Interprovincial Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 809, 1 August 1870, Page 3

Interprovincial Items.

We regret to observe from our exchanges that Sir David Monro, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has lately been suffering from illness"]} and, On one or two occasions, was unable to attend to his duties.

Sericulture is attracting considerable attention in Canterbury. From the report of the local Acclimatization Society it would seem that an effort is about to be ■made to introduce the white mulberry tree. The committee of the Society also suggest a donation by the G-overnment in aid.

A number of bad florins are in circulation on the West Coast of the Southern ] slund, which are believed to have been imported from Melbourne. A seam of coal, four feec thick, was recently discovered near Hokitika. Protection has been granted to the discoverers by the County Council to enable them to test the quality of the coal. Taranaki has put in a claim for a share of the million loan. At a public meeting, held at New Plymouth on the 12th insfc., resolutions were passed to the effect that the principal portion of the loan should be expended in these districts which had suffered most from the war.

The Wangarei correspondent of the Southern Cross, writing under date llfch July, says: —" On the evening of Saturday, the 9th inst., two natives, who were drinking at the Settlers' Hotel, had some disagreement, when one of them with a butcher's knife stabbed the other severely in three places. The wounded man Jlies in a very dangerous state, and fears are entertained that he may die of his wounds, Taurau, the Natve Assessor, has applied to the Magistrate to take tl;is case agains, the offender. He says that according to native custom this case might lead to war between the two tribes to which the men belong, but that they prefer that the matter should be settled according to English law ; and the chief of the tribe to which the offender belongs concurs in this resolution, having no sympathy with the perpetrator of ihe crime."

A girl, named Emma Williams, mysteriously disappeared from her home at CVllingwood (Nebon; some weeks ago, and a search maintained for ten days hav ing tailed to lead to her discovery, she was supposed to have perished ; however, we learn from the Mail that a few days ago she quietly put in an appearance in the steamer Lady Barkly's cabin, and requested a passage to Nelson. Captain Walker, (however, hand, d her over to her parents. Strange to say it is not known where she has been hiding for the last fortnight.

An accident, likely to result fatally, occurred at Charleston (Nelson), on the Bth July. A Mrs Cant-well, residing in a tenement adjoining the premises of Messrs Harrold and Seanlon, fell down while .carrying a lighted candle which set fire to her clothes. The children were in bed, and their screams brought Mr Harrold to the spot. He burst open the door and found Mrs Cantwell, whose clothes were in flames, under the bed. He and others succeeded in extinguishing the flames, and, but for their timely assistance, the mother and children would have been burnt to death. The former is severely injured, and very faint hopes are entertained of her recovery.

At a meeting of the Canterbury flax association held on July 7, the following resolutions were considered:—l. "That the Geneial G-overnment be memorialised to appoint a gentleman to proceed to the United States for the purpose of endeavoring to open up trade with that country, by allowing iSew Zealand flax and wool to be admitted free ; and if successful to remain there and act as agent for the whole of New Zealand." 2. " That one ton oi beat ordinarily dreessed flax, and half a ton of steamed flax be sent to the respective Admiralties of England, France, and America, with the request that the same may be tested and reported on ; that the sub committee take what steps they think beist to procuie the lunds for tlio above purpose either from the General or Provincial Government." In reply to tne Chairman, Mr Curtis said that the tax imposed by the United States Government was £3 on flax, £3 per ton on unmanufactured hemp, and £5 on Manilla hemp. The Chairman threw out the suggestion that it might perhaps be advisable to charter a small vessel and send a trial cargo of flax to some port iu the United States, each manufacturer coptrjbuting a certain proportion,