PROVINCIAL AND COLONIAL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 187, 10 June 1873, Page 6

PROVINCIAL AND COLONIAL.

Provisions are reported to be scarce at Port Darwin. Oats are very scarce in Melbourne, and are selling at 5s 3d.

Lawrence will shortly have five churches all well attended '

Thirty gentlemen have subscribed £598 for a free library in Christchurch. On June 2, the Cabinet decreed to call the Assembly together on July 15. A graving dock is to be constructed in Auckland, at a cost of £50,0U0. Queenstown is going to borrow £4OOO for the construction of waterworks. Oamaru is discussing a waterworks scheme ■ and gas for the town is also talked of. A company is being formed to work the petroleum springs at Gisborne, Hawke's Bay. The yield of the Caledonian claim, Thames for the week ending June 3, was 342 oz. from 185 tons. Waipori is to be visited by the Provincial Engineer, for the purpose of taking levels for a sludge channel. Numbers of diggers are reported to be leaving Etheridge, in Queensland, for Port Darwin, overland. At Sandhurst, Mr M'Hugh, of the Admiralty Survey, has been killed by fulling 100 feet down a shaft. The Canterbury Provincial Council, by 19 to 12, have decided to open the Provincial Museum on Sundays. The steamer Egniont is being fitted out in Brisbane to take soundings for a telegraph cable between Sydney and New Zealand. A butcher in Wellington, named Garrod who had recently arrived from Dunedin, fell down dead while at his work a ft w days a<* i. Dnncdin's population seems in a fair way of increase. In May, there were 114 l>irths to 20 deaths ; and the marriages numbered 25. The Dunedin City Council have decided to spend £2OOO in the forma'ion of a carriage drive along the entire length of the To\vn Belt. Governor Fergusson was to leave Melbourne for New Zealand on the sth. Great prenararf tions are being made in Wellington for Ins reception. A telegram from Grahamstown says that Pukurutn will go on committing murders if the leasing of the land he claims be not discontinued. The cake of amalgam from the Inst crushing of the Gabriel's Gully Co. onlv lost U percent, in smelting, which is said to be the smallest percentage known in the Province. A Victorian telegram says:—A man named Tulford, belonging to Warrnambool. discharged a revolver at a widow for refusing to marry him. The widow, however, escaped unhurt. Dr Monckton. of Southland, has leaped from the Gener; 1 Government the Auckland Islands. He intends to establish a sheep and cattle station, to supply whalers, and to carry on sealing. A movement is on foot at Auckland to organise a team of cricketers to proceed to Canterbury or Otago in the spring, to play against any of the Southern elevens who 'maybe willing to meet them. In Christchurch, the demand for most kinds of labour is greatly in excess of the supply. All the men per Michael An-relo, save throe, found good employment the first day they were open to engagement. In the Auckland Province recently, two members of the Armed Constabulary, named Brennan and Verner, were " larking"' with a penknife, when it ran into BrennaVs body near the heart, and caused his death. A resident at Ross, Westland, upon being sued by the Ross Cricket Club for the defcen' fcion of a ball which had been hit over his fence, and which lie (or rather his wife) refuses! to restore, was ordered to pay 15s and costs in default of restoration. I In Committee on the Education in the Canterbury Provincial Council the other day, it was carried by 10 to 14 that the Bible be not read in the Government schools, but that ministers should have the power to attend one whole day or two half davs each week, to give religions instruction to children whose parents belong to their denomination and signify their assent to such instruction. Verv heavy floods occurred in Grevmonth and Westport on June 3. Westport especially suffered heavily. A telegram thence, dated June 4, says : —"The damage done is deplorable. It is estimated that -£15,000 worth of property has been destroyed, or hurriedly removed. Another flood would sweep awav the whole town. The situatam is desperate, and unless the outside public help, much distress is inevitable.