INTERPROVINCIAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 122, 23 May 1879, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL

TPRKSB AOENOV.I Wellington, Friday. It is understood that the date upon which the land tax lists will be deposited for inspection throughout the colony is the 28th instant, and tbat objections will be received up to the 16lh June. In a case where some seamen sued Captain Fisk of the steamer Napier for damages for wror-jful dismissal and a month's wages, the Magistrate reviewed the facts of the case as follows:— He said thafc the men had been working all day, aud at night, after they bad turned in, the ship being at anchor, the captain ordered thorn to do work which might well have been put off till the next day. On being asked whether it was necessary at that time of night they were told " That or the boulder bank." The men returned to the forecastle without any more remark on either side, and the captain and mate did what had been ordered themselves. The next day the men's food was stopped, and the day after they were turned adrift without food or money, although one month's wages were then due. The Magistrate ruled that the defendant had no right to take the law into his own hands. His proper course v/ould have been to bring the men to Wellington, and then have laid an information against them for refusing duty. His conduct was arbitrary and harsh, and judgment would be for the sailors for £6 damages, and the amount claimed with costs. Mr George Thomas reports produce prices as follows:— Flour, Adelaide £14, Colonial £9 10s; oats, 3s 3d, stocks light; bran, lid to Is; wheat, 4s for;chick; hams, 9d, very scarce; bacon, BJd; maize, 4s 9d; pollard, £7; potatoes, £5, in demand: butter, lid to Is. The Colonial architect has just completed the drawings and plans of the new Post and Telegraph offices to be erected at Wellington. Both will be in one building at the corner of Grey-street and Custom House Quay the present site. It will be three stories high of brick, stuccoed in front, with concrete foundations and a slate roof. The building will be surmounted by a handsome tower with an illuminated clock afc such an elevation that the figures may be seen day or night for a distance of two miles, and furnished with a bell of sufficient power to be heard at a distance of five miles. Tenders for the whole work will be called for in the course of a fortnight, the frontages will be 172 feet by 174 feet. There is great stagnation in all departments of trade, and a feeling of uncertainty iv all business circles, such as have not been known for many years. In Chambers this morning Mr Gordon Allan on behalf of Gleich the bankrupt defaulter, applied for a rule tiisi calling upon tbe gaoler to show cause why the writ of habeas corpus should not issue. The application was granted, and the writ made returnable on Wednesday. Monday next will be declared a public holiday. It is understood that .Sir Hercules Robinson, accompanied by Lady Robinson, will make a flying visit to Auckland about the end of June. Their stay will be a little over a week. The report on the alleged roll stuffing has been received; aud according to it there is no donbt that roll stuffing had taken place, but tbat all the parties appear to have been equally culpable. It considers the removal of the Revising Officer not without justification, but it was inopportune, and the action of his successor is open to censure. Dunedin, Friday. Mr George McLean, M.H.R,, addressed his constituents last evening. Having announced himself an opponent of the Government, his whole speech was an attack on the Government action, including the Electoral Bill, their native policy, the special wire, advertising, and the deficiency in the land revenue, and he added that if the Government did not borrow soon; the financial crisis would be intensified. A vote of confidence was passed in a hearty manner. The property known as Allandale on the Forbury road was destroyed by fire last night The insurances were £250 and £500 in the Standard on the building, and £200 in the South British on the furniture. Mr Allan estimates his loss at over £2300. Christchuech, Friday. A case was tried in tbe Resident Magistrate's Court to decide whether the owner or occupier of a house was liable for the scavengering rate. Judgment was given that the owner was liable. All commercial matters are stagnant and prospects of improvement are still remote Wheat 3s 3d to 3s sd ; sales between merchants and shippers 3s 8d to 3s 9d, f.o.b; flour £8 5s for best brands; oats are out of the market; hest qualities of barley 5s ; potatoes £3 ss; there are no buyers of butter over 9d; hams and bacon, new, 8d bare. Oamaru, Friday. The grain market is quiet. Wheat is advancing and is now quoted at 3s 6d for first class samples. Other cereals are unaltered. The weather is beautiful and a large number of people are expected to attend the Grand National Steeplechase to be held here to-morrow. A good course has been selected on the flat land of the Awamo estate. It is almost circular and is situated at the foot of a hill, from which the spectators will have a magnificent view. There are twenty-six jumps, comprising wood and gorse fences stone walls, and water jumps. Silverstream is the favorite for the Maiden, Agent for the handicap, and Te Whetu for the Cnp. Timaru, Friday. The ship Margaret Galbraith has cleared for London, with a cargo of 10,715 sacks of wheat and other cargo, valued at £10,982, Gisborne, Friday. Robert Cooper, a Native land speculator, and John Brodie were arrested and lodged in the lock-up for a breach of the Arms Act in supplying a native with a double-barrelled gun and ammunition. They were bailed out on sureties of £800 each.