INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4387, 12 April 1875, Page 6

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

NORTH ISLAND. WELLINGTON. The leases of the Wanganui wharves and bridge were sold by tender on March 10. The former brought £650, being an increase of £250; the latter £2OOO, an increase of £IBO, although some tolls have been reduced. The Wairarapa News of the 17th instant has the following ;—Mr. H. Bannister is now building new and commodious stables in connection with the Club Hotel. The building, is to be 52ft. by 48ft,, and to contain two rows of stalls, with eight in each row. A space will bo covered in between the two rows for the reception of buggies, &o. The building will also include groom’s and harness, rooms, and over all an extensive hayloft, &c., and when finished will be a most valuable addition to the township, as there will then be stable-room for twenty-four horses, taking into consideration the eight stalls built for Mr. McCarthy over tho way. A great fire broke out in Victoria Avenue, Wanganui, on March 24. Part of the premises were occupied by Anslow, draper, and the other part by Bain, baker, owner of the buildings. The fire originated in the room occupied, by Anslow, who refused to admit people, : and when the door was broken in he was found fully dressed. The fire spread over the buildings, and caught the adjoining ones. The lire engines were useless, there being no water nearer than the river. The Telegraph Office was with difficulty saved. There was no wind, else the best part of the town would have been destroyed. The inmates of Bain’s house escaped half dressed. The buildings destroyed and insurances on them ■ and stock are—John Anderson, furniture warehouse, National £GOO, Norwich Union £2OO ; P. Loftin, shoemaker, occupied part of this building; Bain, baker, South British £BOO, Standard, £4OO ; Samuels, chemist, National, £3OO ; Barr, draper, £2OO ; Hogg, butcher, Victoria, £2OO ; total insurance, £2,700. The loss is estimated at £6OOO. A good deal of stock was saved. Anslow was arrested at 6 o'clock, and will be brought up during the afternoon. It is supposed his stock is heavily insured in Nelson, and that he has sold most of it. Anslow is in custody. E. Piest’s store, at the Eorty-Mile Bush, was burned down on Saturday, April 3. Nothing was saved.

AUCKLAND. The Mikado sailed for San Francisco at noon on March 19. She was detained several hours owing to a strong north-east gale. In trying to get away from the wharf she broke two piles. Her passenger list includes James Watt (tho racehorse owner), Mrs. Watt, Colonel and Mrs. Moulo, the American Transit of Venus party, and the Girard troupe. The total, with those from Australia, is 122. Sir George Grey was to-day (March 24) elected, unopposed, as Superintendent of Auckland.

The Maggie Paterson, a topsail-schooner, of 87 tons, for an Otago firm, was successfully launched on March 13. H. H. Lusk, wasgazetted on March 18th as elected member of the Provincial Council for Wairoa and Mangapai. The Baron Aberdare has arrived with 160 immigrants. The voyage was of ninety-five days from Plymouth; all well. The passengers were landed on March 20. Ten recently arrived immigrants by various ships were looked up on Saturday, March 20, on charges of drunkenness and larceny. Tenders for the Auckland Waterworks were opened at the City Council on March 22. Eight tenders were received, ranging from £75,663, inclusive of tramway, to £91,072. P. and S. Morrin’s tender was the lowest, and was accepted. It has been resolved by the Harbor Board to invite tenders for the balance of the Dock Loan at six per cent. The discovery of an immense body of ironstone of excellent quality in the Titiranga ranges is reported. Coal has also been found in the district. The Harbor Board has accepted a tender of £3377 for renewing another portion of the wharf. It was resolved to offer the remainder of the dock debentures in London, through the Bank of Now Zealand. The South British Company, at its approaching meeting, will increase the capital, from profits, to £50,000, and pay a 10 per cent dividend on that amount. An Education Board deputation waited on the Superintendent to represent that the Board was completely out of funds to enable it to carry on. The deputation said the present expenditure on teachers’ salaries alone was £17,000 per annum; administration, inspection, school rents, fittings, &0., about £BOOO. The rate this year would only yield £12,000, leaving a deficiency of £BOOO to be provided for. The endowments would not yield more than £-100 a year, many being valueless for leasing. His Honor considered the question of education of paramount importance in the colony, and it should be dealt with by the General Government. He was convinced that if the present colonial revenue were administered with proper economy, the savings alone would be sufficient to educate the whole colony. He was not satisfied with the present mode of rating, which was unfair. The subject should receive his most earnest attention, and he would do his best to place the educational system of the province on a more secure basis, but ponding the meeting of the Council he would see the wants of the Board provided for. Two magistrates, Mr. Brabant and Major Eoberts, have been sitting for the last few days here, holding a Court of Inquiry on Captain Gilbert Mair, well-known for his services against Te Kooti in 1870 in this district. The charges are considered here to be paltry and trumped-up. The criminal sessions began on Ajiril sth. Mr. Justice Gillies took his seat for the first time on the Auckland Bench. Mr. Whitaker, on behalf of the members of the Bar, made a short speech congratulating his Honor on his accession to the dignity. His charge to the Grand Jury was very short. He congratulated them that, though the cases were numerous, they were all light. There was no matter of law on which he need direct them. Aremarkable fact was that not one of the newly-arrived immigrants was charged, giving a satisfactory promise for the future of the colony. A large proportion of the prisoners were educated men. Cases of larceny preponderated, and, as usual, there were several cases of forgery and uttering. He thought it extraordinary that men should commit grave criminal offences to release themselves from debts which were so easily cancelled. Several old offenders figured again, which suggested grave questions to the Legislature. He concluded by calling attention to the nature of the duties of the Grand Jury. Edmund Percy Brett, a naval officer, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment for obtaining money on false pretences. Henry Pettit, charged with assault with intent to rob one Mrs. Cornford, of Napier, was sentenced to twelve months ; William Wilkinson, for arson at the Thames, to three years.

The body of William Hancock, mate of the brig Derwent, has been found on .the beach. He had accidentally fallen into the harbor. Mr. W. T. Swan, M.P.C., reports the Star of the 16th March, expired very suddenly at his residence yesterday. He had been out during the morning, and returned home early in the afternoon. Shortly after reaching his lodgings in Symonds-street, he was seized with an apoplectic lit, and, although attended by Drs. Stockwell and Goldsbro’, he expired at ten o’clock at night. Mr. Swan was the first member of the General Assembly for the Thames district, having taken up his residence immediately after the discovery of that field. The fire which destroyed Mr. Olson’s premises and Mrs. Meurant's house in St. George’s Bay, has not been traced to its origin. There is no doubt that it first broke out in a portion of Mr. Olson’s sauce factory, and afterwards spread until the damage already shown was occasioned. Mr. and Mrs. Olson were away on a visit to a friend at Dedwood on the evening in question, and a man named William Martin was left in charge. He had, after seeing everything apparently safe, left for his home, in Conquest-place, close at hand. The news of the disaster that had befallen the property was communicated to Mr. and Mrs. Olson whilst on their journey homo from Dedwood, about eleven o’clock at night. Poor Mrs. Olson fainted away on learning the intelligence, and it was deemed advisable to convey her back to Dedwood. Mr. Olson proceeded on to Parnell, but arrived on the scene too late to save anything. The whole of his books, papers, &c., connected with his business are destroyed. His whole stock of tomato sauce was also destroyed, while a large conf signment of empty bottles, received from the barque Ada, from Hondon, which had only been deposited at the store on the day of the fire, was also demolished. The loss is estimated by Mr. Olson at about £4OOO. The stock was insured by him in the South British Insurance office for £2OOO, but half this amount was re-insured in the New Zealand, so taat the loss to the offices is equally divided between them. The factory premises were insured in the South British for £4OO, and the dwelling-house and furniture in the New Zealand office for £4OO also. Mrs. Meurant’s house was covered by an insurance in the Victoria office of £2OO, but her furniture was uninsured. Mrs. Blundell’s furniture was insured for £IOO in the South British, but this will amount only to consequential damages, as the furniture was saved although injured by hasty removal. HAWKE’S BAY. The life-boat brought out by the Baron Abordare for the port of Napier has, since it has been landed on Auckland wharf, attracted a great deal of attention. The road across the Tauri plain, says the Telegraph of March 20, is a mere track that nas 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 Opepe, by which some of the passengers were seriously bruised.

Messrs. Koutledge, Kennedy and Co,, sold at Shamrock, on March 20, the thorough-bred horse Sator, recently imported to Wellington by Mr, B. Evans, for £1574, the highest price ever realised in Hawke’s Bay. There is little demand for, draught stock. A few have been sold at from £3O to £45. i.ord Borne, a Clydesdale stallion, now in Canterbury, fetched £4OO. Twenty-four unbroken light horses fetched from £3 15s. to £l2. A few good hacks brought from £l2 to £2l. . !

We learn by telegram from Waipukurau, says tho Herald of the 2nd inst., that a fire occurred at Eerguson’s Kailway'Hotel, Takajiau, on Sunday afternoon, by which the stable was burnt down; 500 bushels oats, 3 tons chaff, hay, &c., of the value of £4OO, beiugalsb consumed. The hotel and store were saved with groat difficulty. There was no wind at the time. The building was not insured. A curious discovery (says tho Hawke’s Bay Herald) has been , made in the Pourerere district, by a native whilst out fishing., He writes as follows: —-“I have found a'stone,

which got caught in my hook while I was out fishing, on a fishing ground called Ngatahuna, distant from shore three miles, and forty fathoms deep. At first I thought I had a fish, but on pulling it up towards the surface it showed a bright yellow color, and I found it was a stone exactly the color of gold. After lying in the boat a short time, it changed again to the color of the copper” on a ship’s bottom, and when landed had assumed the shining color of silver. It is about 501bs. weight, and has fifty-one sharp embellishing projections, or points, which are very beautiful, and can only be compared to the sun in the heavens. I have never seen anything like it before so worthy of admiration. What can compare to the works of God ? There is a rejffile in the sea that has great knowledge or skill. in carving stones ; and it is through that mankind gained their knowledge now practised in carving. The skill of this reptile is very superior to that of man, who cannot compete with it. I have nev«r seen anything on shore which in any way equals this stone in beauty. Europeans had it, and polished it, it would be very nice.”

TAEANAKI. On March 3, a purse was presented, on behalf of friends, by Mr. P. U. Gledhill, Mr. J. Gilmour, and Mr. W. Humphries (of Humphries and Son), to Mr. Provis, late Customhouse officer at New Plymouth, who has been promoted to a more lucrative post in Auckland, and takes his departure by the Northern steamer to-day. The presentation took the form of a purse, being most convenient, and as affording an opportunity to his friends of publicly expressing the high esteem in which Mr. Provis was held, for the uniform courtesy shown, and for the obliging manner in whicli the duties of his office have been discharged during the many years he has been stationed here. It is intended that Mr. Provis may purchase something either useful or ornamental, as may please his fancy, on which is to be engraved an inscription, which will be handed to him for that purpose. A new Wesleyan Church has been opened at Waitara.

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 meri 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. 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., Ho. 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. MIDDLE ISLAND. OTAGO. The Provincial Government is taking steps for the erection of a bridge at a dangerous crossing place on the Taieri river, on the road from Naseby to Hamilton. The bridge is to be of stone and timber ; it will be on the laminated arch principle with abutments of stone. The arching of the Bridge is above the highest recorded flood mark. A sailor named Benjamin Jordan, belonging to the schooner Nightingale, has been drowned in the Upper Harbor of Dunedin, having been thrown overboard by a shift of the boom in a sudden squall. His mates were unable to render him assistance, and after swimming for a short distance he sank. An accident that occasioned some excitement at the time occurred on board the coal hulk Cincinnati at Port Chalmers, as she lay alongside the s.s. Tararua, coaling the latter. A little boy, named Scott, aged about eleven years, the son of the keeper of the hulk, happened to fall overboard between the two vessels, and as there was some sea running, he stood in imminent jeopardy of being crushed; and observing the mishap, his father jumped over after him, and was placed in the same peril. The alarm was raised, and the crew of the Tararua and others rushed to the rescue, and by the help of poles and oars, kept the two vessels asunder, whilst others hauled the father and sou aboard—neither of them any the worse for the misadventure. A fire broke out at Oamaru, on Sunday morning, March 21st, at half-past one a.m., which destroyed nine shops, including the Alliance Hotel. The approximate iusrirances are as follows: —New Zealand, £3000; Eoyal, £750; South British, £500; Norwich Union, £250; National, £l5O. Captain Baldwin has sold his interest in a run in the interior to Mr. Hugh Handyside, at the price of £28,500, being about £1 per sheep.

A disastrous fire broke out in the Albion Hotel, Invercargill, about four a.m. on 23rd March, supposed to have originated in one of the front parlors. In a few minutes the north end of the building was in a blaze, and being an immense wooden structure, no hopes were entertained of saving any portion of it, and the efforts of the fire brigade were directed to protecting Bose’s brick buildings adjoining. These efforts fortunately were attended with success. The hotel and stables were totally destroyed, together with two small shops occupied by Wittiwer, tobaoonist, and Aldridge, tailor. The fire spread to a large brick building occupied by Lewis Keid and Co., drapers, and the National Bank, and notwithstanding the most strenuous efforts to save it, the building was totally destroyed. Two smaller buildings in Esk-street likewise were burnt down, one occupied by Hatch, chemist, who moved out his stock, but is a heavy loser. Lewis Keid got out a considerable amount of stock, and the bank’s books were saved. The furniture of the Albion was almost totally destroyed. The following are the insurances, so far as ascertained : —On the Albion, New Zealand, £6OO ; South British, £SOO ; Norwich Union, £6OO ; Australian Alliance, £450 ; National, £750 ; Victoria, £IOOO ; Standard, £250 ; Lewis Keid and Co., Transatlantic, £2OOO. The brick buildings—Koyal, £IOOO ; Liverpool and London, £IOOO ; Hatch’s store, New Zealand Co., £IOO ; Dean, £IOO. A merchant in town, says the Southland News, has brought under our notice a practical illustration of the proverb, “ Give a dog a bad name,” as applied to The Bluff Harbor. His invoice for a shipment of goods states that they are “ insured to Port Chalmers, with risk of transhipment to The Bluff,” and the curious part of the business is that he is actually charged five per cent, less than would be the case if the goods were sent to The Bluff direct. Ordinary people would suppose that the greatest risk to the goods would be in their passage by the smaller vessel, but underwriters or insurance agents are clearly of a contrary opinion.”

The Customs duties collected for the quarter ending SlstMarchwere £100,678; corresponding period, 1874, £91,961. Total Consolidated Xlevenue from Ist January to end of March, £102,351. Gold duty, £3149. Ad valorem duty for March quarter, 1875, £43,326 ; and for 1874, £38,649. News has been received from Orepaki of the drowning of seven men who went out in a boat to search for tho body of Memphis, one of a party of three drowned at the same place a fortnight since. Mr. J. P. Armstrong, M.P.C., has been requisitioned to stand for Waikouaiti, for the Assembly.

Owing to the holidays but very little has been done at the Immigration Barracks during tho past week. On Saturday tho immigrants by tho Dallam Tower were open for engagement, and the following hirings have been effected : —Three ploughmen at £52 per year, one female servant at £3O per year-, two at £36, and two at £4O, all found.

There has been very little in the way of immigration during the past month. Only 119 by the Dallam Tower, 95 of whom were sent to Invercargill and Eiverton.

A melancholy case of sudden death occurred at Invercargill. Mr. H. G. Boss, a well-known merchant here, had been spending the day at The Bluff, and when the train started thence at four o’clock, he appeared to be in his usual health and spirits. He seemed to drop off to sleep twenty minutes before the train reached town, and little notice was taken of him by those in the same compartment. On the arrival of the train it was found he was dead. The cause is supposed to have been an apopletic fit. Hr. Barr, C.E., arrived in Tokomairiro yesterday, says the Bruce Herald of the 30th March, and this morning will commence a survey of a branch line to Tokomairiro coalfield, as ordered by the Provincial Council at its last sitting.

Judge Gray, better known as Wilson Gray, died at noon on April 4, at Lawrence. He was born in 1813, arrived in Dunedin in 1862, remained two years on the Barrister’s roll of the Supreme Court, and then accepted office as District Judge. He was universally respected, and died without leaving an enemy.

CANTERBURY. A large bulb is now in full bloom in the Rangiora tea gardens ; it has a thick stem, about fifteen inches high, at the top of which it throws out forty-four spikelets about twelve inches long, with a red flower at the extremity of each, and altogether has a very handsome appearance. This is the fourth time of flowering in sixteen years. The bulb would weigh about five pounds. About a quarter to eight o’clock yesterday morning, says the Lyttelton Times of the 2nd inst., a laborer named George Sharkiss, while in the Acclimatisation Gardens, observed the body of a man lying in one of the small lagoons. Assistance being obtained, the body was taken out of the water, and life was found to be quite extinct. Subsequent inquiries proved that the deceased, whose name was Edward Silton, a laboring man from the Bays, had been under treatment in the hospital for typhoid fever, and escaped from there while in a state of delirium on the previous evening. He was observed going to the water-closet about 7 p.m. by another patient named Charles Clifford, and he apparently got out through a small window' into the hospital yard, whence he must have wandered into the Acclimatisation Gardens, fallen into the lagoon, and been drowned. During yesterday afternoon an inquest w’as held at the hospital before Dr. Coward and a jury, of whom Mr. Gavin w r as chosen foreman. Evidence in accordance with the facts stated above was given, and the jury returned a verdict of “ Accidentally drowned.” A sad accident has happened at the Screw Pile Jetty to a lad named James Weir. It appears that he with his mother and family had taken a passage on the s.s. Beautiful Star for Dunedin. Mrs. Weir finding that a portion of the luggage required an extra rope, she sent the unfortunate lad to purchase one. On returning the steamer was still discharging her cargo, and as he passed between two of the trucks a number of boards fell out of the slings and struck the boy to the ground. On being taken up blood w T as flowing from his nose, mouth, and ears, and on examination it was found that he had sustained a compound fracture of the right ankle. On the sth instant, about five o'clock, a fire broke out on the farm of Mr. Hight, near the Racecourse Hill, destroying about 1000 bushels of grain, and a combine and elevator belonging to Mr. J. Franks, of West Melton. The machine w r as set between the stacks, and there w'ere 150 bushels threshed out, when it was noticed that the top of one of the stacks nearest the engine was on fire, and endeavors were made to extinguish it. The man employed as bond-cutter jumped from the combine to the stack, and tried to check the fast-spreading flames, but it was soon found that his efforts were unavailing. Mr. Franks and his men, as if with one accord, then made for the engine, hitched the only horse in, and with one bold effort, completed the rescue. They then made for the combine. Unfortunately, as they were turning it, the wheels became locked, the delay enabled the fire to take hold, and the combine was destroyed. Mr. Hight saved the 150 bushels that w r ere threshed. Mr. Franks estimates : his loss at between £3OO and £4OO. None of the property consumed was insured. Malvern Hill coal, of excellent quality, is now being sold in Christchurch, and efforts are being made to form a coal-mining company on a large scale. The railway to Whitecliffs, the principal coal district in Malvern Hills, will shortly be completed. The City Council of Christchurch has applied to the Provincial Council for a grant of £IIO,OOO, payment to be extended over three years, as that amount is necessary to carry out new works absolutely required in the city, and the rates are only just sufficient to keep the streets, &c., in repair. If the Provincial Council refuses this grant, then a previous application for auctioneer and publicans’ license fees and dog-taxes collected in the city to be handed over to the City Council, is to be renerved.

The Hon. Watts Eussell died on. April 3rd of inflammation of the bowels, after a short illness.

In the Provincial Council on April 7th, the auditor’s report was laid on the table, and found to practically confirm the statements of the Secretary of Public Works as to the profit of the railways. This removes all ground from under the feet of those who have so loudly declaimed against the management of the railways during the past nine months; and the Press, which has attacked the Secretary of Public Works in a series of strong articles, charging him with maladministration, publishes an apology this morning. The article commences by saying—“ We publish in another column the report of the Provincial Auditor on the railway accounts. That it has occasioned the greatest possible surprise, we admit, without hesitation, as it establishes beyond dispute, from a quarter whence we had every reason to expect verification of the statements we have made, all want of justification of our strong animadversion on the railway management of Mr. Maude. In fact, we have been misled into a wrong course of criticism, and into doing great injustice to that gentleman and his colleagues in the present Executive. Before writing one word of explanation of the attitude we have taken, we wish most unreservedly to withdraw the charges we made against Mr. Maude, of having brought by maladministration the railways of the province from a state of prosperty to one of insignificant value. We are sincerely grieved at having been so mistaken, and can only hope Mr. Maude’s public work has not been embarrassed, nor his feelings hurt, by what we frankly own to have been unjust criticism on our part.” THE PKOVINCIAL COUNCIL. Christchurch, Eriday night. The session of the Provincial Council was opened this afternoon. The Superintendent delivered a long speech. He said they had still cause to be satisfied with the progress the province is malting in the enlargement of industries, and increase of population, and extended means of communication. On the whole, an additional area of not less than 90,000 acres had been brought under cultivation during the past year. Various causes had contributed to diminish the sales of waste lands during the past few months. One principal cause was, no doubt, the higher price of money which had recently obtained. The estimated receipts for the nine months ending March 31 had not been realised by a sum of about £40,000. Considerable progress has been made in the construction of harbor works at Lyttelton, and the steam dredge authorised by the Council had been contracted for and was now ready for despatch from Glasgow. A careful survey of the liarbor at Timaru was made by Mr. Eliott, the engineer sent for from England. About fifty-three additional miles of railway have been opened for traffic during the last nine months. The length of line open on Ist July, 1874, was about sixty miles ; at the present time there were nearly one hundred and thirteen miles, thus it would be seen that the length of line open for traffic had been nearly doubled during nine months. Immigration to this province has been actively promoted during the past year, and notwithstanding the difficulties attending arrival of a large number in the depth of winter they have, hitherto been readily absorbed by the indus-

tries of the colony. I am of opinion that it would be unwise to repeat the introduction of any considerable number at that season of the year. During the past year twenty-six immigrants ships arrived at Lyttelton, conveying 10,098 immigrants for this province, of whom 1120 were nominated in the colony, and joined their friends on arrival. Included _in the above number are upwards of 1704 married men with families—a large proportion of whom are agricultural laborers from the Midland and Southern Counties of England. The whole of these immigrants, with few exceptions, have been readily and naturally absorbed. New' depots have been built during the year at Waimata, Timaru, Ashburton, Southbridge, Akaroa, and Rangiora, and a depdt for the accommodation of convalescent patients from the quarantine station has been erected on Quail Island ; 129 cottages have been erected and placed under the control of the several road boards, besides several groups of sod huts in the southern part of the province. I take this opportunity of expressing the satisfaction which it has given me to observe the generally suitable character of the immigrants who have arrived. The necessity for increased expenditure for drainage and other sanitary purposes is pressing itself on the attention of governing bodies in the centres of population, and their requirements will, no doubt, be ( considered by you. The liberal provision made by you for education has produced most satisfactory results during the past year. The number of children attending the district schools in the province during the quarter ending 30th September, 1874, was 10,136, showing an increase of 2441. You will be asked to make further liberal provision for the current year. A Bill to amend the present Ordinance will be submitted to you.” The Secretary of Public Works laid a statement on the table to the effect that the railways had yielded a profit of £20,000 during the past nine months.

NELSON. A fire broke out on Saturday,” March 20, in Everett Bros, drapery establishment in Bridge-street. The premises and stock were entirely consumed. The loss is estimated at £5500. The insurances on the stock are ; Norwich Union, £IOOO ; Victoria, £1000; Standard, £IOOO. The building is insured in the Liverpool, London, and Globe for £6OO. Stock to the value of £2OO was saved, but much damaged by fire and water. The adjoining premises were saved. The origin of the fire is unknown. The men had left the shop twenty minutes before the alarm was given. Two dead bodies have been found on the Sand Spit, on which an inquiry was held by Mr. Davidson, J.P. Several portions of a wreck were also found, and articles of clothing and the body of a large black and white retriever dog. It is quite possible that these are portions of the same wreck reported from West Wanganui on March 20tli; but the lighthouse-keeper at the Spit thinks the vessel to which they belonged must have been from 200 to 400 tons burden, whereas the other wreck was estimated at not exceeding 100 tons. On the morning of March 19th the lighthousekeeper saw a barque and two brigantines standing towards the north, and one barque, hull down, standing up Blind Bay. The barque standing north was painted black, with a broad red streak.

The Mokihinui correspondent of the Westport Times states that some prospectors in the locality of Maori Creek have found a few little nuggets of gold, varying from nine pennyweights, but the roughness of the country and the very high cost of provisions render prospecting unremunerative as well as difficult. The Nelson Mail states that the hop harvest there, this season, has been one of the most successful character. MARLBOROUGH.

We learn that the railway works are progressing rapidly towards completion, so far as permanent way is concerned. Just now, however, there is such a scarcity of sleepers that the men are unable to get on as fast as they could desire. We believe the first freight to be carried on the line will be the materials for the railway bridge over the Opawa. There is no tidings yet as to when the tenders for the extension of the line are to be called for. We notice that' two openings or water-ways are being made, one near Palmer’s bridge, and another opposite Parish's at Grove Town. A private telegram in Blenheim conveys the pleasing intelligence that the Wairau horses have done pretty considerably at Greymouth. In addition to the £242 won by him on the first day, Guy Eawkes won the Goldfields Handicap of £125, and the Stewards’ Handicap of £3O. The latter was a very tight race between Yatterina, with Bst. Slbs., and Guy, carrying 7st., Septimus third. Tambourini was the fourth horse on the first day, and was scratched for all engagements on the second day. The Consolation, won by Magenta, was worth £2O. There is a vacancy in the representation of Picton in the Provincial Council, in consequence of the resignation of Mr. Jeffreys, who is going to England. Messrs. Western and Chaytor have issued addresses, and rumor says Mi - . Godfrey will also be a candidate. WESTLAND. Prom the Hokitika Evening Star we learn that intelligence had arrived there that gold had been struck in another shaft at the new rush in the Kanieri district. The shaft is not bottomed, but the washdirt was struck at a depth of 10ft. The prospect is from a grain to a grain and a half to the dish. The claim is on lower ground than the prospectors, and there is a great deal of water to contend with. The prospectors are engaged in putting in a tunnel to their shaft. The length of the tunnel when completed will be about 150 feet. The rest of the claims marked out have been merely shepherded up to the present time, but a third party have decided to sink their shaft day and night. The depth will probably be about 120 ft., and the shaft will require to be slabbed all the way down. The 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. The backbone is perfect, with the tail attached, the latter still covered with skin, the fins also are in a nearly perfect state, and the head 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.