INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1746, 21 January 1888, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

» — >(PBR PBRSS A8«00'ATION.) Auckland, January 20. The property valuation of suburban boroughs Is as follow* -.-£12,177. being 1 a decrease of £1842 j Parnell, £26,860, a decrease of £1640; Newton, £20,035, ! an increase of £602. Hawbra, November 20. O, O Staok, a settler residing neat Normnnby, has received a letter from the Hon John Bright. Stuck fa one of the looal champions of free trade, and wrote to Mr Bright on the subject, who m his reply fays — "Ignoranoe and •elfiihness •re m partnership In the defence of what Is oalled protection, and the question arises m thle country and community, for there are many ignorant, and all may be stirred and reached by an appeal to theU aelfishnees. After forty years of free trade, and with prodigious snoosss, we have some protectionists here who call themselves fair traders. They rather shun the old name, for they know that to be unpopular, but the real object la the same as we had to contend with so loug ago. I hope you will follow the oonrse of the O:d Country and New South Walea, which I am sore la the oonrse of real prosperity and wisdom." WELUNaroN, January 20 At the Grand Lodge cession to-day, a Grand Lodge degree was conferred on Bro Lomas. It wna deeidad to hold the next conference m Christohuroh. It wm resolved whereas two Grand Lodges have been hitherto existing m this colony under two oharters, one being for the Grand Lodges of the North and South respectively, and the two Grand Lodges having now united, we request the R.WGT. to Je&UB a clutter to tbi« Grand Lodge, such charter to bear the date of the first charter Issued, The following resolution was considered : : 'That this Grand Lodge Is of opinion that the liquor traffic, as carried on by olqbs haa a most injurious effaot on the m; ral and aoolal well-being of the oom- i mnn Uy, and hereby instracn the Grand Lodga Executive, In connection with other temperance bodies, to take Buch no. ion an they may deem necessary to obtain freah legislation, co as to bring olnba under the same provisions and oontrol ac licdiieed houses." A deputation was appointed to wait npon the Colonial Secretary to protest against the reestablishment of distilleries In the colony. The Bxeoutlve were instructed to prepare and circulate petltionvto Parliament m favor of prohlbltbn. The Conference deoidpd that the roheme for instituting district lodgea wou'd prove a great advantage, *nd requested the Executive to report on the question next Grand Lodge session. Government have cancelled the regulation prohibiting the public from admittance to the Government baildiDga before two m the afternoon. The Native Miniate; will shortly leave for tho North, In order to be present at a meeting of tho Waikato Natlvos. Some exoltement waa caused In town at five this evening by an outbreak of fir* io a restaurant kept by a Chinaman, which adjoins the B*ulc of New Zealand At ono time It appeared aa If ttio fire had a firm hold, but the Brigade, with a strong pressure of »patf r, soon beat It out. After the annual inspection of the forces M«j>r General \y hit more will resign his position aa Commander of the New gaaland Forces. Sir George Whitmore some tfma ago offered to nerform the duties without salary, but tho Government thought there were cerlous objection! to this. It is understood that Major Bodham, of the Permanent MJUtla. has refilgaea his position. It Is stated thai one of the forts at gsloweU *W b« 4!iß»Qtit 4 wi retaUt, (