INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4377, 31 March 1875, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

NORTH ISLAND. AUCKLAND. The discovery of an immense body of ironstone of excellent quality in the Titirauga ranges is reported. Coal has also been found in the district. The native chief Mohi arrived in Coromandel from Auckland on March 19, and was carried across the peninsula on Sunday by the Kennedy Bay natives to Whangapoua. He is dying of consumption. There was a large gathering of natives. The whaling barque Albion is doomed to be sold. The Auckland Whaling Company are tired of expectations, and believing that there is ne chance of a turn of luck with her, have decided to sell the vessel and wind up the company’s affairs. When we hear of the success of so many American and Tasmanian whalers, - it is to be regretted that this local company cannot succeed, especially when whales are constantly reported as being off the coast. However, the determination has been arrived at to abandon the enterprise, and Mr. G. W. Binney has already, by order of the company, advertised to sell the barque. THE DROWNING OP ME. PORTER. The following evidence, showing most extraordinary apathy on the part of a number of people for the safety of a man in imminent danger, was given at the inquest on the body of the late Mr. Porter, teller of the Bank of Australasia atGrahamstown: —John McManus, a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years of age, deposed that he was messenger of the Bank of Australasia. He then proceeded : I went down to the wharf about five o’clock to see the boat away. The boat was about 12ft. long, sharp at both ends. It was partly covered over with canvas, with a hole in the centre for the rower. It might carry two, but I never saw two in it. It was worked with a paddle. I saw Mr. Porter get into the- boat, and I shoved it off from the wharf. There was no water in when he stepped in, hut she let the water in quickly when he was in. She leaked through the bottom. The boat was put in the water near the tollhouse. He asked me for a baler, and I gave it to him.. While he was haling the boat drifted out towards Holdship’s? There was not much wind blowing then, and tho sea was smooth. I saw him going up between Holdship’s wharf and_ Grahamstown throe or four times. It appeared to me that he had command of the boat. I saw him baling when he was drifting out, hut not when ho was using the paddle between Grahamstown wharf and Holdship’s. I went down the Grahamstown wharf, and saw he was trying to get in. It was then blowing hard. I saw he was endeavoring hard to bring the boat to tho wharf, and that he could not, as the wind blew him away. The wind was blowing off tho land. This would be about ton minutes or a quarter past six. It was quite daylight then. I went to some boys on the wharf, and asked them if any would come in a dingy with me. Mr. Porter was keeping about the one place. One of the boys said he would come, but when ho looked at the dingy he would not come. She was half full of water. Some men on * tho wharf stopped me from going myself, saying I would never reach him. I went up on the wharf and told Mr. Peterson, who was about letting go his boat to proceed to the Miranda. I asked him to go out to him and fetch him in. He said his boat was too big'.- Peterson would not have had to go far out of his way to reach Potter at this time. I then ran up the wharf and met a sailor, and wanted him to go. He asked mo if there wore any men on tho wharf, and I said there were, and he then said that I Mr. Porter could not be in any danger. He

told me to get a waterman, and I said I could not see one. He pointed out Mr. Arnold, and told me to go to him. I went to him, and told him that Mr. Porter was outside, and could not get in, and that he had only one paddle. I cannot remember what Arnold said. He did not give any assistance, but walked down on the wharf with Air. Bulk I followed them down. Arnold stopped at his boat, and I continued to the end of the wharf. I looked to see if I could see Mr. Porter, but I could not. It was then falling dusk. Some boys told me that two men had gone out after him. I then went for Mr. Partridge. When Mr. Porter got off a short way he took his coat off; when the wind blew he put it on again. I did not see him take oft his boots. He never made any signal as if he was in danger. The last time I saw, him he was about 150 yards from the end of the wharf. He was working hard to get in.—Daniel McAuley then deposed to finding the body. q’he jury returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally drowned. HAWKE’S BAY. Ojir sharping visitors, says the Herald, would appear to have reaped a rich harvest from the Hawke’s Bay public. A customer of one of the local banks informed us on Wednesday, that on the day after the races he was paying a visit to the establishment in question, when one of these worthies exchanged between £SO and £6O in silver over the counter for notes.

Of the recently-arrived immigrants by the Fritz Renter, most of the single girls and single men have met with engagements at curreut.rates. The married couples with families are not so readily hired, and a considerable portion of them are disengaged. An accident happened to the Taupo eoadh ou Monday evening, about three miles on the Napier side of Opepe. The vehicle was overturned at a rough portion of the road, but no serious injury happened to the passengers. Everything was soon set to rights, and the coach resumed its journey. But for the caution of the driver, Mr. McKinlay, who had slackened the pace to a walk, ’ more serious consequences would have resulted. The town of Napier, remarks the Telegraph of the 23rd inst., had a very escape from a similar calamity to that which has befallen Auckland, Oamaru, and Nelson, within the last twenty-four hours. At nine o’clock yesterday Mr. Robert Dobson, local agent of the New Zealand Insurance Company, discovered the straw yard at the back of Mr. Palmer’s stables to be on fire, Mr. Dobson immediately gave the alarm, and most fortulnately the flames were extinguished before any damage was done. The fire is supposed to have originated from sparks from an outhouse attached to the Masonic Hotel premises. With the strong wind blowing at the time, there cannot be the slightest doubt that if the fire had got hold of the stables, nothing could have saved the whole block of buildings. A young man of the name of Matene Haunui, a native, has been taken to the hospital, to be treated for a wound received at Poverty Bay during the Te Kooti troubles. Matene fought on the side of the Government, and while engaged with the enemy, was struck by a bullet that entered his left side. The ball has never been extracted, but has worked itself round to the backbone, entirely crippling the young man, who has to walk with the aid of crutches. Matene has been four times under medical treatment, but without obtaining relief. The road across the Tauri plain, says the Telegraph of March 20, is a mere track that has had nothing done to it whatever. _ The soil is loose pumice sand, which is cut into deep ruts by the action of wheel traffic and rain, and in some places these ruts may be almost described as gullies. It is not surprising then that, with the most careful driving, accidents should occur. The-mail coach capsized last Monday, three miles this side of Opepo, by which some of the passengers were seriously bruised. TARANAKI. The contractors are pushing on the works of the railway. During the past week, men have been busily engaged in laying the rails and ballasting the way on the north side of Devonstreet, and on Saturday a large number of men were employed in the evening in laying the permanent way across the street. It was done at a late hour, so that the traffic should not be interfered with ■ during the busy part of the day. A new Wesleyan Church has been opened at Waitara. The town sections at Inglewood were offered for sale by auction at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, on March 20, by the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The attendance was not large nor the bidding spirited. Out of sixty-six allotments put up, only about six were knocked down to purchasers ; and only over one was there any competition, viz., No. 300, which fetched £2 over the upset price. Since the sale six other sections have been taken up. The amount realised for the town sections up to date is £l4l 10s., but applications are being daily made. The bridge which crosses the Huatoki, in Devon-street, is at last completed, says the Herald of the 24th, and will be handed over by the contractor, Mr. N. Hooker, to the Town Board authorities to-day. The contractor deserves credit for the manner in which he has finished his work; and the bridge is really an ornament to the town. Although there are several bridges in New Zealand with exceedingly wide spans, yet we are not aware of a stone bridge of equal magnitude being erected anywhere. MIDDLE ISLAND. CANTERBURY. Hone Paratene Tauanuiorongi, or John Patterson, ex M.H.R. for the Southern Maori electoral district, was charged lately at the Kaiapoi Court with having violently threatened to take the life of James Rickurs, jun., and Honi Horomona, a half-caste. James Rickurs, residing on tho Maori reserve, said on Monday there was a case heard at the pa between accused and himself, in which the former was plaintiff. He cross-questioned accused, who would not answer, but said, “ Before the sun goes down I shall take your life.” Afterwards, in reply to witness saying he wanted to extort money, accused said he did not want money, he wanted witness’s neck. From his manner witness was afraid of his life—that he would do hira some bodily harm. Accused was in a passion at the time. Accused made a statement that the complainants had committed a trespass in his house. He admitted having used certain threats. Tho magistrate said the case was proved, but, owing to accused having received provocation, he would ho bound over only to keep the peace towards the complainants, himself in £SO and two sureties of £SO each for twelve months. OTAGO. The value of oats is falling rapidly in the Tuapeka district. We hear of good samples being offered at the Toviot for half-a-crown per bushel. At Milton oats are selling at a trifle over three shillings. This should materially affect the price of carriage, which has been very high during the last twelve months, WESTLAND. Mr, Julius Mathies, who was for many years a resident in this town, says the Hokitika Evening Star, is now ou an official visit to Hamburg, in the capacity of Immigratian Agent. He is engaged to forward immigrants for the Jackson’s Bay settlement, and he will receive payment according to results ; or, in other words, at tho rate of £1 per head for every male or female Hamburger sent out. Mr. Mathies’s past experience in connection with bush work in the southern part of tho province, eminently qualifies him to form a correct idea as to the duties and hardships of a pioneer, and his adventures of travel, when related in his native language, will doubtless be both graphic and .amusing. It is stated that he will deliver a series of lectures on emigration, and ho will most probably secure a considerable number of passengers for this port. ’ Tho skeleton of a fine specimen of the swordfish has been found by Mr.’ Craddock, at the South Spit, Westport, washed up at high-water mark. Tho backbone is perfect, with the tail

attached, the latter still covered with skin, the fins also are in a nearly perfect state, and the bead is but little injured, the lower jawbone being complete, and the eyeball still remaining in one socket. The sword is a formidable weapon some two feet in length, and the sharp point is unbroken.