INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 297, 23 December 1878, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

s I rpRKSS AQENCr.I | WellimjToN; * Satur day night. The Colonial Secretary haa replied to Mr Barton's letter saying that the correspondence has reached its natural conclusion, and no useful purpose can be served by re-opening it. " Otherwise it would have been my duty to return your letter lasfc received, as the language it contains is at variance with the well understood courtesies of official correspondence, and the insinuation that Judge Richmond was consulted in reference to your charges or was even cognisant of the decision of the Government is as untrue as it is gratuitously insulting io the Cabinet, and the law officers of the Crown." The Post says that in the event of Sir W. Fitzherbert being appointed Speaker of the Legislative Council, Mr Mason, Chairman of the Hutt County Council, will be a candidate for the vacant seat. One of tbe Hermiones patients in quarantine has died. The Government have determined not to run a workman's train to the Hutt, at present having found that these trains do not pay in other parts of the colony. The sections of reclaimed land to be sold by Government by auction are to be sold on most liberal terms, a cash deposit of twenty per cent only being required. "" Bills extending over twelve months will be accepted for the balance. The Education Board have decided to J erect two new boys and girls and infants schools, one in Wellington and one at Tawa i Flat. j In connection with the recent libel action i Bluudell Bros, of the Post v. Gardiner, j late of the Chronicle, the Blundells bave voluntarily given up the guarantee they had l from Mr Curie, who had come into the paper i after the cause of the action arose saying tbat i they had no desire to inflict an injury "upon Mr Curie or anyone else as a private j individual. The Chroj.cile says in noticing the matter:— "We are of opinion that the I action of the Blundell Bros towards Mr Curie has been distinguished by a sense of justice and equity highly to be commended." \ The anti-Chinese movement is giving strength. The Wellington seamen bave al- j ready subscribed £20, and the subscription lists are lying in the Banks and other public places for subscribers. A supplementary Gazette notifies that the ! pay and travelling allowance for non-com-missioned officers and constables shall be as \ follows:— Police sergeant-major, lis per day; ' Ist class sergeant, 10s; 2nd ciass, 9s fid; 3rd clasa, 9s ; Ist class constables, 8s 6d; 2nd class, 8s ; 3rd class, 7s Gd; Reserve sergeantmajor, 9s 6d; Ist class sergeant, 9s; 2nd class, 8s Gd; 2nd class constable, 7s; 3rd class, 6s Gd The travelling allowance of non-commissioned officers and constables is fixed at the rate of Gs per diem. Detectives: Chief detectives, 16s per day; Ist class detective, 14s; 2nd class, 12s 6d; 3rd class, lis; 4th class, 10s. All the Government offices tvill be closed on the 2fith December. •.Christchurch, Saturday. Frank Valpy, a clerk in the JSteward of Reserves office on the Christchurcb|Railway, was arrested last evening on a warrant charged with embezzling the sum of £6 4s, though it is stated that there are defalcations' to tbe amount of £165. He was brought up this morning and remanded till Tuesday. Westport, Saturday. The men employed on the Government work of cutting a new channel in the Buller river are paid eighteenpence per hour and are working ten hours daily, the engineer being anxious to get tbe work expedited. When the channel is finished small steamers ■will get up the iiver several miles further than is now possible. i Auckland, Saturday. ' Mr Binney reports the following current quotations -.—Flour, Southern £10 to £11 Adelaide £14 10s to £15; bran, £5 to £5 10s; pollard, £5; maize, 5s 3d to 5s Gd; oatmeal, £22; pearl barley, £24; cheese, 7jd to 8d; hams and bacon in cloth 8d to B£d, ditto bare 6d to 6id; potatoes, £7 10s to £8. Mr Buckland reports store cattle dull of sale, and of low value; fat cattle, full supply; store sheep, dull; choice lambs, lis to 14s. Share market: Bank of New Zealand, £23- i National, 725, Colonial, 52s Gd; Loan and Mercantile, Ills, New Zealand Insurance, i 82a cd; South British, 665 ; National, 265: Standard, 21s; Union, 15s; Auckland Timber j Company, Guthrie and Larnach, 90s. j The Hawea has arrived with 150 passengers, chiefly settlers from the East Coast I come to spend the holidays. Ltttelton, Monday. ! The Arthur Wakefield sailed for Neison yesterday. j Napier, Monday. Ihe chief Karaitaru has been ill lately, and j his malady seems to have affected his head. ' Yesterday afternoon be was so violent that he had to be put under the restraint of a straight waistcoat. He was stopping at the Criterion Hotel and the noise he made attracted a i crowd outside. Other quarters were provided for him last evening to which he was removed The men of the le Wanunga wewspaper have been dismissed, and the white editor's services dispensed with. It is variously stated tbat this is a preliminary to new arrangements, or to the ceasing of the publication altogether. To-day the burgesses of Napier are polling on the question whether a loan of £70,000 shall be raised to consolidate the old loans and provide for drainage and sewerage '