INTERPROVINCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3304, 30 April 1885, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

! (By Telegraph.) Auckland, April 29. Three nipnths ago the Harbor Board, being dissatisfied with their Engineer, gays Mm six months' notice. At a meeting yesterday it transpired that he had been requested to furnish two trivial reports, and excused himself because he had not time. The Board gave him leave of absence to the end of his term, and intend appointing a new Engineer at once. Captain Taylor and eighteen of the Armed Constabulary who have been employed m road-making at Kawbia, have arrived here, and proceed to North Head for big gun drill. Coates, the contractor for the first eection of the Trunk Bailway, signed his bonds today, and the work commences next week. The number of men at work on the fortifications will be reduced to 200 by the end of the week, when tho whole of the heavy guns m the batteries will have boen mounted. The prospects of the Kawakawa coal mine are improving. A seam five feet thick is gradually proving free from fault. The City Schooht Committee protest against the frequent public school holiday*, and recommend the abolition of St. Patrick's, St. George's, and St. Andrew's Pays as school holidays. Wellington, April 29j, Tho Board of the Government Life Xno surance Association decided at its meeusg

yestcrdnv to proceed at once with the preparation of rolls to enable an election to take place for the establishment of Local Boards at Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. These rolls cannot be finished before the annual meeting of the Association, which is to be held the last Wednesday m May. It was considered that if any of the policyholders wished to offer any objections to the establishment of the proposed Local Boards there would be ample time for them to give adequate notice of their intention by resolution to be proposed, and on that resolution a discussion could take place and a vote taken at the general meeting. The Defence Minister is indisposed, and was unable to attend at his office to-day. Captain Eindley, of the steamer Coptic, shows but little improvement, and it is believed that he is suffering from brain fever. Mr William Seed, Secretary for Customs, returned from England by the Kaikoura. He has much improved m health. A writ m connection with the suit which Lieutenant Parnell of Wanganui has decided to bring against the N.Z. Rifle Association m respect to the action of that body m disqualifying him at the Island Ba} meeting last month was served yesterday. The claim amounts to £127, made up as follows : — £50 as damages for not being allowed to fire m the annual match, £50 as damages for being disqualified for the rifle championship, and £27 the value of prizes won by the plaintiff, but retained by the Association. A Commission has been issued from the High Court of Chancery m the libel suit Bryce v. Rusden appointing the Hon. Patrick Alphonsus Buckley Commissioner to represent the plaintiff, and the Hon. Joseph R. Toole Commissioner to represent the defendant, m taking evidence m New Zealand relative to the action. The sitting of the Commission will probably be held m Wanganui about the Bth of May. In the meantime an application has been made to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary to have exhumed the bodies of the Maori women and children who it was alleged m Mr Rnsden's history had been ruthlessly sabred by the cavalry under Mr Bryce. This request has been acceded to on condition of all parties agreeing to it. The Colonial Secretary's stipulation that the examinations shall be conducted m the presonce of medical men nominated by him has been agreed to by all the parties concerned. Information was received to-day that Alexander Forsyth Anderson, who was arrested here some months ago and remanded to Liverpool, was taken before the Police Court at Liverpool on the 10th of March, and charged with the embezzlement of large sums of money during the time he occupied the position of Master of the Brownlow Hill Workhouse. He admitted the offence, and was committed for trial, bail being refused. He was further charged with having left Great Britain with more than £20 m his possession after being adjudged a bankrupt. This charge was also admitted, and accused was again committed for trial, bail being also refused. Madame Rita and Mr W. S. Radcliff, the eminent flute player, are doing an excellent business here. Fred. Millis, the ventriloquist, and Mrs Hart, of "Happy Hours," are drawing crowded houses m tha town and country districts with their popular concerts. Joseph Brown, a carpenter working on the railway, was struck by the buffer of an engine, dislocated his Bhoulder, and sustained a wound on the head from the cow-catcher. He was taken up insensible. Nelson, April 29. The winze which is being sunk for the Doctor's No. 2 drive at Aniseed Valley to connect with the main level is now down about 70 feet on a mass of native copper. The No. 2 winze m the Champion lode has been connected with the shaft level 160 feet down, the lode being 4 feet wide and of native copper and rock. Gbeymouth, April 29. At the local option poll to-day the issue of additional licenses to publicans, and of wine accommodation and battle, was carried by large majorities, the smallest being m favor of more bottle licenses. The result was not expected. ChblSTCHuboh, April 29. The Westland County Council has guaranteed £100, and the Ross Borough Council £25 towards the preliminary expenses connected with the West Coast railway. £280 additional has also been guaranteed by private persons. The Nelson delegate has cabled that there is every reason to believe that the scheme will be entertained m the London market after the present orisis has passed. The Hinemoa arrived from Wellington this morning with a number of lunatics to be transferred to the Seacliff Asylum, Dunedin. She was also to have taken a number from here, but was recalled by Government to Wellington, whither she sailed this evening. The patients were sent on by special train to their destination. Public meetings were held yesterday, when it was decided to form Volunteer corps at Kaiapoi and Sefton. To-night at a meeting of Irishmen m the city, convened by Mr Holmes, M.H.R., steps were taken to establish an Irish Brigade. Dunedin, April 29. A most enthusiastic meeting of Irishmen was held this evening for the purpose of forming a corps to assist m defence. Before the close of the meeting 189 names of those desirous of becoming members were handed m. Efforts are being made to form two companies, consisting principally of men who were at one time Volunteers, some of whom were the best shots m the district, and it is expected they will offer their services, each member paying the coßt of uniform, etc, and only requiring arms from the Government. INTBBCAHGILL, April 29. Thomas Ferretter, a prisoner m gaol, was brought up_ this morning at the Police Court charged with an aggravated prison offence. He was ordered to be kept on bread and water for fourteen days. During the hearing of the case the prisoner applied most foul and disgusting language to the Resident Magistrate. He is the same prisoner who recently got six months for assaulting a warder.