INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 172, 21 July 1880, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Wellington, Wednesday. The Native will case still occupies the Supreme Court. At the Police Court John Palmer, of Oamaru, for 'attempting suicide waß discharged and endeavors will be made to obtain employment for him. Napier, Wednesday. A scientific examination of the so-called gold bearing quartz from Te Aute shows that it coutai'ua no gold whatever, the metallic appearance being due to the refraction of light through fractured portions of the surface. The appearance misled old diggers, and defied the microscope ; but pressure applied to the fracture disturbed the reflection of tho light, and disclosed the true character of the appearance. Tne stone is of the jasper family. A fire this morning destroyed two old cottages . They were insured in the South British for £ 150, and in the New Zealand for £\oo. CHitTSTCniTRCir, Wednesday. Mr W. H. Clements left for Auckland and Wbaugarci yesterday to select knd for the Cooperative Laud Society, for the purpose of establishing a special settlement. The weather continues unseasonably fine, and wattles, veronicas, and many similar plants are now in full bloom. Greymouth, Wednesday. Burns and party have brought into Greymouth 21 pounds-weight of gold, the product of a fortnight's washing by a party of four at the Seventeen Mile Beach. New Plymouth, Wednesday. At Pungarebu the natives erected a 'fence across the road near the Camp this morning Ut half-past eleven, but it was pulled down by the Constabulary. Two natives immediately commenced fencing again, when they were made prisoners of. They evidently quite expected to be takcu, aud seemed pleased at the idea of a trip to Wellington. One asked that he should be served with a blanket'and kai. They will be sent in tonight. Donedin, Wednesday. 'Thompson's fitore in Forlhatreet was destroyed by fire at 1 1 o'clock last night. The origin is unknown. The building was insured for £200 in the Norwich Union, aud the Btock lor £400 in the South British. At two o'clock this morning a two storey building, formerly occupied as -the Auld Scotlund Hotel, was burned down. The insnrance9,on the building were : — National £500, reinsured as follows : — Transatlantic, Norwich Union, Victoria, and South British £100 each. Stock £150, and furniture £350 in the Royal. Atjcklakd, Wednesday. The prisoner Whittlo who escaped- from the gaol at first, made for the Waihakerei ranges, but subsequently doubled back to wards town. He was apprehended last night at Otahuhu by Detective Brennan, who ascertained that his sister and his mother-in-law resided in the village, find nfter patiently waiting, the man .turned up, and was marched back to Auckland. There will bo an inquiry into tho escape.