INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4260, 14 November 1874, Page 2 (Supplement)

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

NORTH ISLAND. AUCKLAND. The Auckland Whaling Company's barque Albion is lyine at anchor in the harbor, says the Herald, after a four months' cruise, with a take of about one hundred and twenty barrels of oil. Her last cruise, like its preceding ones, has not been profitable to the shareholders. Captain Rose, who arrived with the Coronet yesterday, reports having passed through several schools of whales outside tho harbor. He inquired the reason of the whaler remaining in harbor. On being told that she was short in her crew, Captain Rose at once offered to lend her a few men, as he considered that ■with the whales so near the port it was a shame not to take a venture. It might be worth the consideration of the Whaling Company to act on Captain Rose's information and offer, and start the Albion off in search of the fish. The City of Auckland, says the Cross of the 7th inst., was nearly the scene of another stabbing case yesterday, the offender being a negro delighting in the name of Napoleon, employed on board as a steward. A difference existed between himself and one of the sailors, who wished either to give or take satisfaction with his fists. The negro, however, seized a knife, with the intention of stabbing his opponent, but was prevented by the timely interposition of members of the crew. After being compelled to drop the knife, he seized a large fork for the same purpose, but was secured without being able to accomplish his design, and has been placed in custody. HAWKE'S BAY. Rather a hard case is reported by the Times: —Police Constable Joyce, Armed Constabulary, had served eleven years in the colonial forces, during the whole of which time he bore an unblemished character." Being desirous of entering the marriage state, ho applied for the usual permission, which, in a case of this kind, is a mere matter of form. While waiting for the reply from Wellington, he made all preparations, and his intended had come to Opotiki, when his application was returned, he having inadvertently omitted to enclose a certificate of character. He immediately repaired the omission; but, everything being in readiness, did not delay his marriage. Result: disgraceful and instant dismissal for "disobedience to the rules of the service."

The Native Lands Court has concluded its sitting at Poverty Bay. The cases were not of any great importance, but the next sitting, which will be in March next, will be a very important one. 60,000 acres of the Motu Block were passed, and 40,000 adjourned. The Motu Block is a large bush-clad block of land between Poverty Bay and Opotiki, lately leased for a long term by the Government from the natives. The part which has passed the Court, is that portion nearest to Opotiki. Tho Tologa Bay township, 500 acres, also passed the Court. In reference to the telegraph lino to Poverty Bay, we hear that the chief Ihaka Whanga, of Wairoa,.has been exerting his influence actively, and with success, in setting at rest the difficulties raised by the Hapuka natives. The posts are being drawn to their places along the line, so as to facilitate the progress of the work. There seems to be little other reason to apprehend any more difficulties in the matter, unless they arise through the dilatoriness of the Public Works Department. The long talked of Waitaha Bridge on the coast track to Wairoa is now in course of construction. Most of the timber required is on the ground, aud the contractor is busy at work. The plans for the improvement and alteration of this line of road have all been prepared. A burglarious entrance was effected iuto the office of Messrs. Routledge, Kennedy, and Co., Napier, on Friday night last. The housebreaker did his work somewhat neatly, and so far has eluded discovery. The man entered by the -windows of the back office, to do which he must have scaled the yard wall. Divesting himself of his boots—for the window-sill was newly painted, and there are no foot-prints visible—ho broke a small piece of glass out of the pane by the side of the lock, which he then could easily unhasp, and throwing up the window gained admittance. The full extent of the depredations of the burglar are not yet known, further than that he helped himself to a couple of bottles of sherry. Some valuable land will be offered for sale at the Crown Land Office, Napier, on the 17th January next. Amongst others, twelve aero sections adjoining the wharf on the reclaimed land at Gough Island, at an upset price of £SOO to £IOOO per section. These sections are in close proximity to the railway station and the wharf, where there is deep water. The land set apart by proclamation under the Hawke's Bay Special Settlements Act, 1872, for the purpose of sale on deferred payments, and situate between the Mangainauku and Tuki Tula rivers, estimated to contain 8000 acres, is now available, and will bo opened for occupation when applied for. The price of the laud is ten sliilliugß per acre, payment being spread over five years. Two hundred acres is the largest, and forty acres tho smallest block a settler can purchase. A correspondent thus writes from Havclock to tho Herald .-—The Road Board here is acting with vigor.' One rate was raised in May last, a second in July, and a third is now declared due, and the increase on each successive rate is more marvellous even than the rapidity with which these taxes aro being levied. The rate of July was in many cases 300 per cent, in excess of that of May; aud tho rate now due is in every case 000 per cent, in excess of that of July. The richer lands iu the district aro charged 3s. 4d. per acre, independent of buildings, which are also valued and rated accordingly. Tims, a small property of 200 acres is taxed to the amount of £49 10s. Tho Board met on Monday to hear objections to the new assessment; nearly all the resident ratepayers assembled to object, but the Board refused to receive or minute any objection that was offered. Several ratepayers wrote out their objections, and appended their names ; but this document, it is understood, was torn up and consigned to tho waste paper bag, and tho Board in its wisdom declared that no objection had beeu offered to tho assessment list. A new fellmongery is about to be started at Meanee. Napier cricketers havo been much disappointed through tho grass seed imported from Duuediu, witli which the club ground was sown, not having germinated. Great pains had been taken to prepare tho ground to receive tho seed ; but unfortunately that which had beeu specially selected at Dunodin, got damaged on tlio passage. The consequence

is, the club is deprived of the use of the ground for another sixteen months. TARANAKI. A splendid raft of three thousand sleepers, besides posts, &e., was safely landed at Meanee on the 21th of October. This timber was from Mr. Maney's bush at Pohui, and was successfully navigated down the Tutae-kuri river without loss. The Education Board, says the Herald, has grappled with a subject that has caused more bitter feeling and heart burning than any other question which has engrossed public attention in modern days. The subject of religious teaching- in schools was introduced on Monday last, at the meeting of the Board, when Ml-. Standish moved a series of resolutions, which did not seem to meet with the approval of the majority of the members. Mr. Standish proposes that in denominational schools receiving aid from public fuuds, uo religious instruction should be given, except with the written consent of the parents or guardians of the children ; and that the religious instructor be also named. These schools are to be open to all denominations, and the time for imparting religious instruction to be fixed by the Board. The schools are to be under the absolute control of the Board, which will keep the buildings in repair, and insure them. It also reserves to itself the right of appointing teachers, whom it may retain or dismiss, as should be deemed advisable. Although a discussion on the subject took place, the resolutions were not seconded ; but the members thought it necessary to express their opinions on the question brought before them. At present the Board has no funds ; and next year, without impoverishing the public schools, there will be But little to spare ; therefore, before deciding upon granting aid to private schools, it will be necessary to consider where the means are to come from with which to do it.