INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1900, 24 July 1888, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

___ .'♦ ' [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION, J AUCKLAND, July 23. The Mercnry Bay Timber Company to day agreed to the sale of their business to ; the Uauri S)nlica'e, aud reso'vad to wind up the Company Over 66,000 shires m tho Kauri Compauy were sold by noon to day, Dr and Madame Duflofc left suddenly by tbe Sydney steamer at midnight on r-atur day They stated that they wore going to praotiße m Melbourne during tbe Exhibition. A publio meeting of taxpayers of the Auckland district oouvened by the Chairmen of fourteen Road Dlstrlots south of Auckland, wbb held on Saturday afternoon at the Otira Sohoolhouse, Papatoitoi, when it was resolved —That tbe taxa'ion of this colony Is entirely out of proportion to the means of oolonial producers and unduly handicaps them In the world's market. It was also resolved— -Thf»t m the opinion of this meeting all Acts shielding the Civil Service from Parliamentary control should be repealed. 2. The system of granting retiring allowances, compensation allowances, or bonuses should be discontinued. 3. The question of pensions should be reconsidered with a view of modifying the conditions upon whioh they bave been granted In the direction of reducing their amounts to meet financial necessities of the colony, and also bring them m harmony with the increased purchasing power of money. Wellinoton, July 23. In the Divorce Court to-day the casa of Fry v Fry and Bilton was hevd. The parties live at Featbersfcone, and it was the husband's petition for dissolution of marriage on the grounds of the wife's adultery with the co-respondent. His Honor reserved his decision, and remarked that he did not believe for a moment that there bad been any collusion. What, however, he had to consider was whether the petitioner was a man who should have the honor of a wife In his keeping, and therefore wis he entitled to relief by the Court, so that he might be enabled to marry again: In the Supreme Court today, judgment was given In the appeal oise, MoOoll v Stewards of the Wellington Racing Olnb. At a race meeting In February, Fabrication, owned by MoOoll, came In first In the Selling Race, but was disqualified on protest for jamming. In the R,M. Court McColl sought to recover the amount of the stakes, but the R.M. gave judgment for the defendants, and from that deolsion plaintiff appealed, on tha grounds that the deolsion of the m&jorlty of the four Stewards Who voted was incompetent to determine the matter, Hla Honor ruled this was not a valid objection and dismissed the appeal. Dunedin, July 23 A largely attended meeting was held to-night to consider the position of the Otago Central railway. A resolution wbb moved by Mr Donald Reid— 1 ' That the settlement of the land and trade of Otago would be largely benefited by the construction of the line, aud to this end it Bhonld be e&irusted to a private oompiny on fair and equitable terms to the colony, and that Government and the members be urged to support the Bill now before Parliament." To tbla Sir. R. Stout proposed an amendment—" That the line should be constructed by Government without the lc tsrvehtion of companies, syndloateß, qr lan,d grants," On being, put to tho vote the original motion was declared carried. A young man named James Douglass, shepherd at Mr A. D. Bbll's Shag Valley station, Danbaok, was killed on Saturday. His horse took fright and bolted, and Douglass, mounting another, went after it. It Is supposed be oama Into collision with the post of a fence, as he was found lying dead with his neck broken. Inveroargill, July S}3. The Inveroargill Brigades, havo decided that they will not compete In the steam ~Hre Engine event at the United Brigades' demonstration next summer. Tbii decision has been oome to with a view to encourage other brigades to enter by removing the objection tbat might be taken that the looal brigade would have an advantage In using their own engine. Arrangements for the demonstration are progressing satisfactorily.