INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 17, 18 January 1876, Page 2

IN TER PROVINCIAL.

Wellington, Monday. The Government have chartered the steamer Earn rat to assist the Luna with the cable. The Luna left port at l'3O this morning, and the Egmont about nine. A heavy eweil is reported in the Straits, but little or no wind. They hope to begin work this afternoon. T.AUBANGA, Monday. Be the Maori murder at Tairua, the Bay of Plenty Times publishes the following particulars:—An old Maori n>imed Petera Koikoi has been mur lered by three Datives of the Wang^rewa tribe. The old man had been for 8 ime time Buspeeted as a priest of the black art, and several deaths that occurred lately were attribnted to him. Among x>ther charges was that he bad mahufried (bewitched) the chief Te Minihi. who died a few days ago. Three natives last Saturday proceeded from WhsngamoU to Tairua, where the old man redded. When lie met the three natives he askei them if Minihi was dead? They replied "Yes " He then eaid, " I suppose you hare come to kill me." After which he rubbed noses with them, and they all adjourned to the public-house, All got under the influence of liquor. The old man was then directed to get into a boat, and. after pushing off. be was ordered to take his hat off, wh-ch he did. and immediately received a crushing blow from a tomahawk, killing him instantaneously, The body was taken to Whangamata, arid there received by a party of decca-e.l'B people and bu'itd. Ths hasties of the m.irderers are unknown. It is 84>d that if fresh elecioas ensue consequent oil action for bribery and corruption against }^ r K« ad, Mr Ed/euombe, the proprietor of the T&urftnga Times, will contest) the election, Gr4ham % town, Monody. . A meeting was he.d on fciu: trUay Dl ß ht to taTte into consideration the presen * (l ei'resß< d state ot the Tli.imes (iold-fidld, where a ceftt many men are out of employ mt;nt Tlie nieeting was very largely attended, and resolutions were passe i urging on the Government to institute public works to relieve the depresnon. The speeches and resolutions . were of a temperate character. A Progress Committee was app ;iuted, Auckland, Monday. The New Zadand Loau and Mercantile Agency have received a telegram date! London, January 6, as Jo lows :>— Tallow market quiet. Tha • stocks of ail sorts amount to ) 6.097 casks Leather market flat and trade demands quiet. The polling for the Northern Maori Electoral Dißtriut resulted as follows :— Hone Karaka Tawhiti, 209; Wi Kateue, 151; Wltii Patiatene, 137; Kai Te Tai, 154; Teoiiti Paitipi, 90. Returns from three places are nit in. Foitipi's stronghold is up North, and is expected to close the contest .bfctvyee.i him ana Karaka Tawbiti. '.Mr William Buc'klund h dangerously ill .-aidnot expected to recover. ! For '' the Rodney election the polling at J '47; Mout, 32. mother returns are yec to come in,

Christohuroh, Monday. , At the 'Resident Magistrate's Court this afttrnoon, Michael Galvin was committed tor trial on a charge of being one of the burglars who illused Henry Cutler at his hous=s Riccarton Place, on the night of the 18th December, and carried away £810. The evidence is strong, and contains several important ! criminating admissions and statements made bv the prisoner while in drink some days after the robbery. - The New Zealand Primitive Methodist Conference opened here to-day, but onlv formal business has been transacted as yet. Yesterday the Primitive Methodists held a f"»mp meeting in Cromwell-square. There ▼as a large attendance. Tuesday. The railway through to Timaru will be opened on the Ist of February. This Hoe is ov«r 100 miles long. At the Primitive Methodist Conference yescerday, the Kev. J. Dumbell was elected President, the Rev. B. J. Westbrook VicePresident, and the Rev. J. Standrin, Secretary. The following statistics of the Church ia New Zealand were read : — ll ministers, 46 congregations. 819 church members, being nn increase of 177 for the year 1874 ; Sabbath schools and church property to the value of £12,628. The Arawata, with the outward Suez mail, was detained from yesterday till this morning owing to a slight accident to her machinery.