PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2600, 6 January 1885, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

| UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, January 4. His Excellency the Governor returns to Christchurch to-morrow. Mr W. J. M. Larnach, M.IT.R, was this morning sworn in as a member of the Government, with the portfolio of Minister of Mines. The Hon. Mr Reynolds has resigned his seat in the Cabinet. His Excellency the Governor and the Premier left for the South in the Manapouri this evening. The Governor will remain in Christchurch, but Mr Stout goes on to Dunedin. The Hons. Messrs Richardson and Larnach are the only Ministers now in Wellington. The Hon. Mr Tole, however, is expected towards the end of the week. Sir Julius Vogel has issued another writ against the New Zealand Times for further comments in their English summary on matters between the Consolidated Telephone Company and Sir Julius. CHRISTCHUnciT, January 5. A man named Robert Day, a well- j

known farmer at Springston, has been arrested on a charge of having forged the name of his father, Daniel Day, to a cheque for £IOOO on the Bank of New Zealand, Ohristchurch. It is alleged that the accused obtained the money from the bank by depositing some deeds belonging to his father as security.

Blenheim, January 5. Tozer's store and its contents at Tuamarina were totally destroyed by fire on Saturday night. The cause is unknown. Tozer locked the place up and came into Blenheim, leaving no one on the premises. There is an insurance on the building and stock of £750 in the New Zealand office.

A heavy flood on Wednesday night carried away the staging, monkey, engine, pile driver, and nearly everything else at the Clarence bridge works except the cylinders. The loss, which is very heavy, will fall on the contractors. The floods in the Clarence, Waiau, and Mason rivers are among the heaviest on record. Woodville, January 5. Redmond, charged with stabbing John Barlow here on Wednesday, has been dismissed. The accused had sustained great provocation. FIRE AT BOATMANS. Reefton, January 5. A fire broke out this evening at six o'clock at Walker's Hotel, Boatmans, and up to the present time nine houses are reported to be destroyed, and the fire is still raging. The places burnt include Walker's Hotel, Wilson's Hotel, Gallaghar's store, Ferris's store, Cassler's bootmaker's shop, Duffy's butcher's shop, and other places. The fire is said to be now threatening Archer's Hotel. There is no water supply nor §re brigade at Boatmans. Mrs Burke's Hotel is amongst those destroyed. The insurances are not large. The Standard Company is probably the greatest loser.