INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 109, 8 May 1878, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[press agency.] Wangandi, Tuesday night. Recent explorations by the' Harbor Board officials have discovered a reef of stone suitable for harbor works on Government land abutting on the river about a mile from town. The quantity is amply sufficient for all works advertised. This [discovery obviates any necessity for dealing with the natives who are disposed to throw obstacles in the way of the Board by demanding heavy compensation. The Hon. J. Ballance addresses his constituents on Monday next, Auckland, Tuesday night. The schooner Mazeppa from Samoa reports that the Samoan fine was not paid without trouble. Twenty-four hours elapsed without any answer being given by the nativo government, and at the end of that time Captain Digby of the Sappho informed them that if the £1000 balance of Barracouta fine was not paid before one p.m. on the following Monday, he would first destroy all the Government property at Mullin, and then if satisfactory arrangements were not come to he would destroy the other villages and increase his demands. This appears to hare stirred them up, for on the following Monday the £1000 was duly paid. The Zealandia left Auckland with the outward San Francisco mail on the sth of March, arrived at Honolulu on the 19th, left next day, and arrived at San Francisco on the 27th. The mail was sent overland at 8 a.m. on the 28th. The March English mail arrived at San Francisco on the 14th April, and the steamer left with it on the 15th, arrived at Honolulu on the 22nd, left next day, and arrived at Auckland at 10-30 a.m. to-day. The length of the voyage from San Francisco to Auckland was 2 1 days 1 6 hours. The mails for "Wellington and New Plymouth will be brought by the Hinemoa, which leaves Manukau at noon to-morrow, with Governor and Lady Normanby and suite. Passengers for New Zealaud per Zealandia: Lord Eonald Gower, Mr Jones and wife. Rev. MrHazleto, Mr and Miss M'Kenzie, Mr Mrs Muir, wife, and family, Mr Townsend and daughter, Messrs Rashly, Richards, and Gossett. Sailed— Taranaki. Passengers for Nelson: Mrs Long and Miss Hargreaves. Bluff, Tuesday. The Ringarooma arrived this morning from Melbourne via Hobarton. Passengers for Nelson :— Sev. Mr Ironside, Messrs Patterson and Isucel, and 1 in the steerage, and 11 tons of cargo. Wellington, Tuesday night, Five acres of land on the western slope of Mount Victoria, being the outer edge of the Te Aro suburbs and adjoining the town belt, was cut up into 33 feet sections and sold by auction, and realised on an average about £4 17s per foot. Some of it fetched over £8 per foot. Seven years ago any of these acres could have been purchased for £50, and four or five years ago thej were not considered worth more than £100 per acre. The total result of the sale was £8156 lfig, and the frontages amounted to 1684 feet. Taubanga, Tuesday night. Capt. Morris M.H.R. after addressing the electors at Opotiki last night received a vote of no confidence. Alexandba, Wednesday. Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan were warmly received at Hikurangi by the whole of the Waikatos by a war dance. The King welcomed the whole party by shaking hands with them. Business is to commence today. Christchuboh, Wednesday. Mr Hill, second master of the East Christchurch School, has been appointed Secretary of the Hawke's Bay Board of Education and Inspector of Schools in that district. It is proposed to establish a public company to convert the block of land on the eastern boundary of the city into a public park. It is surrounded by allottments for villa residences. The Times this morning urges on the Government the necessity of at once obtaining a large supply of arms and ammunition, and for all the able population to take defensive measures by forming additional volunteer, artillery, and rifle corps. A report in the same paper says that Canterbury possesses 478 enrolled volunteers, but only 394 rifles and carbines and three field guns, ammunition being also exceedingly scarce.