INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1513, 22 March 1887, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Auckland, March 21. A gum digger, named Olson, has been burned fearfully m his whare at Walpu He Ib to be forwarded to the Auokland Hospital. Gißborne, March 21. After a two days' it queßt into the origin of the reoent fires, a verdiot was given that the atables of the Albion Olob Hotel were feloniously, wilfully and maliciously set on fire by some persons or person unknown. Westport, March 21. A new issue of shares m the Mokihinui Coal Company has been 11 >ated m Dunedfn, and tenders will be called immediately for the extension of the C rapany's line to the outcrop of the coal. It Is expected that the Government lines will be extended to connect Westport Harbor with Mokihinui. Wellington, March 21 Enquiries are frequently made why the 10-40 five per cent New Zealand loan, of which the Press constantly publish' s quotations, is bo little over par. The explanation is simply that the ten years expired m 188G, after which it is optional for the Government to pay oft' the loan at par on six months' notice. The price therefore varies with the amount of interest accruing between each half year, together with some small amount repro-, eentiog the value of the fire [er cent, witb four per cent interest until the date when the loan is repayable at par. Cable quotations for this loar, as transactions are Bmall, vary only as described above.

The Zealandia, xvi h the English mails of 24th February, left 'Frisco for Auckland on the 13th, one day late. The Alameda, with the colonial uini's of the 28th ult. arrived at 'Frisco from Auckland on the 19th met., one day m advance of her due data.

In the Lyttelton case the Judge thought it inexpedient to nonsuit the plaintiffs, and the defence is going on. Jn opening, counael said he intended to prodrfa evidence that; (ho ship was m a sinking condition when she left the wharf.

The charges agaiDßt oyster saloon keepers for having rock oyßlers m their possession during the close season were dismissed, it having beeu proved that the oysters were taken from the mutJ. Mr O. Y. O'Connor, Undersecretary for Publio Workß, and Mr Austin, Bailway Engineer of Canterbury, have been re-appointed a oommi6oion ti iepirt on the proposed extension of Timaru harbor works, cm aiding mainly m the ereotion of the north wall of the harbor, Mr G'Ooi nor It ft for the South to-d»y on this mission.

There is extraordinary conflict of testimony aB to the Ministerial intentions respecting a Bill to render trade debts under £20 irrecoverable. The " Evening Post " stated on Saturday that it was m course of preparation and would be introduced. The "New Zealand Times" to-day asserted on authority that this was . incorrect and that no Buoh measure was being prepared by the Government. Inveruargill, March 21. The crew of an ovater cutter report passing the nude brdy of a man m Foveaux Straits Isb* Friday, but as it was blowing a gale, with a heavy sea, they could not pick it up. A Portuguese rabbitter, named Silva, came into town for medical treatment, at the hospital, and it wbb found that he was leprons. 'I ht> hospital authorities declined to keep him, and the matter waß referred to the Charitable Aid Board. It appears, however, that the Borough Council, as the local Board of Health, muet deal with the man, and he will be kept m the hospital till after their next meeting. This makes the second case of this disease io this district.