INTERPROVINCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 2886, 10 December 1898, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL.

. » • Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, December 9. The signalman at Russell telegraphed this afternoon that a steamer passed south at 1245 p.m. She is probably the Nellie Margaret, v from New York via Sydney. At the inquest on the body of William Ogle, who died at a service at St. Mat thew's Ohureh, the verdict was death from syncope. Tne Waitohi monthly yield was £555. A fire broke out to-night m the premises of Mr Yateß, a seedsman, m the third storey, which was occupied by Miss Tutfnell, a dressmaker. Her department was completely gutted. The insurance is not known. WOOD VILLE, December 9. The Commercial Hotel, near the railway station, was burned down at midnight. Home furniture and stock were saved. The hotel was owned by Mr Newbiggen (Hastings; and occupied for the past three months by John Simpson. The insurances are held by the South British and Northern Queensland Offices. WELLINGTON. December 9. The Governor returned from his northern tour last night. The vice-regal visitors were very much impressed with the Auckland Exhibition. Lord Ranfurly pays an official visit to Wanganui next week. The Hon. J. G. Ward left lasj; night for Sydney on a business visit. He will be away about two months. The Bank of New Zealand has sold the northern roller mills at Auckland, formerly known as Firth's, to an Auckland syndicate, who have been negotiating for the property for some time. The price, though not equal to value, is said to be very fair. It is understood that the directors are using every effort to dispose of the remaining trading concerns, and hope to get rid of them m the course of a year or so. Mr J. Wilkie, a well known journalist and a member of the Conciliation Board is ill, and is not expected to recover. The balance elieet of the Pahiatua

0 bush fire relief fund shows that £999 2s „ 5d was subscribed. There were 33£ ' claims amounting to £30,344, and assistance was rendered to only the most necessitous. The most needy got 5a m the £ on their losses, and others 3s m the £. Messrs J. and A. Wilson's tender at a £12,988 was accepted ;for the Parliament [, Buildings. ,f The Gear Meat Company pays a divie dend equal to 10 per cent, for the year. CHRISTCHUROH, December 9. The Cheviot County Settlers' Associaj tion are inviting the assistance of the . Canterbury Chamber of Commerce m '/ the agitation for an extension of the r railway to Cheviot. During the last four „ years Cheviot has imported 2,500,000 feet „ of timber, 7600 tons of general merchandise, 900 tons of coal, 15,000 fencing posts ; and exported 7700 bales of wool, 11,000 sacks wheat, and during last season 40,000 fat sheep and lambs left • the district. The New Zealand Shipping Company has decided to appoint Captain Bone, of the Ruahine, marine superintendent. He is commodore of the company's fleet and has been m the service for 25 years. He remains m command of the Ruahine till the vessel reaches Wellington when he will be relieved by Captain Jaggard, of the Waimate. It is understood that 6 Captain Hammon, of the Tekoa, will - take the Waimate. At the Magistrates Court to-day, J. A. Chapman, a letter carrier, was committed for trial on a charge of stealing 723 circulars and letters. The evidence led went to show that the letters were pot delivered through the laziness of the accused, and not for the purpose of gain. The annual rose show to-day was a good one, though not so good as m past ' years. The show was held too late to 1 catch the finest blooms this year as a ■ spell of warm weather brought the roses . out too soon. •.:-•- New purifiers were opened at the ! Ohristchurch gasworks to-day, being the r first of the kind erected m the colonies. It is expected that all kinds of coal will now be used for the manufacture of gas instead of special sorts. At the luncheon the mayor said that the city had no intention of offering to purchase the gasworks, but would probably erect electric light works. , » DUNEDIN, December 9. George Grant and Alexander Blue were to-day committed for. trial on a charge of breaking into a store and stealing goods to the value of about £7. INVERCARGILL, December 9. lj Richard Powell, aged 15 years, a son ■ of the foreman on the Hokonui railway , works, was drowned to-night when bathing m the Waihopai, at Gladstone, on the outskirts of the town. He was watching boys peling when he slipped into a deep hole. The body was recovered.