INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1420, 19 May 1886, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

— —♦ Ai ckland, May 18,

At a meeting of the Auckland Presbytery, to consider the Premier's letter relative to the New Hebrides question, and the position of the Presbyterian missions in the Islands, a resolution was carried strongly opposing the cession of the Now Hebrides to Franco, and Committees wore appointed to watch the interests of the Church in the matter, with instructions to take steps to join a General Committee of the citizens of all denominations who may bo opposed to the cession, and to bring influence to boar upon the Government of the Colony. A petition to Parliament was adopted, asking it to take stops to influence the Home Government to refuse its consent to the proposed annexation. Some interesting revelations were made at the United Charitable Aid Board meeting, by the relieving officer and inspector of the Industrial Institution, us to how children are got into the Industrial Institution.

Taupo, May 17.

During the past week several residents of Taipuhnna, GO miles distant from Uuapohu, have witnessed at intervals immense volumes of steam issuing from the summit of the mountain, at present one mass of snow. The steam seems to rise out of the side of the crater, which the Natives say has been remembered aa extinct from time immemorial.

Napier, May 18

At the meeting of the Board of Education to-day a return was submitted showing that nearly J2OO children were not attending school fur the want of accommo dation. it was also shown that in the last live years matters had become worse instead of better, the Board not having been able to keep pace with the rapid increase of population. At the Harbor Board meeting to-day, it was reported that a man in Wellington is applying for a patent far a method of submarine blasting. The Engineer stated that the process was not new, having been used by himself and other engineers, both in Europe and New Zealand ; but if the applicant succeeded in getting the patent the Board might have to pay a heavy royalty for using it. The Board decided to oppose the issue of the patent. Among the applications for the post of wharfinger were the following ; —A contractor, a manager of a boiling-down establishment, a bank clerk, two railway station masters, a policeman, a station manager, a seaman, a storeman, and two pursers. Wellington, May 18.

The Alameda, with the April English malls, left San Francisco for Auckland on May 8, time table date. The Mariposa, with the April colonial mails, arrived at San Francisco, from Auckland, on May 16, one day earlier than time table date The case of Ell v. Harper has occupied the Appeal Court all day, and Mr Jellicoe had not concluded his argument for the appellant, EH, when the Court rose. In ad j mrniog until Friday, the Court directed that the Christchurch Registrar should be In attendance for examination, and he has been communicated with to that effect.

Greymouth, May 18

The Westport Coal Company’s shaft at Wallsend bottomed on coal this afternoon’ at 620 ft. The bottom of the shaft will be all clear by midnight. The seam is 17ft thick, of bright hard coal Invercargill, May 17.

At a meeting of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Board to day, the tax put upon the district funds by tho influx from other localities of destitute women about tojbecome mothers of illegitimate children, was the subj ct of discussion. It was resolved to pay tho expenses of sending such persons back whence they came. A Committee was appointed to take the preliminary steps towards the erection of a home for the aged and infirm.