THE PROVINCES.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 168, 19 December 1874, Page 4

THE PROVINCES.

AUCKLAND, A very clever capture of an absconder has been made by Sergeant-major Pardy, The delinquent, who has for a long time past held a most respectable position in Auckland, and has always been considered to bear an unblemished character, is Mr Thompson, late manager for Mr F. Quick. Not the slightest suspicion was entertained regarding him up to Tuesday morning, when his absence from bis usual duties naturally provoked enquiries. After some time, it being found that Mr Thompson was not present to superintend the management of the business, suspicion was evoked, and Mr George Quick having heard a rumor that Thompson had levanted, that his accounts were wrong, &c, went down the harbor in a waterman’s boat, and boarded the barque Bella Mary, outward bound for Newcastle, off the North Head. He made enquiries as to whether there were any passengers on board answering to the description supplied by him, and was replied to in the negative. He happened, however, to observe a boat at the time making for a small bay situated near the Wade, and conjecturing that it contained the man he was in search of, despatched a message to town to the police authorities, apprising them of the circumstance. Information had been already obtained by the police in regard to the matter; but as soon as this intelligence was received, Sergeant-major Pardy, under instructions from Inspector Broham, chartered the steam launch Eclipse, and, accompanied by Mr F. Quick, proceeded down the harbor. On reaching the bay above-mentioned, the sergeant-major discovered several articles belonging to Thompson lying in a waterman’s boat, and he accordingly instituted a search, which resulted, after three hours’ toil and fatigue in the scrub, in the apprehension of the accused, who was then brought up to town, and placed in the lock-up. The Koturua correspondent of the Bay of Plenty Times writes to that journal as follows:—“We were startled the other morning by the astounding intelligence that a geyser had burst with terrific force through the incrustation at Wakariwariwa, and is Bending up a column of water to a height of from twenty to thirty feet. This will form another inducement to the tourist, who should never miss seeing this wonderful spot. Some wretched vandal has knocked a hole through the bottom of the oil bath close to the new geyser, Such occurrences

will be obviated if the report be true that Mr Young is engaged in negotiations for the purchase of land surrounding the Ngawhas from the natives on behalf of the Government, with a view to having them fenced in for the protection of life and the preservation of the baths. The ultimatum of the wily savage in the matter has not yet been ascertained.”

We (says the Herald ) hope to learn that the information contained in a Christchurch telegram is correct: We are told that it is there intended to bring forward a provincial ist candidate to oppose Mr Bowen for Kaiapoi for the purpose of testing public opinion on the question of Provincialism v Centralism, and that Mr Joseph Beswick, exProviucial Treasurer, and formerly member of the Generc.l Assembly for Kaiapoi, will most probably be the candidate. In no province more than Canterbury should we like to see public apathy dispelled on this vital question. The debates that would arise out of such a contest would bo invaluable to the colony as a whole, as showing in which direction the current of public opinion really runs strongest in a province which has, if possible, a greater interest at stake in the event of constitutional disturbances than even we in Auckland have.

A serious accident happened a young girl about seven years of age, named Lamb (says the Cross), which was very nearly resulting fatally. The parents reside at the rear of the Red Lion Hotel, in Drake street, and at the time of the occurrence were absent from their dwelling. The child, it appears, approached the fire, and some sparks must have come in contact with her garments and set fire to them. She rushed out of the house, screaming loudly, the flames by this time almost enveloping her. Fortunately, assistance was at hand, a neighbor, named Mrs King, and another woman coming to the rescue. There were no appliances at hand for extinguishing the flames, and the two women, acting on the spur of the moment, plunged the little sufferer into a largo tub of water which was standing near. The child on being withdrawn from the water was suffering intense pain, and on examination it was found that she had sustained some severe burns on her back and head. Medical assistance was obtained without loss of time, and the necessary means were taken to alleviate the pains of the sufferer, who is now reported to be doing as well as could be expected.

A fatal accident occurred at Mr Palmer’s bush, near Mahurangi, says the Cross. Four men were engaged felling a large kauri, and upon its giving signs of falling, they ran to the side opposite to that to which it inclined but, unfortunately, its branches caught in another tree and it swerved round, and, in falling, struck two of the bushraen. One of the men, named Thomas Kelly, was killed instantaneously, and the other one, Timothy Healey, was injured. At, first it was thought that Healey was very dangerously injured, but subsequent examination by a medical man proved that the injuries were only of an external nature. He is progressing favourably, and may be able to work in a week or ten days. The other men escaped uninjured. The parents of the young man Healey reside in Auckland. WELLINGTON. We have been informed, says the hew Zealand Times, tliat the reason why the Provincial Government have withdrawn the Thorndon foreshore from sale, as advertised, is that they were threatened with an injunction by the General Government to restrain them from selling. The opinion of the AttorneyGeneral and Mr Travers was taken, and both gentleman advised this course. Discretion being the better part of valour, the Provincial Government “ caved in.”

It is with much regret, says a Wanganui contemporary, that we have to announce the issue of a warrant for the arrest of Mr D.Lyell, sub-manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Marton, who is charged with having misappropriated funds belonging to the bank. Mr Lyell had received leave of absence to visit the hot springs for the benefit of his health, and was apprehended at Tauranga, on the East Coast. This event, adds our contemporary, will create a wide feeling of regret in the district, where Mr Lyell was greatly respected, and it will be the anxious wish of many that he will be able to establish his innocence.

The Wanganui Herald says:—" A correspondent telegraphs from Otaki that the natives have stopped the surveyorslaying out the inland telegraph line. They assert that Wi Parata, unauthorised, gave permission to the Telegraph commissioner to carry the wire over land which was private property, without consulting the owners.”