INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 310, 30 December 1881, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

WEi.i.TNaTO-T, Thursday. At the ci*rll sittings of the Supreme Court the action Fisher (Mayor) v. Stewart, for slander, will be heard. Damages are fixed at £1000. Fridiy. Ths Rodasy writ was receiyed by the Clerk of Writs by mtil this morning. The delay will b« put _ight by an order ia Council, and the irregularity in regard to the Waikouaiti writ wili also be corrected in the same manner, but it is still doubtful whether the Act will eaable the GoTernor in Couucil to direct a return far Hokitika uuder the. circumstances. A depatatioa headed by the Mayor .waited on. the Minister of Justice this morning, to briog under hit notice the resolutions (previously telegraphed) passed at a pablic Maetiog relating to the impositian of the heary fine imposed o» several Chinamen for playing " Ean-tan "* A petition to His Excellency was also presented prayisf that the fiae lie remitted. The deputation urged tbat tbs defendants were strangers to the country and were not aware of our castoms or laws, and farther that they were not playtog for gain. Mr Dick, in. reply, said the police had oa several occasions warned the keeper ef tb. house of the penalties he would inesr if gambling was allowed to go on. Hewerer, he would be only too happy to forward the petition for His' Excellency 'b favorable consideration, and a report would be obtained from magistrates who convicted tha Chinamen as to whether, the fine was too severe, and the case would then be fully considered. - He mentioned that the fine having open paid it would be rather difficult to have it refunded. Dunedin, Thursday. The funeral of the late Judge Chapman to-day was largely attended. Nearly all the members of the legal profession practising in Dunedin were present. Friday. The Penguin was brought up close alongside the Rattray-street wharf. Sbe grounded slight-y off Bavensbourne but returned at full tide easily. It ia generally admitted that her trip was a success, and tbat the money spent on the channel has been productive of preat good. The Hon Mr Oliver, and Messrs Fergus and Fish, M.H.R.'a, spoke strongly in favor cf the Board's operations. It is expected that in three months' time all intercolonial steamers will be able to come to Danedia Havblock, Friday. Hutchison's Masonic Hotel and James Smith's store and outbuildings were burnt down" last night. Brownlie and Go's., and Mills stores, Fear's Hotel pud

Benemore's tad a narrow escape. The women worked well. Late*. The following are the insurances : — Hutchinson's Hotel, National £500, Trans-: atlantic £350; Jas. Mills, Victoria JESQO, Union £800. Timaru, Friday. A strong nor-w«ster is blowing to-day but not violent enough to db damage: Two steamers, the Westport and Waitaki, are alongside the wharf held bard against it by the wind on theirbroadsides, but lying easily. Christchurch, Thursday. Mr Mellish, the late Reaident Magistrate was a native of Guernsey, and an Oxford man. He was a Lieutenant in fh*h army. He saw service in the Crimea, and he also fqoght in the Waikato war. Soon after his arrival in New Zealand for some time he settled in Canterbury, and in 1865 he became R.M. at Picton, whence ho removed to Kaiapoi. He became R.M. of Christchurch on December 15lh, 187*-. He last sat onthe Bench on December 19, and waa then so much exhausted that he had to ba helped home. He was 48 years of age. Mrs MellWh is also very i11... ' ' \ By tha next mail the Harbor Board will receive a report from their consulting engineers at Home on the suitability of tbe electric light for tho harbor, with an estimate of cost. The Board wish to confer with the Borough Council On the advisability ©flighting both town and harbor with the Brush or bther electrio light. v ~\ Auckland, Friday. For the outrigger champion race at the Mercury Bay regatta there were threa entries, Carter and. Floyd ftoni Kew South , Wales and Albert White tha sculler.. Vwbo was beaten by Hearn. The distance was 3J miles.. White Jed at the start but was rapidly overhauled by Carter who .won as he pleased by several lengths.