INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 45, 21 February 1879, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[press AGEN'OT.] Blenhiem, Thursday night. Marlborough Races. For the Racing Club Handicap Hurdle Race three only started, Lomond 1, Blue Bell 2, Kikiki 3. Kewi was scratched. This was a capital race, they all got away together, Kikiki was the first to get to the front, Lomond next, and then Blue Bell, and that order was maintained for 1J miles, when the three were close together, but Kikiki fell to the rear, and Blue Bell and Lomond raced neck and neck to the post, Lomond winning by half a length, Blue Bell being a good second, and Kikiki three lengths behind. Time 2mins 24eecs. The Jockey Club Handicap, Momus 1, Rata 2, Banker 3, Treason nowhere. These

were the only acceptances. Treason got away first, Rata followed. Biuker next, Momus well iv the rear. They run in this order till 3rd pard, when Banker and Rata (hew up and took the load from Treason, and al the lower end Momus went up to Rata. It was a capital race round, Momus winning by a length, Rata whipping. Time 3niins 211 sees. Duxedix, Thursday night. His Excellency, in replying to an address presc-n'cd by the Mayor, said, inter alia, It is my duty to eschew anything of a controversial or party character, but there is one point on which I had determined if an opportunity offered to make a few remarks before leaving the colony, and I know of no occasiou on which it could he done so fully as this, when 1 sec this huge assemblage around me. Since I came to New Zealand I have traversed its shores from end to end, I have visited its principal towns and rural districts, and in all parts have met with a loyal reception combined with an expression of veneration for the old country. I place implicit reliance in these heartfelt expressions, and I venture to believe that the advocate of separation from the mother country will receive very scant approval. I hr.vc heard with much regret that of late it has been advocated that it would he to the advantage of New Zealand to have instead of a representative of her Majesty to preside over it, an elective Governor. Cries of (No, no\ lam glad to hear those exclamations, I know that the subject has been mooted, and consider that I am justified iv mentioning it because it is not only of local but also of imperial interest. lam not going to enter into argument as to whether an elective Governor is a good or a bad thing. Intelligent Americans, of whom I have met many, j have told me that they consider the one j difficulty in the working of their country is elective. But I want to put it plainly what is the meaning of this idea of an elective Governor, simply separation from England. If this were put plainly before the people they would not entertain it for a moment, but under such a covering as is now assumed it is possible that it might become a political cry, and once started the people might be carried away by it, and mischief arise. lam not speaking as your Governor, and you can simply take my words for what they are worth, but of this you may rest assurred that neither the Government, the Parliament, nor the people of Eogland would erer think of recognising a colony that would refuse to receive her Majesty's representatives. (Cheers). I have spoken warmly on this subject because I feel strongly on it, and I should grieve to see anything occur to weaken the ties now existing between this colony and England, finally I must again express my gratitude for the reception, I have been accorded here to-day, as I consider the greatest reward I can receive is to feel that 1 have gained the respect and esteem of the inhabitants of New Zealand. (Loud and prolonged cheers). Westport, Thursday night. Charles Libree alias Yankee Charley was j apprehended yesterday on the confession of his wife that he was the murderer, as was always suspected, of Costello up the Buller some years ago. It appears he had been thrashing his wife and in revenge she went straight to the police and gave a full account of the murder, brutal in its details, she had helped to rebury the body three times to elude the police search made for it at the time. The police are reticent and particulars cannot be got at. Later, Mrs Libree's statement to the police goe3 to show that Libree struck Costello on the head with an augur, then rifled his pockets of several bank notes, and afterwards put the body in a canvas bag, and removed it to a hole made by an uprooted tree, and in the morning he shifted* it into a culvert, but hearing search was to be made he again removed the body back to the hole in which he had placed it previously, and covered it in. The circumstantial evidence against Libree has always been very strong. To-day the hut belonging to a miner named Peter Wilson, at Giles Terrace, was smothered by a landslip. His wife and two children were inside at the time, and his wife and one child were recovered, but a daughter, five years of age, was smothered. Christchurch, Thursday night. The Press this morning contains an article commenting in very forcible language on the conduct of Sir George Grey in reference to the Governor's departure. The leader concludes us follows: — " It must at any rate be satisfactory to the Marquis of Normanby to know that in this studied discourtesy Sir George Grey must stand quite alone, and that no such disrespect would be shown by anyone else in the country." The Chairman of the New Zealand Shipping Company has received the following telegram from Lord Hervey Phipps, A.D.C., from Port Chalmers-.—" His Excellency the Governor desires rae through you to thank the captains of the New Zealand Company's ships and the re3t of the vessels in Port Lyttelton for the manner in which they showed their respect for Her Majesty's representative on his leaving Lyttelton yesterday afternoon. Had a splendid passage down and Lady Normanby had a good night." There are now five lines of telegraphic communication working successfully in Christchurcb. Instructions have been given to commence the earthwork of two sections of the Canterbury main ceutral railway, viz., that from I Oxford to Malvern, and from Tiraaru to Rangitata, the first of which is 11 miles in length, and the latter 15 miles. It has been resolved to liberate the Prairie Chickens, which arrived safely in Christchurch from San Francisco with the loss of only one bird, at lleathstock. Friday. Mr Conyers has commenced to take carriage exercise. In the District Court, Keans v. Graban, a claim for £IG2 6s wages alleged to be due to plaintiff's wife. The defence was that the wife was to the knowledge of the plaintiff living in adultery with defendant. Judgment for plaintiff without costs. WELLixGTMjjWhursday night. Sailed— Taiaroa, f^^Hon and North, at 3 p.m. PassengeiJj^Pssrs Chamberlain, Booth, Jamieson, jHlfams, Fethy, Staly, and Andrew, Mr anßKrs Paul and family] Mrs Chamberlain antPchild, Misses Newman and Wilkin. Auckland, Thursday night. The following are the prize takers in the first set at the Rifle .District Firing : Skinner Ist, 64; Hay 2nd, 64; A. Burowon 3rd, 64; Capt. White 4th, 63; Lieut. Kelly sth, 62; Alderton 6th, 61; Hill 7th, 58; Macdonald Bth, 58; Allan 9th, 58; Sterling 10th, 57; Fairs 11th, 57; Payne 12th, 56. 11. B. Sterndale, of Suwarrow fame, died at San Francisco. The electoral roll of City West is said to be iv an unsatisfactory state, the names of several qualified electors having disappeared, while 300 absentees remain on it. Mr Ilobt. Graham is mentioned as a possible candidate. The Insurance Companies manifest a disposition to do as little business as possible at present on account of the low rates, but it is anticipated that they will not be permanent. The grocers have convened a meeting to fix a uniform price for buying produce. The Auckland Timber Company's works are nearly completed. They will furnish employment in the manufactory to 120 hands, and manipulate 250,000 feet of timber weekly. Messrs Binney and Mason report:— Flour Southern £10 to £10 10s, Adelaide <£14;

bran. £7 10s ; pollard, £6 10s; oats, 4s 3d to 4s 6d; maize, 63 3d; butter, lod; cheese, 8d; potatoes, £G. Reeftox, Thnrsday. The Welcome Company's crushing yielded 3,219 ounces of amalgam on blankets alone, from. 10 tons stone, giving an average of five ounces of gold per ton. It is expected that the crushing will continue six weeks longer. Typhoid and scarlet fever are raging at Bowman's. The hospital is full, and two or three fatal cases have already occurred. There is a panic amongst the families. The Board of Health is taking vigorous precautionary measures to check the spread of fever.