INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 19, 22 January 1878, Page 2

IN TE RP RO VI NC IA L.

[frkss agency.] Wellington, Monday. It is stated that the Government do not intend to summon Parliament before July, and that the principal measures to be brought forward will be bills dealing with the redistribution of the representation on the basis pf the new census, the adjustment of the incidence of taxation, and a bill dealing with native lands. The Argus believes the present Government are desirous of doing away with the mixed authority which prevails in the administration of the port, by which the City CouueU controls the wharf, and the General Government the harbor. They would be in favor of putting both under the direction of a properly constituted Harbor Board, and are prepared to support an adequate endowment of the same. The police have arrested John Prestidge, who occupied the hotel recently burned down, and which led do the destruction of the railway station. They have been procuring evidence which aroused suspicion as to the origin of the fire. Tuesday. Arrived—ArabyMaid, 87 day from London, with ten passengers aud a general cargo. Fine weather passage. Itialto, UO days from London, twelve passengers and full cargo. Had bad weather in the Bay of Biscay, afterwards ordinary passage. Ddnedin, Monday. At a meeting of the Committee of the Jockey Club on. Saturday night, re the re-

nioval by the North Otago Turf Club of the disqualification of Fishhook, the following resolution was carried :— " That the action of the North Otago Turf Club iv renioviug the disqualification from Fishhook and Derritt be not endorsed in the absence of any evidence to warrant them in so doing." Gretmodth, Monday. A child fell into the river yesterday from the paddlebox of the Luna. There was a 'heavy current at the time, which swept it down the river. Mr. Ponsonby, purser of the Luna, jumped in after the child with his clothes on, and "managed to,' rescue it. Both man and chfld' were all but drowned, as the current turned them over and over, and when they were caught by a boat-hook, from a vessel lying farther down the river, the child was insensible and Ponsonby almost exhausted. Auckland. Monday. Mr. Dargaville has withdrawn from the Parnell candidature, stating in s. published letter that the present Government is most likely to serve the interests of the colony, A dispute ha 3 arisen in the Waikato regarding a block of 8000 acres occupied by Major Jackson. Ngakau, the Maori King's secretary, has warned the Major to clear off, claiming the land. Rewi Manapoto says the sale was a legal one, and has cautioned Ngakau against interfering. The Government has telegraphed to Major Jackson, asking him not to occupy the land at present. Tuesday. In the Supreme Court in the action of James Sharley v. Jame3 Garrard for libel, claim for £1000, a verdict was given for the plaintiff, damages £50, carrying costs. The plaintiff was a postmaster, and the libel consisted in reports by the defendant that he opened his letters. 3 p.m. The Zealandia has arrived. In coming alongside the wharf she carried away a portion of it. She is four dayg three hours ahead of her coutract time. Passengers for New Zealand : Mr and Mrs Chapman and two children, Messrs Arnie, Maher, Eraser, Holmes, and nine in the steerage. Balclutha, Tuesday. At four o'clock this morning the new railway bridge here was tested by Mr Carruthers accompanied by Mr Blair the District Engineer, and Messrs Cook and Kerle assistant Engineers. Three locomotives and six loaded coal trucks were used, the weight being 110 ton. Each span was tested carefully and the deflection was from threeeighths to three-quarters of an inch, there being no permanent set, as when the load passed the bridge sprang back to its original level. After each span was tested the train was run across at the rate of ten miles an hour when the deflection was only threeeighths of an inch. These tests are considered very satisfactory and show that the work has been faithfully carried out. The bridge consists of seven spans of 120 feet each, and one of thirty feet across the road at the end of the bridge. Christchukch, Tuesday. Owing to the renewed wet weather the cricket match is again postpoued. It will be continued to-morrow and on Thursday. The rain has now ceased, hut the weather is still threatening. Bluff, Tuesday. The Alhambra has arrived. She left Sandridge Railway Pier on January 16th at 4 p.m., aud had fine weather and light winds during the passage. She sails for Dunedin at 4 p.m. Passengers for Nelson: Captain and Mrs Harris, and one in the steerage, also six tons of cargo.