INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 67, 19 March 1878, Page 2

INTERPR OV I N C I A L .

[PBESS AGENCY.]

Dunedin, Monday. After the Judge's summing up in the case of Jones, for libelling the Hon. Mr Whifcaker, the jury after deliberating for half an hour, returned a verdict of " Not Guilty." The accused was then discharged.

Tuesday. The inquiry into the circumstances under which the child found in a soap box at Blueskin met with its death was resumed at the hospital yesterday afternoon, and, after some further evidence, the coroner summed up, and the jury returned the following verdict : "That the child died from suffocation hy the hands of its mother, and that wilfully."

Bluff, Tuesday. The Alhambra arrived at 6 a.m. She left Melbourne on the evening of the 13th, and had fine weather to the Solanders, where she met a strong S.E. gale aud heavy sea. She brings 21 saloon and 30 steerage passengers for all ports. Passengers for Nelson : Miss Power, Mrs Harper, Misses Harper (2), and two in the steerage ; also ten tons of cargo. She brings the salmon ova ex Cbimborazo, which have apparently arrived in good order.

Wellington, Monday. A Gazette extraordinary, issued to-nighfc, contains a proclamation further postponing the meeting of Parliament to Thursday, May 23rd.

The Government steamer Stella has been ordered from the Nortb, where she has been buoying several harbors, to return to Wellington to attend on Sir John Coode during his inspection of the New Zealaud harbors.

Tuesday. Arrived — Lord of the Isles, from London. She k-ft Gravt'send on December !5; crossed the line on the loth January, and arrived oil: the Heads on the 16th. Experienced moderate weather with light winds throughout. She brings a full cargo but no passengers. She brings some valuable dogs, including one of the St. Bernard breed.

Greymoutii, Tuesday. A fire broke. out in Green's Hotel, Maori Creek, this morning at 1-30, and destroyed the hotel and billiard room, Walker's boot store, the Good Templars' Hall, Wilson's store, and Mr Brown's fruit shop. Green was insured in the South British, Walker in the New Zealand, and the Good Templars' Hall in the Victoria.

Hokitika, Tuesday. Homer, the agent for the Bank of New Zealand, has turned up.

New Plymouth, Monday. At the Parikaki meeting held yesterday, a large number of natives assembled. Several Europeans attended, and were most hospitably received. A number of natives, in Europcau costume, amused themselves by dancing polkas, quadrilles, &c, to an accordian played by a Maori. Te Kooti and a large number of chiefs were present. The natives had, expected that the Hon. MrSheehan would have attended. In the speech made by Te Wbiti, he said he was in favor of adopting European customs, except that of drinking, but the land question, he said, was to be spoken of another time. The natives appeared to be much disappointed that the Hon. Mr Sheehan was not present. G.RA.HA.M&TOWN, Tuesday. His Excellency the Governor is expected here about Friday to formally open the new County road to Ohinemuri. The local bodies are preparing to receive him, and probably a citizens' ball or banquet will take place. The Maoris will take a prominent part.

Hokitika, Monday. Specimens of quartz have been brought into town from a new reef at Kelly's Creek, Taipo district, on the Christchurch road! The reef is four feet wide, and gold is visible throughout. The prospectors have applied to lease the ground.

A new seam of coal has been opened up between Hokitika and Ross, at the foot of Bald Hill range, about 26 miles from the Hokitika river. Six applications for blocks of land of two hundred acres each have been applied for at the Waste Lauds Boa d in consequence of the discovery. Several prospecting parties are searching throughout the district for gold in new localities. These are supported by small weekly public subscriptions One party on board the Maori is proceeding to prospect the Sounds, south of Jackson's Bay, for minerals.