INTERPROVINClAL.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 995, 9 February 1883, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL.

AUCKLAND, Feb. 8. George Rhodes, builder, was drowned this morning at Ponsonby while bathing. There were further successful smelting operations at Onehunga at the iron works to-day. Among those' present were the Hon. Matthew Holmes, Mr Seed, Lecretary of Customs, and many representatives of the Auckland commercial community. A fish hawker named Simon Peter Cundy, dropped dead to day. Archibald Forbes continues to attract brilliant and crowded houses. It is reported from Onehunga that a man named John Cunningham has been drowned. CHRISTCHURCH. Feb 8. The Hon. Mr Richardson, in a telegram to a political meeting at Loeston, says that he conies forward in direct opposition to the Government, and ns a member of the Opposition. OAMARU, Feb. 8. A fatal accident occurred at Ngapara to-night. A man named “ Tom” was taking the winkers off a horse, when the animal bolted, throwing the man down, the wheel of the dray passing over his head and causing almost instantaneous death, TIMARU, Feb. 8. The Harbour Board to-day accepted the Bank of New Zealand’s tender for raising the £IOO,OOO loan on terms most favourable to the Board. C. W. Turner’s tender, at £4 9s 9d per ton, was accepted for 2000 tons of cement. DUNEDIN, Feb. L The Melbourne witness gave evidence in the Massey case to-day, identifying Mrs Massey as the Mrs Allen and Mrs Brown who sold debentures there. The two accused wore fully committed for trial, two additional informations being withdrawn. The bail for Massey himself (who has never been able to find it) was increased jto £ISOO, with two sureties of £750,

SUSPECTED MURDER. (TER TRESS ASSOCIATION.) WESTPORT, Feb. 8. A headless body found at the Ly<dl is recognised as that of Denis Quiniivan. The head was severed from the body, which had also received other injuries. It was much decomposed, and was found at the bottom of an embankment eight feel high. The deceased was last seen leaving the Lycll with a woman on the night of Sunday week. The general opinion is that he was murdered. An inquiry is proceeding at the Lyell. WA NGA NUI REG A TTA. (TER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WANGANUI, This day. sculler’s rage. Braithwaite’s Moa (Braithwaite of Wanganui) ... ... ... 1 Wellington Star Club’s Batkin”'... 2 Won by a dozen of lengths. FATAL PIKE AT AUCKLAND. (per press association.) AUCKLAND, Fob 8. The fire broke out so suddenly, and appeared to have so great a hold of White’s restaurant before discovered, that no opportunity was afforded of ascertaining whether any of the occupants wore inside. Several persons knocked at the front door and also at the back door, but, getting no answer, came to the conclusion that White had got out and was knocking about in the crowd. The police, however, soon discovered that no one had seen White after the outbreak, and as soon as practicable search was made in the charred ruins of the restaurant. The work of searching upstairs was difficult and dangerous, as the flooring was burnt through in several places ; but the firemen soon came upon the body of the woman, lying underneath the front window on her back in her chemise, and adjacent that of a man on his hands, and knees. The bodies presented a dreadful spectacle, being blackened and charred externally, and one of the thighs of The woman had been half burned through. The, body, of the female has been identified as that of Mary O’Neal, aged 40, who got 24 hours’ imprisonment the other day for larceny of flannel. The body of the man was that of George White, aged 45, keeper of the restaurant, and formerly cook at the police barracks. White had been seen about 6 o’clock, last night somewhat under the influence of liquor, and it is feared the woman was in the same condition.

The meeting of creditors in the estate os Thomas John Irwin, called for Thursday at the Courthouse, lapsed, owing to creditors not attending. The s.s. Waihi left Wellington for Patca at half-past ten yesterday morning, but' had not shown up at the time we w'ent to press. The steamer has probably sought shelter from the nor’-west gale blowing.

Oplhalmiais at present exceedingly rife in the country districts of Victoria, and complaints are daily received as to the alarming spread of the disease. The secretary of the local Board of Health at Walhalla has telegraphed to the Central Board that it will be necessary to close the local State school, as no less than 189 children out of a total attendance of a little over 200 are suffering from ba eyes. Although it is not usual to close State schools under such ciicumstances, the Central Board has recognised the fact that the case is an exceptional one, and instructions have been given to close the school tor one week.

With regard to meat-canning, the Wellington Post says :—Messrs J. and H. Barber’s meat-preserving works, which are situated at the corner of Willis and Old Customhouse streets, appear to be doing a very brisk business just at present, and have been, in fact, ever since they were started—about twelve months ago.' As many as 20 hands find employment on the premises, and these are distributed over the various departments in which the different processes in connection with meat-preserving are carried on. Close upon SOOOlbs of meat pass through those processes per day, the material consisting principally of roast and boiled beef, corned beef, and ox tongues. After being put up in 21b, 41b, and 61b tins, the meat is placed in a “ test-house,” the temperature of which is maintained at 130 degrees for a period of eight days; This process has the effect of distinguishing the good from the bad. The latter are condemned, while the former are duly labelled and packed in cases to await shipment to various places. All the work connected with meat-preserving is performed on the premises, even including the manufacture of the tins. A six-horse power engine Is called into requisition to drive the necessary machinery. The workmen are constantly employed, and the establishment presents an appearance of healthy activity. Every advocate of local industries will agree in wishing the Messrs Barber continued success in their undertaking. Anglo-Australian, in the European Mail, writes : “ Talking the other day to a Mark Lane expert, he drew my attention to some of the remarkable changes that had occurred during the last’ 10 years in the wheat trade, whereby the importance of some countries has been diminished, and that of other countries increased. Thus, the United States, which sent us in 1868 only 10 per cent, of our wheat imports, in 1881 sent us 63'2 per cent. Australasia has, it appears, advanced from 3 per cent, in 1878 to 5 2 in 1881, which is pretty good progress, all things considered. It appears, further, that the proportion of English and foreign wheat supplies at present are at 3to 5. In other words, out of every 1G66 loaves eaten in the United Kingdom, 1000 arc made out of foreign r Colonial] fl our.”