INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 109, 10 May 1877, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Wellington, Wednesday. ' The Goldflelds Wardens lately assembled here have submifc:ed to the Government rules and regulations intended for general application to the Goldfields of the Aliddle Island with this object :— They have to a certain extent incorporated the various advantages of present rules, and recommend the withdrawal in as far as possible of . restrictions on the miner by dispensing with unnecessary surveys , the necessity for renewals of registration, except in the case of ordinary water licenses, and the reduction of the resistration fee from £2 10s to £1. They have framed a series of regulations enabling miners to take up special water race licenses for a period not exceeding fifteen years. The object of this is to promote settlement of miners, and put them in a position to obtain capital to carry out extensive water works schemes, &c. They have adopted a lien clause from the Westland rules, and, with some slight modification, the gold mining lease regulations now in force in Otago. They recommend that the Gold mining leases be reduced to £1 per acre ; that miners rights be issued in certain cases for a term of years and that there be consolidated miners' rights, to embody the iuterests of a number of persons in one document. They recommend the introduction of a measure for the temporary occupation of land (where doubts exist as to its being auriferous). for agricultural purposes by short leases or licenses without right of purchase. They suggest the assimil- | ationfof the mode of enforcing judgments in civil cases in Warden's Courts to that under Resident Magistrates' Courts to prevent the alienation of auriferous or other mineral lauds. They recommend that the several Wardens of the Middle Island should (as is the practice in Otago) be the medium of communication with the Waste Lands Boards for the reception of applications for land within their respective districts. They suggest that the whole of the goldfields in the Middle Island should be proclaimed as one goldfield district, and that the survey charges upon agricultural leases should be assimilated to the present Otago scale. All the members of the Police Force in Wellington were to-day sworn in as members of the Armed Constabulary Force till the 30th of June. A fishing boat with three men on board capsized to-day off Ngahauranga. One was drowned outright, the second died as soon as he got on shore, and the third man recovered. The New South Wales Government have proposed to the contractors for the 'Frisco Mail Service on their own behalf aud that of New Zealand to commence the modified service with the outgoing steamer, the contractors to be relieved from calling at Kandavau, and the New Zealand Government undertaking the coastal service at the reduced subsidy of £72,500, to be payable as follows :— £40,000 by New South Wales and ■£3:2,500 by New Zealand. This proposal was made with the distinct reservation that ifc was only as a temporary measure, and shouid the New South Wales Parliament refuse to ratify the arrangements, the contractors must fall back upon the original contract, and carry out the service as originally tendered for. The contractors (through their " agents) have accepted these terms, and the outgoing steamer commences the temporary arrangement. Thursday. The Inspector of Police has received instructions to despatch a mounted constable to Palliser Bay to prosecute a search for any wreckage there. It is thought the wreckage already found there is that of the brigantine Kate Brian, supposed to be lost. The Zealaudia with the New Zealand April mails arrived at San Francisco on May sth, and the City of New York with the London mails left San Francisco on April 25tb. James O'Shea, merchant, has suspended payment. The causes of the failure are heavy trade losses on home shipments and bad debts. His liabilities are about £22,000. A meeting of the creditors will be held on the 17th instant. Bluff, Wednesday. Arrived— The steamer Gazelle, from the Auckland Islands ; all well. Captain Giles reports finding- the supposed wreck of the General Grant, after severe exertions and risk, in twelve fathoms of water, but diving operations have not yet begun. Mr Stevens and one man remained by the wreck ; the steamer returned for coals and provisions. The captain feels confident of getting the gold on the return of the steamer. He reports that the Gazelle behaved admirably in a gale experienced since leaving the Auckland Islauds. New Plymouth, Wednesday, The schooner Kaiuma was off Waitara'bar last night with her mainmast gone. There being a terrific gale blowing, she. made northwards. The wires were down this morning. Auckland, Wednesday. i Thirteen bakers met last night, and determined to maintain the price of the two-pound loaf at fivepence. Br,EXHEur, Thursday. ' Mr Symons' cottage, Charles-street, was burnt at two o'clock this morning. The house and furniture were insured in the South British for £350. The Marlborough Racing Club have endorsed the disqualification of Fishhook and Derrifc.