Interprovincial Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 824, 22 September 1870, Page 2

Interprovincial Items.

An old man named Alex. Patterson, a cabinet-maker, who led a secluded life at the Hutt, was found dead in his bed on the 13th inst, having been last seen alive on the evening of Sunday, the 11th inst. Deceased was an American. The Advertiser publishes a report that the gun-room steward of H.M.S. Challenger disappeared on the 13th inst. with £4O or £SO which did not belong to him. The Wanganui Chronicle reports that the Otaki Maoris have been attacked by typhus fever. Eight have died, and many others are in a very critical position. A man named George Young was thrown from his horse in Canterbury on the 12th inst., and sustained severe injuries to his head. He died on the following day. The Wanganui Herald reports that a matrimonial alliance is likely to take place between Miss Fanny Carandini and Mr G-illes, of the Auckland firm of Carey and Gilles. Francis H, Malloch, late clerk in the Bank of Otago, but who had been dismissed, committed suicide by laudanum on the 27th ult. He had lately given way to intemperance. The Timaru Herald says :—The steamer Maori took a quantity of flax to Dunedin afl her last trip," which we hear is intended for the New York market. A firm in Dunedin is buying flax to load a vessel for the ipurpoße of testing that market,

A wharf, 200 feet in length, and 20 feet in width, has been commenced in Wanga« nui, opposite Ghurton's Koad, MrQ-apper, from Nelson, is the proprietor. One of the Maori prisoners died in Dunedin jaU on the 9th inst. f from heart disease. A shepherd named James McGillivray, aged about 36 years, was drowned on the Bth June last, by his dray upsetting into the Molyneux. His body was found on the 26th August, on the jetty at Balclutha, where it had been deposited by a flood during the night, On the 13th inst., a man named Spencer, belonging to the ship Ramsay, in Lyttelton harbor, fell from the maintopsail yard, seriously injuring his spine. A child named Feyan, 16 months old, was drowned the other day in a stream near Spring Grove, Nelson, " The child," says the Examiner, " had been confided to the care of an elder brother, who had neglected his charge, and hence the accident." We note the death, in Nelson, on the 9th inst, of Mi Joseph Newport, a settler of 28 years' standing, at the age of 71. Gold has been found m the Taurua district (Auckland),—the cntter Rob Roy having arrived at Auckland on the 9th inst. with 40 pounds of specimens. The first number of the New Zealand Church News, a monthly religious paper, was to have appeared at Christchuroh on the 15th inst. Oats are selling at Clyde and Cromwell (in the Otago province) at 7s per bushel, while in Dunedin the price is 2s 6d per bushel. This will show the state of the roads jn Otago. A considerable number of publicans and storekeepers resident in the Grey district have been fined for doing business on Sundays during unlawful hours. Flour in Auckland is now quoted at £l6 per ton. A manufactory of artificial arms and legs has been established in Auckland, We learn from the Otago Daily Times that recent news from Martin's Bay is favorable for the time of year. Two men who left there a fortnight since, managed with some difficulty to come through. The Wakatipu Mail learns that there are two stores now at the Bay township; and about thirty miners are working at Big Bay, about six miles north of it. At present the men have not done much in the way of good remunerative labor, as they are uot able to get into the back-country on account of thick bush and wintry weather. The opinion prevails, however, that some gopd and extensive ground will be opened as the summer advances. The latest accounts from Hokitika state that the movement for the annexation of Westland to Otago had almost collapsed. Several of the leaders have withdrawn from it, and a strong feeling has set in against it. The petition in favor of annexation will probably never reach Wellington. At a public meeting held at Ross, a resolution was carried to the effect that the annexation movement was premature and impolitic.

A contemporary informs us that great progress has been made in the construction of the graving dock at Port Chalmers, and it is expected that it will be finished about the new year. It is said that it is rather narrow for the steamers at present conveying the mails between New Zealand and Honolulu, and is too short for the vessels now being built to suit the Suez eanal. Referring to this the Evening Post says,— "Port Chalmers may not, however, be troubled with either."

A correspondent of the Timaru Herald, writing from Tekapo, under date sth inst., says ; —A severe shock of earthquake was felt here last Wednesday evening, about 6 o'clock. It lasted 15 seconds. The shock was more severe than the shock last year. The direction about south-west to north-east.

The Taranaki Herald, Sept. 7, says;— We regret to hear that an aeoident, which was attended with loss of life, occurred at Waiiti on Saturday last. It appears that a party of five men went out on a fishing excursion, and when rtturning, as the boat was coming on shore, the coxswain, Joseph Wheeler, either lost his balance, or else was dragged over by the steer oar. Assistance was at once obtained and the unfortunate young man's body brought on shore, but life to all appearance had departed. Every means were adopted to restore animation but withont avail. The young man formerly belonged to No. 6 Company Millitary Settlers, and latterly to the Bushranger's Corps, now stationed at Papatiki. Some short time since we (Taranaki Herald) mentioned that a ship's buoy had been washed ashore at Opunaki, which we since have learnt had broke from its moorings at the Jiiwaka-rjver. M? Cross wrote to Captain Holford about it, who we learn from the Nelson Evening Mail has replied in the following characteristic way ; —" On my trip to Upunake I found the buoy had been burnt by the natives, and as they are lords of the manor on this part of the coast there is no redress."

The Taranaki Herald says s—? The qualification of an elector it seems could not have been disputed nnder the electoral Acts that are in existence. Mr Fox, in moving for leave to introduce a Qualification of Electors Bill, said that the law enacted iu 1858 contained a provision that the Act should have no forpe beyond the session of Parliament next ensuing after the passing of that Act, so that really there has been no Jaw in force for some eleven vearg,