Interprovincial News.

Hastings Standard, Issue 159, 30 October 1896, Page 2

Interprovincial News.

Letters received in Auckland from Sydney confirm the news of the recent murder of a trader named Eward Earnest Hamilton by the natives of Ugi, in the Solomon Islands. Deceased formerly resided in Auckland and his widow at present resides in that city. For the Northern Maori electorate Hone Heke, the present member, will be opposed by Samuel Maio'na, storekeeper, Omapere. A fire occurred yesterday forenoon in a boardinghouse occupied by Mrs Annie Filleul, Hobson-street, Auckland, and damaged the house and furniture to the extent of .£2OO. The house was insured in the North British for X:200 and the furniture in the South British for Xl4O. The Salvation Army in the Northern Division raised X9SS during self-denial week, as against #SBO last year. At Palmerston North yesterday heavy rain fell all the morning, and the prospects for the second day of the show looked anything but cheerful. People arrived in large numbers, and thousands took shelter in various places. Shortly before 2 o'clock the rain ceased, although the weather was threatening during the rest of the afternoon. The people, however, braved the elements, and there could not have been less than 10,000 people present. The principal attraction was the hunters' competition, which was won by Rambler. A fire broke out last night in Colville's saddlery shop, l'alnierston North, and it was completely gutted. During the quarter ended oOtlv September last, 76.079 ounces of gold of the value of .£302.974 wore entered-for duty for export from the colony. This is a considerable increase as compared with the corresponding quarter last year. The Customs and excise duties collected in the colony during the quarter ended 80tli September totalled £'47(5..-542 as compared with £1:30,681 for the same quarter last year. The volume of postal and telegraph business during the last quarter shows a steady increase as compared with the same period last year. The various schemes r ov the destruction of rabbits received in response to a notice which appeared in the Gazette for some months were submitted to a committee consisting of Sir James Hector and Messrs \V. Eraser and T. Duncan, M.H.K'k., for investigation. The claims numbered 46, and the committee has reported as follows : —" That after having carefully considered the suggestions for the extermination of rabbits made by claimants for the reward ottered by the Government, we are of opinion that no one of them satisfies the conditions prescribed : consequently we are unable to recommend that any award be made."

At Milton yesterday William Anderson, for sly grog-selling at ClarkvLUe, was fined £1)0 and costs. The evidence showed that four men went into his shop and asked for ginger-ale, being supplied with whisky. An account was produced in which whisky was charged in the goods.