INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1810, 9 April 1888, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

(Per Pbess Association.)

Auckland. April 7. Investigations reßpectng the Frenchmen picked up by the barque Howard 500 mi'es from Noumea have rovealed the fact they are escapees from New Caledonia. Une of the men waß UDdergoing a sentenoa of twenty years, and the other a sentence of seventeen years' imprison ment. An old man named John O'FTailoran who had lived as a recluse for the past thirteen years on the gam fields, was found dead m his where. He seldom associated with anyone, and had no mate or even friend on the gum field, and though ho was a most indefatigable gumdigger aod very successful, ha lived most penuriously, saving a large sum of nv>ney dtiriog thirteen years he had been there. Ha came once or twico a year to Auckland and loflgod his money m the Bank, and from the reports current it is believed that his savings and deposits amount to abonfc £15,000. Wellington, April 8. Instructions have beon iesuotl by the Colonial Secretary, that all porsans arriving from Sydney at Wellington and Auckland are to be examined by the Health Officer before being permitted to land. It is reported m town to-night that a serious fire broke out at Waxerley last night, when £3000 damage was done. Gkeywotjth, April 8. A woman named Mary Owen has been missing since Tuesday last. She came into town on that day from near the hospital to procure household necessaries These articles, made up m a parcel, together with some of her apparel, were found 011 the bank of the river not far from the Melbourne Hotel, but no other Bign of ihe woman Bince was seen near where the articles were picked up. She ib a widow, but her children are out of her care. It is supposed that she committed suicide while m an erratic mood.

Export for the week, 3376 tona of coal