr Fleming, were destroyed. The threshing machine is believed to be insured. Eighteen prisoners are to be brought up at the Police Court on Tuesday on a charge of refusing to work: at the Heads. A prisoner named McComb had complained of illness, and was believed to be shamming, and the others refused to go to work unless he did. The Acclimatisation Society's annual report shows the revenue for the past year to have been £753 10s 9d, and the ordinary expenditure £592 15s. In addition to this £219 14s 3d had been paid for the new grounds at Opoho, and for the new hoUBe and offices for the manager £428 Is 10d, including fencing and new ponds. The report deals at length with a variety of subjects. It says that as regarded black game, pintail." grouse, pheasants, partridges, and Californian quail, there remained but a rather miserable record of black game and pintail grouse. . Really nothing bad been heard during the year as to the other game birds mentioned, but those accounts which had reached the Council were generally that they were gradually^ becoming scarcer. With regard to Californian salmon the Council had not, during the past year, got an iota of evidence of its existence m any Otago rivers. It was stated, however, that specimens were still being got m the Waimakariri m Canterbury. The report also complained of the prevulence of poaching. Mr Larnach returned to-day from his goldfields tour, and expects to get away North next Thursday. The Public Works Department have 70 men at work, and will have, one gun m position by Thursday next. The average school attendance m Otago last quarter was 18,550. The highest attendance under the provincial scheme was 11,740. iNVBBCiBOII/li, April 10. In the four-oared boat race Dunedin and Invercargill, the former won by a length and a quarter. Mr Barnett , the temperance lecturer, was entertained at a social meeting to-night, at which he stated that the results of his labors m Southland had been 1258 pledges, 1435 Blue Ribbons and 65 family pledges.