PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 2937, 29 March 1886, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[united press association.] Wellington, March 27. It has been decided to call Parliament together for the despatch of business on May 13th. Mr Wm, Best, who for upwards of 20 years has occupied the position of paymaster to the Treasury, retires at the ended of the month on his pension. Mr Wm. Seed, Secretary of Customs, who is one of die commissioners proceeding to Fiji, leaves for Auckland en route to-morrow. The Chief Justice also goes to Auckland to-morrow to relieve Judge Gillies tor two or three weeks. The Postmaster-General has succeeded in arranging with the Union Company on behalf cf itself and the Oceanic Company to make the San Francisco service a through one permanently without transhipment at Honolulu. He has acted with the authority of the Postmaster-General of New South Wales. The revised contract, which, like the original one, was dependent on the ratification of the New South Wales Parliament, will probably bo submitted to that body on an early date.

The Public Works Department have received information fiom die West Coast re the strike of unemployed. It appears that the nutter was much exaggerated. A few men ] ( >f !; y.,.j,,g dissatisfied with the rati' of \v;i"es but SSIS5 l ?i"? sti[i 25 work, and a fow

men have been had up for drunkenness. Of the 100 men originally sent twentyfive have preferred to stay in Wellington, Greymouth, or left the work. The reports of the strike were gross exaggerations. Christchdrch, March 28. Yesterday a six-roomed cottage in Gloucester street, belonging to the Rev. J. Zachariah, was burnt down. It was insured for £4O in the South British Office. As the fire appears to have started in iwo places, incendiarism is suspected. March 28. The body of a labourer named Alexander M Queen was found hanging from a rafter in a new building in course of erection, and when cut down life was found to be exiinct. MQneeu had been a patient in the hospital, and was seen close to the building about two hours before the finding of the body. He was about 50 years of age, unmarried, and is supposed to have no relations in the colony. It is almost certain that he committed suicide by throwing himself off the rafter after placing the rope round his neck. Auckland, March 27. A brigade parade of th<> Volunteers , was held to-day. Over 1000 men were present. 22 corps were represented.