PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 2973, 13 May 1886, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[UNITED PRESS ASSOOIA.TION.I

Wellington, May 10. Nelson returned by the Wakatipii, which arrived here yesterday. The horse is looking very well, notwithstanding the large amount of traveling he has done lately. Cutts states that Nelson put on Dearly a hundred pounds during his trip across to Sydney, and that when he was snipped for the race he looked by comparison with the others like a show horse. Cutts is confident that if he had had the horse in Sydney four days sooner the son of King Cole would have won the Sydney Cup easily.

Mr Pilbrow has brought with him from Sydney by tha Wakatipu, which reached Wellington yesterday, a couple of yearliugs, which he purchased in Australia.

May 12. A petition has been filed in the Divorce Court by Mis Eveline Sawkins, of Wellington, praying for a dissolution of marriage with Thos. George Sawkins, journalist, on the ground of desertion, cruelty, and adultery.

Christchurch, May 12. The auditors appointed to examine 'lie accounts of the Town Clerk of Kaiapoi. who disappeared last week, report that his cash is correct.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. Wellington, May 12. The third session of the ninth Parnrnent will be opened at 2 o'clock to-morrow afternoon by his Excellency the Governor. The D. Battery of Artillery will fire the usual salute, and the Wellington Navals will form the nsual guard of honor. Afc present not many of the members are here, but it is expected that 25 members of the House of Representatives will be pre. sent at the opening ceremony. The Financial Statement will probably be delivered within a fortnight after the opening of Parliament. The Hon. Mr Birnicoat will, it i 3 understood, be asked to move, and the Hon. Mr rflnimski to second, the Address-in-R"ply in the Legislative Council. Mr Bevan moves the Address in the Lower Chamber, but the seconder is not yet known.

THE PRESBYTERIES AND THE NEW HEBRIDES QUESTION. Wellington, May 10. The Premier has sent a letter to the Rev. T. E. Cairns, of Sydenham, in <eply to one received by the Government from him dated 24th of April last, enclosing the resolutions passed by the presbyteries; of Auckland and Christchurch, on the subject of. the proposed annexation of the New Hebrides by France. Mr Stout states 'hat the Government have continually opposed the acquisition by Foreign Powers of any of the Paci6o Islands suvl that they recognise the great efforts made by the Presbyterian Church in the New Hebrides group. The Premier in very decided language expresses himself on the evil results of continued deportation 0 f criminals by France to the south seas, which he sav3 would affect most piejudiciously the whole of the British Australian possessions. He says thac whatever law mny he passed by die colonics to prohibit the landing of French convicts on.the shores of those islands, it cannot effectually answer the purpose desired. He aoes on to sny I'j.' if should be clearly understood f li .t the proposals are not only i!. a l o-tivifs s!i .11 rot be

deported to the New Hebrides, but firstly, that couvicts shall not for all future time be sent to New Caledonia, nor any of the French possessions in the South Paci6c, and that this agreement shall be ratified by treaty. Secondly, that the trade rights and commercial privileges granted to Frenchmen shall also be open to British subjects residing or resorting to the New Hebrides group. This has been arranged regarding Raiata, and a similar arrangement would be made regarding the New Hebrides. Thirdly, adequate safeguards are to be provided, that religious freedom will be maintained throughout the group and that the present missions shall be protected in their property, their rights, and their privileges; and fourthly, that France shall cede to England the island of Apara or Rapa and also shall not stand in the way of Raratonga, or rather tinCoast or Harvey Group being annexed by England, if the uatives are willing. The Premier concludes by asking the Presbytery to give the matter their careful consideration, and as he is in correspondence with the Agent-General, and with the Imperial Government, through his Excellency the Governor, hopes they may be able to give him an early expression of the determination at which their church arrives. GREAT FIRE AT HONOLULU. Auckland, May 10. Particulars of the Honolulu great fire from the Herald's correspondent state that 30 acres of buildings were destroyed, and 6000 to SOOO Chinese were rendered destitute and homeless. Two lives were lost. The fire broke out on Monday afternoon. The losses are German Insurance Companies, £25,500; American, £4150; British, £10,300; while the insurances with the colonial companies make up the total £45,400. The Hawaiian Council voted £3OOO for the relief of the sufferers. The British warships Satellite and Hetmione landed a brigade of seamen to aid in suppressing the fire. An explosion of kerosene, stored by Chinese shop-keepers in violation of the law, frustrated the efforts of the dynamite used to blow up the houses to arrest the progress of the fire. *