PROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 13, 15 January 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL.

Wellington, January 14. The Government has resolved to proced with the Waimea water-race at a cost of £48,000. Tenders are to be called for shortly! Jauuary 15. The Independent to-d*y criticises the article in the Examiner regarding the Brunner coalmine, and says, from the tone of the Examiner articles, it is doubtful it Mr Curtis will agree to the modifications which the General Government consented to make for the construction of the railway. It accuses Mr Curtis of not keeping faith with Mr Yogel, whom he promised that he would invite the consent of the Nelson Provincial.Council to j the terms submitted in 1871, instead of which he j invited the Council to criticise and amend them* If Mr Curtis had been thoroughly honest in his wish that the terms of the agreement should be accepted he would have used different language. The coal trade at Greymouth had been slain by the miserable shortsighted policy of the Ne 6on Government, as, if there had been a constant supply, a large demand would have followed. If Mr Curtis thinks the charge for the railway excessive, let him make the mine colonial property. The General Government had »;one as lar as they felt justified in doing'but no concessions were made to them. If Mr Curtis' sentimentality leads him to refuse assent to the proposed conditions, the colony will know whom to blame. Auckland, January 14. The Wonga Wonga has sailed tor Sydney with 25,175028 of gold valued at £86,402. Bank of Kew Zealand shares, £16 17s; Caledonians £13. January 15. Barron challenges any man in the colony to row four miles for £50. Weight not to exceed 9st. 6lbs. A Maori was arrested at Cambridge for stealing. A party of natives rushed the constable aud rescued the prisoner. Afterwards one of them demanded the key of the handcuffs. " The Rev Mr Porter is lecturing in aid of the Martin's Bay sufferers. Napier, January 14. The cutter Margaret has been lost in Tolago Bay. The crew are all lost. CiißisTCauacn, January 15. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce waited upon the Government urgi> g upon them the completion of the Harbor works. The libel case of Aitken and M' Oassey v. Ward and Belfield is settled. The defendants are to pay costs and give £10. Tim abu, January 15. The rain has slightly affi-cted the crops. Port Chalmers, January 14. A fearful south-east gale is blowings Dunedin, January 14. A large fire occurred this morning at 5 o'clock in George- street, ia the new Octagon. The fire broke out in the premises of George, the photographer, and destroyed the houses of Robson, tailor, and Gilchrist, painter, and partially destroyed Mrs Algie's. Carroll's hotel is completely gutted. The Insurance offices suffer as follows : — Victoria, £750, Royal, £450, iaevr Zealand, £1000. The cause of the fire is unknown. It gained a good hold before it was discovered, the watchman being out of town. ' '•