INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1809, 7 April 1888, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

[Pan PfiKss Association.]

AUCKLAND, April 6. The Hon E. Mltchelaon was waited apon to-day by the Ooanoil of the Chamber o? Commerce with reference to the North Island Trunk Railway aud th<j views of the Government apon that Bab* jeot. They pointed out that the Auoklaad people are of opinion that railway communication should be established to Tacanakl. Mr Mitchelaon aald the Government had not yet considered the question of the respective routes, as they are awaiting the report of the surveyors now engaged m surveying at three points, Niml, Ingle wood, and Stratford. It was probable this report would not be presented to next session of Parliament, Mr Mltohelson said the Government would consider Captain Daveny's scheme of speoial Battlement, and would also take into consideration the quentlon of improving telegraphic communication with Wellington.

A deputation of the Trades and Labor Chunoll interviewed Mr Mitchelson to-day with respect to the Ohineae question, to asoertain whether or not the New Zealand Government proposed to 00-operate with the other Governments m the Australian colonies m taking steps to exclude Ohineae. Mr Mitchelaon said the matter had not been broached before the Cabinet, so he oouid not definitely state what were the views of the Government upon the question, There was uo doubt but that they would require to consider the matter *s It was bound to come op at tho ensuing session of Parliament. He recommended the Oounoll to forward a report to tha Government upon the matter. Mr Mitchelaon promised to communicate with the Premier to aaoertain whether a subsidy which had been paid to Donald and Edenborough's steamer for carrying on the South Sea Island trade would be oontinaed, as it was'polnted out that Kanaka labor was employed by that vessel.

New Plymouth, April 6. A cottage m Powderham street, near the Government Buildings, was burnt at midnight. It was not insured. The snppoaed oaaae Is ignition of wood connected with the iron chimney.

The wife of Mr Downea, manager of the Bank of New South Wales, died suddenly of apoplexy last evening. Her funeral takes place to-morrow.

Wellington, April 6 The Government has decided to give asslatanoa to tho batter aad oheeae industry. With that view the Premier has written to the Agent-General, that the beat meana to that enr) would be the importation of a duly qtnlified export who could instruct manufacturers m tha beßt methods of preparation of their produce to oult the market. He requests Sir Dillon Bell to BBoare the Bervloes of Buch a person : the salary to be given tha Premier thinks should not exceed £300 pec annum] and reasonable travelling expenses with three years engagement and a free passage out, and home, if at the expiration of the term the person Bhould deolde to return, although the Premier has no doubt should he prove a suoceßS his ocoupatlon would be permanent.

It 1b Btated that a large quantity of electric lighting plant valued at about £1500 now m store has been condemned as useless.

James Madden has been arrested at Auckland on the alleged charge of issuing a valueless oheque there, He has bean remanded, and a petition has bean lodged m the Supreme Oontt to adjudicate him a bankrupt.

The clmga of perjury against W. J Middleton, solicitor, was withdrawn.

The Govarnment have received no intimation from Sir D. Bell, that ha intended to retire from the Agent-Generalship In October.

At a meeting of the Exhibition Commissioners today, Hia Exoellenoy tbe Governor presided. Instructions were issued foe forwardlog exhibits from this colony.

An enquiry was held Into the Opera Houao fire to-day. The evidence went to show that the fire occurred m the etalc case leading to the upper circle. Mrs Smith, wife of the oustodian, who lived "m the flies," said that daring her husband's absence from the theatre on the ! night before the fire, Bhe heard the stige door creak and some parson walk a0r093 the atage. lfc appeared aa if some one was stealing across, and Bhe knew the footsteps were not those of h,er husband. On the lattor'a return ahe informed him of the circumstance, and although HtnUh made search no ons waa found m the buiidluy;. Smith deposed that half-a-dozm p3raona might hava beaa hiding m tha building and ha would ba unable to discover them. Ha mentioned that en the day before about £25 of the Company's money had been left on the desk m the office m notes aud silver ready for banking. IJe did not enter the offioa after the Ore as he did not care to go there alone, Ha was m iho office yesterday with a direotor and found that the doak had been on fire and wan charred, but there was no sign of either paper or Qilver money. The desk was not burned auffioiantly to have acoounted for the disappearance of the silver. The other evidence was unimportant, and an open verdict was returned*

The Hutt R-illway line has been temporarily repaired aoffijiontly to enable traffic to be resumed, but trains travel at a very alow rate between here and Petone.

Tt is stated that Mr Douglas of Kaogitlkei, formerly a .Lieutenant m the Royal Navy, is to be appointed Major In the Colonial forces and virtually iv command of them*

Oiikistohuro^, April 6. This afternoon' Bishop Hhrper ootiseoratod tho Church of Ec gland portion of the new public cemetery at Lin wood, m the presence of a large aaaomblage, Including most of the town and suburban clergy.

Tha Kiiapoi Woollen Oompnny refuse to exhibit at Melbourne. The roasou alleged is that there ia ao much work on hand that to give up what ia being dene m order to prepare special exhibits, would be to loao more time than can bo aff jrded.

Uunedin. April 6 In the defence m the Walttihuna arsr>n case Sir Robert Stout took a twofold objection on Mr Hagglt'a cpenlng : First, that when three persons were j >intly obarged with au offcnoa it waa necessary to prove the exaot one that committed it, unless conspiracy were ahosvn ; that the facts were two-faced, that ia, {hat though there might be evidence of concealing the goods, that did not necessarily mean that tie prisoners had been guilty of arson. The Judge thought m best that evidence should be taken, as there might bo aomethjtag .to go to th.o jqry,