INTERPROVINCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2892, 7 February 1893, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Wellington, February 6, With reference to the Armstrong case, the Education Board state the rule observed for many years past is that until the lad uassed the fourth standard or attained his fourteenth year everything else must give way to education. The registers of the Auckland Industrial School have been sent for, and will be examined to ascertain if they bear out the statement of the boy that he only attended school about once a month. The Porirua Aaylum is approaching completion, and will be ready for patients' occupation in about two months. The building is designed for some two hundred patients. The investigation recently made by the Land Department, into alleged breaches of the Land Act in Taranaki land district, resulted in information being obtained which led to proceedings being taken to punish the offenders. There are numerous casen, involving in*ny individuals, and the charges include ilummyism, making false declarations, conspiracy to evade the Act, and perjury. The penalties range from forfeiture of land to forfeiture and heavy penalties, and to penalties of £500 and loner tdrms of imprisonment in canes which will be brought under the criminal Jaw as well as under the penal chuses of the Act. In every case it is individuals and not members of the AsbOsiati.:»n who Hie involved. Mr O'Hara Smith, of the Lands Aidit Depaitment, is at >ew Plymouth instituting proceedings. The Government stace farm will shortly be inaugurated in a 1500-acre block, some miles beyond Feilding. The anivals in New Ze*l*nd during January were 3418 persons, and ' the departures 1513—leaving a gain to the colo/iy of 1900. The same month last year the arrivals exceeded the departure* by 673. The man J&cobsen, referred to in n. Melbourne cable as disappearing from Pahfatua district, formerly woiked at bush falling as a mate of the man Smith, alias Aldridge, arrested -in Melbourne. Jacobsen disappeared unaccountably two years ago, and so far as known has not since been heard of. Aldridge is now alleged to have disposed of some clothes which had belonged to Jacobsen. The Government steamer Stella will shortly be submitted to auction. A young woman, giving her name as Mrs Friend, died at the house of a midwife in Cuba Street to-day' The woman bad been confined of triples—one born alive on Friday nighc,- and two born dead last nighii. When medical aid was sought the woman was lying in bed pulseless, blanched, unconscious, ami dying. The doctor concluded there hid been severe hemorrhage. An inquest will probably be held. Deceased was about thirty or forty' years of age.