INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue XIV, 3 April 1879, Page 2

INTER PRO VI NCI AL.

[PBKBB AGBNCY,"j Wellington, Thursday. It is stated by the Government that the removal of the survey party on the Manawatu river was the result of a misapprehension on the part of the Maoris, the survey party not having given the Maoris notice of their instructions to survey the block. The Maoris express regret at the mistake, and have allowed the party to return to the work. Mr Ballance and Mr Macandrew left this afternoon in a bnggy to travel over the route of the West Coast railway.; The first marriage of a Maori woman by a Registrar occurred to-day at the Supreme Court. Pinfire and Sinking Fund went South today in the Southern Cross. The official report of the result of the smelting ot a sample of the D'Urville's Island copper has been received. It says:— " Half the sample was composed of simply the ground accompanying the ore, and 'no attempt whatever had been made to sort or dress the ore, and out of the 47 tons actually weighed only 15 should have been sent with a view to determining the actual value of the ore." He took out a fair sample such as he would have sent for sale if in charge, and it yielded 29 J per cent He expresses an opinion that the ore is good and likely to get a good deal better at a greater depth. The Government will sell in June or July next another £25,000 worth of reclaimed land. There were 182 new claims to vote here sent in to the Registrar on the 3 1st March. It is stated that Sir George Grey is of opinion that far too much is being made of theWaimate affair, and that he says that matters can be settled easily. It is stated that the contemplated changes in regard to the Wardens and Resident Magistrates on the West Coast of the Middle Island have been deferred in consequence of the conflicting representations made to the Minister of Justice on the matter. A West Coast (North Island) correspondent of the limes says that the Alexandra Cavalry have orders to hold themselves in readiness should any emergency arise. The Customs duties collected during March at this port amounted to £20,036, and for the corresponding month of last year £15,578. J All hopes of finding the missing yacht Fanny Godhard are nearly abandoned. Commenting on the Maori difficulty, the Times says:—" The Governor should be advised to at once call Parliament together, and in the meanwhile actual hostilities with the Natives should be avoided." The workmen who are laying the foundations tor the new Courts of Justice on the reclaimed land are experiencing great difficulty from the water flowing in, notwithstanding the use of good pumps. One of the seven-ton guns is to be placed on Soames' Island, another at Hastwell Point, and the other under the Lighthouse. The Government have received reliable information from Waimate that there is no prospect of any breach of the peace, and that the natives express their willingness to allow the surveyors to proceed in a few days. Though not publicly known, it has been decided to appoint a second Resident Magistrate for Wellington to relieve the present one from some of the excess of work. The Mount Cook School Committee have resigned in a body in consequence of the action of the Education Board re the Everiss case. New Plymouth, Thursday. At a special meeting of the Land Board to-day the Waimate Plains were declared land of special value, and the upset price for cash . waa fixed at £5 per acre, 'and ou deferred payments at £7 10s per acre. The youths injured at tho races are recovering slowly. Pabihaka, Thursday. Matters are still quiet here. A communication was received last night at .Opunake from Mr James Mackay, saying "that Te Whiti and he were engaged in discussing the question, and would probably continue the korero next day. There is no alarm or excitement in the district, and Maoris and Europeans meet at the hotel |and drink and chaff in the usual manner. Blenheim, Thursday. A new paper having been started here by the opposition, Mr Ward, late M.H.R., moved in the Education Board that the whole of the advertising be taken from the Marlborough Express and given to the Times. The | Wairau Road Board and Borough Council carried a similar resolution. In the Building Society a like resolution was moved with tbe same result. The Express states that in future it will publish all their notices gratuitously and protests strongly against the course of forcing a paper with public funds to further private ends. Christchubch, Thursday. Te Whitu won the Kowai Pass Hurdle race with 12 stone up. Isadore Schwartz was brought.'up for arson. Mr Lambert, surveyor, put in a plan of the shop and marked the places where the severa scorchinga were found. The manager of the Colonial Bank was called to show the position of the accused in relation to the Bank. He bad been refused accommodation but was not pressed at the time of the fire. The insurance policies were made over to the Bank as security for an overdraft. The witnesses of tbe fire are now being examined and the evidence will extend over to-day most probably. Kakanui, Thursday. Messrs Hislop and Shrimski addressed their constituents and announced that thev would give their support to the present Government. A vote of confidence was unanimously carried, and each was presented with a silver salver from the residents of the district as marking their appreciation of their services. Opunake, Thursday. The first contingent of the Armed Constabulary have arrived here, and were all landed on the beach about noon. Greymodih, Thursday. The escort brought down 5000 ounces of gold yesterday. The Surveyor-General is here on an official tour.