INTERPROVINCIAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4172, 4 December 1884, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[from our own correspondent.]

Wellington, This day

The question of the establishment of the Central Insurance Association Board is creating an unexpected interest here. There are, as your readers are probably aware, three seats to be filled under the elective provisions of tho Act. For these three seats there are already ten candidates, and the cry is, " Still they come." The regulations under which this election will be conducted are to be gazetted in a day or two. It is understood that the nominations aro to be in by the 2oth December, and that the election is to take place during the first week in January. Tbe association is to be worked on purely business principles, and the practical intentions of the Government are evinced in the statement that the business is to be poked into vigorous life in every part of the colony, and that local boards arc to be established as soon as the central board gets into full swing.

It will be remembered that during the j session tho Government announced their intention of setting up a Royal Commission .0 consider the much vexed question of local government, with a view to submitting the report and scheme for the ratification of Parliament next session. The relegation to Royal Cothmissons of duties which should properly ' have been performed by the Government of the day, has long been a standing reproach against successive Governments, but 'tho present administration are showing a desire to deal with all questions themselves, and moreover to deal promptly with such questions. In this matter of local government they have determined to take upon themselves the responsibility of framing a scheme to be submitted to Parliament, < and tliey'have now abandoned their intention of appointing a Royal Commission to perform this work. Although the matter is receiving the careful attention of the Government, they recognise that it is of too much importance to be hurriedly dealt with, and it is not probable that their scheme of local government will be sufficiently matured for publicity for a month or two. The Government are showing 1 themselves anxious in many ways to assist M. De Harven's mission, which as you are aware is in the direction of Belgian immigration to these shores and the opening up of commercial relation* between Belgium and this colony; The have instructed Mr McKerrow, the Surveyor-General,' to join M. De Harven at Dunedin on Thursday' next, in. order that the special knowledge possessed by that gentleman may be.available to M. Do Harven in his inspection of the unalienated lands of the colony. - " '-■ Sir Julius Vogel has been slightly indisposed during, the 1 past day or two, and. has been unable to leave his room. • He is better to-.dajv. however, and will probably be able to sit in his library to-morrqw. : A*t present he and Mr are'the only Ministers' in. but Mr Richard-: son is expected to return to-morrow. Jfr

I Ballance will not be", back for some days, having been detained at Taranaki on business in connection with his department. _ You will doubtless have been informed through tho ordinary channel that a memorandum prepared by Sir Julius Vogel with referenco to federation and its the South Sea Islands and submitted to the Cabinet, has been printed and copies forwarded to the Governor for transmission to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. It is a most able memorandum and valuable State paper. •'■''' „ , -, " The arrangement with the New Zealand Shipping Company for. the conveyance of direct mails to England in terms of the resolntion of Parliament have been concluded, and the first mail-carrying direct steamer will be despatched from each end on the 20th instant. As the first meeting of the Government Insurance Association Board takes place during the first .week in January, there is just a chance that the elected members of the Board will not be present at that meeting ; in other words, their election to the Board may be subsequent to the first meeting. Should this contingency actually arise, policy holders will certainly havo reason to complain that a breach of faith has been committed.

[Per United Press Association.]

Auckland, This day. Tho Vanua Levu correspondent of the Fiji Times says:—" People are dying out in these parts very rapidly, during: the last twelve months in one town of Wainu between 90 and 100 souls havo passed away, of few children the greater die. People are dying for want of nourishment. China bananas is the only food in the district. The natives will not plant because they cannot ensure themselves theresultof labor, the Lala comes in and robs at will. Ihe systems of the people have no resisting power against disease, and the mildest form of sickness carries them off. Added to this is the want of any stimulus to exertion, hope even has abandoned then, they simply lie down and die."

Francis Durant, a French seaman, was stabbed in the face by Edward Dumont yesterday. He has been arrested. Wellington, This day.

The general committee for tho New Zealand Industrial Exhibition comprises the names of all the members of the Legislature for the Wellington provincial district, and also the principal commercial gentleman and manufacturers of the city.

About twelve gentlemen areas yet out as candidates for seats on the Central Board of the Government Insurance Association.

A young man named Frank Dunlop fell 32ft from a scaffold yesterday, and sustained fracture of tho spine. Very small hopes are entertained of his recovey.

At Featherston, J. H. Stewart was fined £5 and costs for kissing a lady in a carriage on the Wellington and Musterton railway. Westport, This day.

Tho Red Queen (Mokihinui) crushing is proceeding satisfactorily. On Tuesday a rich run of stone was struck, and 61b weight of quartz yesterday gave loz 3dwtsof gold. A large number of shares are held iv Wellington

New Plymouth, This day,

The Hon. Mr Ballance visited the Waihi district yesterday, going as far as Onoero and Tikorangi. He then came into New Plymouth and dined with the Mayor. A meeting of some of the leading citizens, was held in the evening. A deputation waited on him relative to a railway to Moturoa. He leaves to-day at noon for Opunake and the West Coast.

Auckland, This day,

Arthur E. Smyth, travelling correspondent and representative of the Federal Australian, arrived by the Tarawera on his periodical journey through New Zealand. Edward Brown Reynolds, gum merchant, ! of Auckland, has filed his schedule. The liabilities are £4000 odd, arid the assets are Bet down at £100 less.