INTERPROVINCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5166, 12 June 1891, Page 2

I N TERPROV I NCIA L.

» » — — • (Br Teibgbaph.) AUOEX AND, June 11. Sir George Grey leaves for Wellington on Monday, aceompaniod by Mr J. M. Bhern, M.H.B. WELLINGTON, June 11. Tho mombora of tho Land Board waited on tho Ministor of Landis, urging him to modify tho new Land Bill m tho direction of reducing tho value of improvements required under the terms on which the village settlements aro taken up. It was pointed out that m many instances tho lsnd waa poor, and it waa found ioiDOßßiblo to comply with the requirements of improving land to tho oxtent of £10, and a roduotion to£i wan suggested. The Minister promised his consideration. Mr Mackenzie

also said he regarded it ao dangerous to ro opm tho question of revaluation, but ha hopet to bo able to make provision m thn now Jiil for relief to bo afforded m special casos. An old settler at Pahiatua named Willian Jones, aged 77, Was found m a creek on hi: farm yesterday. His wife was drowned ir tho came creek fnur years ago. A deputation representing West Coasl counties iv tho South Island waited on th( Premier relative to the breakdown of th< county syntem for want o? funds, whicl they attributed to the abolition of the rating of Grown lands aud gold duty They asked to have tho Act amended tc onablo thorn to tax vehicles, whether plying for hire or not ; al;o for advanco3 against revenue. Tho Premier asked for figuroo, otc, and promised to give tho question full consideration. It came out during tho discussion that whereas the cost of working m V^estland and laangahua counties was 5 und 7 pot cont. of the revenue, m Grey and Buller it was 17 and 20 por coufc. Tho Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association havo fixed as the dates, for their show, Wednesday and Thursday, 18th and 19th November. Tho Government have decided to placo on the estimates an allowance to the widow of the late Mr W. N. Blair, tho Eng'mcor-in-Chief, equivalent to eighteen months' salary at the rato drawn by Mr Blair up to the time of his death. If the Bill, providing for the reduction of postagos m tho colony to a penny is sanctioned by Parliament, it will corns into operation on tho Ist July, if passed by that date, and from the Ist August if not passod till later on. From and after the 27th instant the lettercarriers throughout the colony aro to have the right to a half-holiday m every week, either on Saturday afternoon or whatever day be recognised 83 the local holiday. ' HOKITIKA, Jme 11. At tha Hokitiki School Co;nmit.tee meeting, Mr Thomas H.Jill, of Dunedin, Master of Arts of the New Zealand University, was appointed ree^r of tho Hokitika High School, riVe Mr John E. Gammell promot:d to the inspectorship. The MonntD'Or Company washed 2570z5, valued at £1011. CHBISTCHtmCff. June 11. Tho Working Men's Co op?rntive Society celebrated tboir first anniversary by a social The association was formed a year ago with 51 members, und now numbers 300, each of whom has a little more tban £3 10s to his credit m the society. DUNBDIif, Junk 11. At tha polic'D court James O'Connor pleaded guilty to a charge of Veoping one of his female employees after sis at night. It was proved that the E' r l worked 10J honrs. Defendant was fined 503 and costs. Archibald McKinnon, employed at Greenvale Station, was thrown from his horse while crossing the Ecmahaka river, and was drowned. INVEBCARGILL, June 11. Henry Wihon, trading ns Cowper and Wilson, ironmongers, for ths past quarter of a century, filed flis Bchedule ia bankruptcy to-day. The gas company floated m Gore to supply gas from fat and water under the patent of Mr Watt, a loc^l tradesman, have notified to consumers that they will cease to manufacture, owing to tho small consumption. It ia probable that coal gas will bs tried, the plant being suitable.