PROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 79, 2 April 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL.

Atjckt.akd, April 1. 8 p.m. American papers state that the detention of ma'ls was not caused by snow blockade, but through a large portion of the mail being sent from London by a slow Bteamer tj Boston. \ Wellington, April i. A special issue of the Fiji Gazette, dated March 20th, has the following: —At an interview between the King and the British Commissioners this morning, the 2£ing stated that he and the chiefs were willing to cede the island to Great Britain. Thuraton, St. Julian, and leading chiefs will confer with the Commissioners and foreign Consuls respecting the formation of an interim Government, pending the reply from England. . The Commodore desires that it should be/ kndwn that he and Her Majesty's Consul have investigated the financial position of ITiji, and that it appears that the expenditure of the Government during the two years ending December, 1873. was £124,000, whilst the revenue was only -£42,000, and further that there was nothing to show for the expenditure but the public offices, which cost about £1200, and a lew hundred rules. The interest on the debt of Fiji is stated to be £424 iier, month, and the Commodore, it appears, stated^ that there is no prospect of paying the amount. The Commodore is anxious it should be known that the Fijian chiefs haye formally requested Her Majesty to undertake the government of • Fiji, and pending the Queen's consideration of the request, the Commodore is consulting with the toreign^onsals respecting the Provisional Government. • ,'lm^ I^^ A Pril 2Independent says that the cause of delay in the publication of the Handbook of the colony is owing to the principal provinces liOt having their portions ready. It believes that the tytqntion of the General Government now is to send the handbook,, home for publication, with instructions to distribute it there in large numbers. The portions of the fcook now wanted are promised in another . week.

Grbtmotjth, April 2. The mansger of the Grej mouth Coal Co. report* that the existence of coal has been proved in boring at a depth of 220 feet. The 8f am is seventeen feet ih'clr, and i f first cla«s quality. He aho reports that a quarter of a mile from the boring, coal has been procured at 65 feet from the surface. At that spot a shaft 13 to be started nt once, 'i he requisite machinery has been purchased, and the Company will be ready to supply coal in three months.