INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 294, 13 December 1877, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[PBEBB AOENCr.]

Auckland, Wednesday. A limber Company ha3 been floated to acquire the forest and mills of Holdship and

.The schoouer Belle Brandon, from the Islands, reports an attack by natives on Captain Ohlson and party at Kaoka. Captain Kobmson, late owner of the Jessie Henderson, narrowly escaped death by tomahawking lhe natives rushed the party, and tomahawked Captain Robinson in the back, when the friendly natives intefered to prevent a general massacre. The cause of the attack is believed to be that the natives were jealous of Captaiu Robinson being about to take away an European trader.

Nai'ieu, Wednesday. In the Supreme Court to-day, James M'Gregor was sentenced to ten years penal servitude for rape, and ten yeara for an unnatural crime, both sentences to be cumulative.

Wellington, Wednesday. The Presbyterian Assembly had a long discussion fe the sustentation fund and unanimously agreed to adopt the scheme and to bring it into operation on the Ist January 1879, the agent to visit all the congregations during the next year, and assist ministers to instruct their congregations in the principles and working of the scheme and to prepare them for appointing it. To-day the Assembly made an arrangement to secure sites for Churches in all new townships. The report of Church extension showed much progress in extending Churches and that operations in many new points had been taken up and occupied by young men preparing for the ministry. It was agreed to plant men in some bush settlements to look after the spiritual needs of the settlers. The agent gave a report of a very successful visit to different parts of the Church. His office promises beneficial results in extending and strengthening Church operations. The model of a trust deed was submitted and orde-:ed to be printed for the onsideration of the Presbyterians. After some other business of minor importance the Moderator delivered his closing address and the Assembly adjourned to meet in Christchurch in March

Thursday. Arrangements have been completed for changing the dates of the sailing of the San Francisco mail boats whereby, from January next, the service will, in so far as practicable, be fortnightly with the Suez mail boats. The Taranaki sailed for Picton, Nelson, and North at four pm. Possengers: Misses Pratt, Whitehouse, Booth, Webb, Wilkie, Mrs Lewis and family, Mrs Hunt, Master Whitehouse, Messrs Hugh M'Kae, Roberts, Reminschueider, Sunley, J. Booth, Bradshaw, Dyce, and the Kev Mr Sheriff.

Timauu, Thursday. In the libel case Ward v. Ball, proprietor of the South Canterbury Times, Judge Johnston said the preliminary proceedings taken in the R.M. Court were irregular, and as no depositions had been takeu he could not offer the Grand Jury advice in the matter, and after explaining the law of libel left the case to their consideration till Friday morning.

The Grand Lodge of New Zealand South Good Templars decided regarding the union of the two Grand Lodges of New Zealand to defer the question till the next annual session It was resolved to send a grand officer to the annual session of New Zealand North, to be held at Wellington next mouth.