INTERPROVINCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2646, 8 March 1898, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 7. A preliminary meeting of citizens was held at the Y.M.O.A. re the skin-grafting case, Baker v. Purchas. A sub committee waa appointed to draw up an address of sympathy to Miss Ethel Baker, to be submitted to a further meeting on Thursday preparatory to a public meeting on Monday next, when resolutions will be submitted for consideration and adoption. NAPIER, March 7. The police raided the hotels on Saturday night and as a result informations will be laid against the licensees of the Empire and Clarendon for selling after hours. FEJLDING, March 7. At Rongotea, on Saturday evening, a young man named Harry Summers attempted suicide by shooting. He put the muzzle of a gun m his mouth and m pulling the trigger changed the direction of the charge, which went out through the side of his face. He waa suffering from the effects of sunstroke at the time. WELLINGTON, March 7. The Governor returns to Wellington on the 27th, and after paying a visit to the scene of the fires m the Pahiatua district, goes on to Hastings and Napier to meet the native chiefs, who are anxious to tender a formal reception to Hi 8 Excellency. The Government have decided to grant Mrs Hill, widow of the late Mr E. Hill, Collector of Customs at Christchurch, a compassionate allowance equal to one year's salary. An application has been received from two Chinese married women for the removal of the poll tax of £100, on the ground that they married naturalised Chinamen on board ship, before landing m New Zealand. The matter has been referred tp the Crown Solicitor for his opinion. The Premier has received a portrait of the Queen, with an autograph souvenir of the Jubilee, Her Majesty was taken m the dress worn on theoccasion. Sailed— H.M.S. Tauranga, for Lyttelton. The Cabinet have decided to start work at once on the Springfield end of the Midland Railway, so as to connect with the section at Otira Gorge, as requested of the Premier by a Christchurch deputation a few weeks ago. Mr W. H. Gavin, son of the Assistant-Controller and Auditor-General, who has been assistant engineer on the Otago Central Railway, has been selected to take charge of the works at Springfield. Mr Lucas, who was overseer of the railway works recently carried out at Eketahuna, is to fill a similar position on the Midland Railway between Springfield and Otira Gorge. A house at Oriental Bay, owned by Mr F. Stevens and occupied by Mr H. H. Chambers, was burned down this afternoon. No one was m and everything waa destroyed. It was insured for £550 m the Palatine and Alliance. CHRISTCHURCH, March 7. . Two sharp shocks of earthquake «rere experienced here at 10.10 on Saturday night. DUNEDIN,March7. At St. Paul's Cathedral yesterday three students from Selwyn College were ordained to the deaconate by Bishop Neville. The Rev. E. S. Wayne has been accepted for work at Norfolk Island. The Rev. F. Latter is to serve m the diocese of Auckland, and the Rev. Mr Davidson is licensed to the curacy of Queenstown. INVERCARGILL, March 7. A considerable portion of the works of the Gore Meat Preserving Co., was destroyed by fire early this morning. The company were to start operations for the season to-morrow. The insurances are : Standard £400, South British £400, New Zealand £350, National £20, Australian Alliance, £15, Imperial £150. After an unprecedented season of low temperature and cloudy skies the weather appears to have taken up. The past few days have been bright and harvest is commencing.