INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 279, 2 December 1878, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

fPBE3g AOKNOT.I ANOTHER SHIPWRECK.

Wellington, Monday. The steamer Southern Cross arrived here at midnight. She reports sighting the ship Southminster, 1223 tons, Captain McPhee, with 23 hands and the captain's wife as a passenger, on shore inside a kelp bank between Cape Campbell and Plaxbourne. while on the voyage from Lyttelton to Wellington They sent a boat to the vessel, and found she had four holes in her bottom, and the water washing in arid out with the rise and fall of the tide. There were seven feet of water in her hold at high tide, and one foot at low tide. The ship went ashore on Priday morning early on the Shepherdess Reef in thick foggy weather while steering N.E. by N. She knocked her rudder out, and afterwards drifted inside the kelp bed where she now lies with a.rock through her bottom. The cargo consists of Yankee Notions, with reapers and binders and American organs from New York, in all about 500 tons. The crew had rigged tents, and were living ashore. They declined to leave in the Southern Cross, the captain having gone to Kaikoura. There is no chance of getting the vessei off, and if a S.E. wind comes np she will soon go to pieces and all the cargo be lost. It ig understood that she is insured in London. Particulars are not obtainable except from the Captain. It is said that the Stella has gone to the wreck. Later. .The United Insurance Company has £500 on the cargo of the Southminster, and the National £50. The South British has also a considerable risk on the cargo but declines to furnish any information.

A circular letter re education from the Hon Mr Ballance regarding the secondary schools of the colony says that the directions to the commission will be first to inquire and report upon the organisation and operation of the University of New Zealand, and its effects upon other institutions for the promotion of secondary and higher education. (2) The operations of intermediate and higher educational institutions, &c. (3) The status, remuneration and general efficiency of the teachers. (4) The formation of training institutions, schools of design, and schools or colleges of practical science and the relations they should bear to the University and educationaljinstitutions of the colony. (§) The best and most economical mode regarding administration, inspection &c, and making the institutions as efficient and available to all sects and all classes as possible. (6) The best mode of making provision for the promotion of education generally, and increasing the efficiency of the educational establishments of the colony. Suggestions regarding the objects of the commission are invited. It is understood that the sale of the reclaimed land will take place at the end of January.— Daring November there were here . 86 births, 28 deaths, and 26 marriages.— Phillip Martagh was arrested yesterday for stabbing a man named Falloon, but when the evidence was taken the orther man was also committed for trial.— Tha Kempthorne and Prosser share list remains open till 2 1st December.— lsaac Murphy has been committed for trial for a criminal assault on a little girl at Greytown -The Customs revenue i collected at Wellington for the month ending to-day amounted to £12,208 14s. For ' the corresponding mouth of last year it was £15,071 4s sd. Arrived— Barquentine May, 85 days from Hong Kong. She brings 6500 boxes of tea and 250 tons of eastern produce. The Bbip and cargo are consigned to Turnbul! and Co. New Plymouth, Saturday night. At the banquet to Mr Sheehan, at which all the leading people were present, he said that Rewi was no common man. Speaking of hißbraTery,hß said he WM the last yap

to leave the pa when it was stormed and taken. Rewi had fought against them, bus he fought honorably. He had not tendered his allegiance to the Queen, but t com a conversation he bad that afternoon with the chief ho learned .that nothing .would please Rewi better than to go to England that he^ might tender hi 9 allegiance to the Queed in person. Referring to the railway to Waikato he said before he left Taranaki he hoped to ensure that the Crown would have acquired so much land in that direction that the Governtuetat would be ttbte to say* "These are but assets to Construct the railway that Will go far to pay the total cost." He had organised an exploring patty to search the country caret" ally; studio ascertain which was. the best route, With 1 reference to the Waimato Plain he urged patience in not pushing on the sale.— Mr Trimble proposed Rcwi's health. Rewi, in reply, said on his first arrival here he knew there were different races. Then war arose, but this day he Diet them all, and hoped they would be one for the future. He hoped the Europeans would further the interests of the Natives afcd the Natives would fdHher tile int'etesU o£ the Europeans. Me hoped that old- feuds were finished, and that for the future they would all work peaceably together. He hoped that they would all live long and do good. ! Auckland, Saturday night. St. Andrew's was celebrated by the usual services.— Several letters in the Star defend the ex-priest Chiuiquy against the charges by Father Henneberry. One from a Roman Catholic who knew him as a boy eaya he was incapable of acting in the manner spoken of. Another letter says he left the Church because he was required to sign a document that he woald be a good Catholic, but he replied that he would obey bis Bishop according to the word of God as he found it in the gospel of Christ.— Father Henneberry last night condemned marriages between Catholics and non-Catholics a 9 productive of misery, especially in regard to the education of the children. — A. telegram from Chiniquy says that he will visit New Zealand on his way Home after visiting Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland. . ' . Monday. It is stated that Mr Sheehsn will resign tt a portfolio of Minister of Justice, owing to the many duties of the Native department. An address of sympathy has been presented to Captain Malcolm. It bore the signatures of 51 of the passengers, and was accompanied by a purse of JES3. Chbistcurch, Monday. The N. Z. Shipping Company have received a telegram under date London Nov. 28, reporting that the Piako will resume her vojage on the 20th December after repairing the interior damage. The hull is uninjured, but a large portion of the cargo and stores are burnt. The kerosene bond of Twentyman and Cousins wa.s completely destroyed by fire last evening. It contained between 300 and 400 cases of kerosene. The erigin is unknown but it is supposed to have been caused by boys smoking near the shed. There are no insurances.— A steady rain fell on Saturday and part of yesterday which, will" do much good to the country.— A woman named Matilda Thompson was taken to the hospital on Saturday night, as it was supposed she had poisoned herself. It was then found she had only taken a dose of aniseed for the sake of frightening her husband.