INTERPROVINCIAL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 89, 18 March 1884, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per United Press Association.] Wellington, March 15. In Chambers yesterday before Mr. Justice Richmond Mr. E. Shaw applied on behalf of Alexander Mcßae, now under committal for trial for fraudulent insolvency, for a change of venue to Christchurch on the ground of his witnesses being there. His Honor held that the affidavits before him would not justify granting the change of venue, but if further proof as to the materiality of defendant’s witnesses was adduced he might reconsider the matter. TWO DEATHS BY DROWNING. Captain Oliver of the Koranui, from Westport, reports that at 9.30 yesterday morning, when off Farewell Spit, three of the crew, F. Ahlgren, apprentice, Janies Moir Wright, A. A., (a brother of the second officer), and a Swedish sailor, were engaged cleaning outside of the lifeboat standing on a gangway rigged up for the purpose, when one of the ropes broke, tilting the gangway up, and the men were precipated into the sea. A boat was lowered, and lifebelts thrown, and the steamer put astern, but before the boat reach them Ahlgren and Wright had disappeared. The Swede managed to float till rescued. He said both men had clutched him. THE LICENSING COMMITTEE AND THE CORPORATION. The City Council has refused to grant any salary to the Clerk of the Licensing Committees, and the Mayor stated that if the

Committees refused to grant midnight licenses, the loss of revenue would probably compel the imposition of an additional rate. The foundation stone of St. Patrick’s College was laid yesterday afternoon in the presence of about 4,000 people by Bishop Redwood, assisted by Bishops Moran and Luck, and a large number of priests. The Customs revenue here this week, £8,905, is the largest week’s receipts ever known in this port. Hokitika, March 15. Donoghue, when the jury, after an hour’s deliberation, found him guilty of wilful murder, spoke at some length, vehemently asserting his innocence before sentence of death was passed on him. LAND NATIONALISATION. March 17. Mr. Fitz Gerald, M.H.R., both at Ross and here, spoke strongly against land nationalisation, and said freehold was the best tenure for the prosperity of the country, and what was attracting men to the Colony. He argued that the Legislature should either limit the area which any one man could hold or should impose a progressive tax on holdings above a certain area. He preferred the former plan, but had no objection to a limited area of agricultural land being leased by the Crown, but was sure that system would break down if the attempt was made to push it too far. THE LATE TRAGEDY. Christchurch, March 15. Details of the terrible tragedy at Sydenham show that Mrs. Royal is the wife of a carpenter there. On Thursday she went for a walk, taking with her the baby and two boys 3| and 2J years old. Some people, later on, found the eldest boy clinging to one of the willows in the Heathcote river and rescued him. The mother, with all her clothes wet, was also found without the other two, but their bodies were subsequently recovered. Her mind has been somewhat affected since her confinement nine weeks ago. She is supposed to have thrown the children in, but she gives contradictory statements, saying at one time they fell in, and then again that she does not know how they got into the river. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, Mrs. Royal was formally charged with the murder of her two children by drowning them in the river Heathcote, but at the request of Inspector Pender the case was adjourned. The accused is under medical supervision at the hospital. She passed a quiet night, and appears to be quite calm, but has made no reference to the death of her children. The eldest boy, who was rescued in an exhausted state, is now out of danger. March 17. At an indignation meeting of farmers and merchants held to protest against the new railway tariff, about sixty were present, including a number of members of the House of Representatives. Resolutions were passed condemning the new tariff, and asking for its suspension till Parliament meets, and steps were taken to promote the agitation over the whole district. Wyatt’s shop and bakery at Akaroa have been burned. They were insured in the New Zealand for £3OO. PROBABLE RESIGNATION OF MR. I. WILSON, M.H.R. It is understood that Mr. Isaac Wilson M.H.R. for Kaiapoi, will resign his seat this month, and it is reported that Sir W. Fox will be asked to become a candidate for the vacancy. The Hon. E. Richardson is also mentioned as a certain candidate if Mr. Wilson resigns. INCENDIARISM. Yesterday evening two separate fires, at short intervals, were discovered at Klingenstein’s Hotel, evidently the work of an incendiary. The proprietor extinguished them just in time to prevent a serious conflagration. The Lyttelton Tinies is published for the first time from the new building just erected at a cost of £BO,OOO. To commemorate the event, a facsimile of the first copy of the Lyttelton Times, published on Jan. 11, 1851, and an illustration of the new building is published with this morning’s issue. E. Ford states he has discovered a copper lode 16 feet thick, near Whitecliffe Railway Station, Malvern district. The copper was exposed by a landslip.

SWEEPING POLICY. Djnedin, March 14. Mr. Bathgate, M.H.R., has addressed his constituents on suggestions in reference to the present distress. He urged that there should be complete financial separation between the two Islands, abolition of centralised Government, appointment of resident Ministers in several parts of the Colony, abolition of party Government, election of Ministers by districts, appointment of the Premier by each Parliament: also, the issue of a Government paper currency, the formation of class banks, and reform and retrenchment in the Civil Service. The Hon. W. H. Reynolds, M.L.C., while differing from many of the views enunciated, proposed a vote of confidence in Mr. Bathgate as a member, which was carried. The School Committee, by four to two, rejected M. W. Green’s motion to confer with the teachers to ascertain if they would conduct public Bible reading classes. The Kaitangata Coal Company have declared a dividend of ten per cent. LARGE SHIPMENTS OF FROZEN MUTTON. March 17. The Florida, for London via Lyttelton and Wellington, took 6,000 carcases of frozen mutton for the Refrigerating Company. The Ruapehu will also take 3,000 carcases. MORE DESTRUCTIVE FIRES AND SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM. Auckland, March 17. A fire broke out at Ponsonby road yesterday morning in a four-storeyed shop being built for W. G. Allen. It and the following premises were destroyed:—Alien’s block of two-storeyed shops, his stable and workshop and one of his dwelling-houses, and Hyndmason’s ironmongery shop. H. Gifford’s dwelling was greatly damaged, and a second dwelling belonging to Allen was partly damaged. The insurances are :—Allan, £6OO in the South British and £4OO in the New Zealand; Hislop’s (a commercial traveller, Allen’s tenant), furniture, £lOO in the Imperial ; Hyndmason’s stock and furniture, £475 in the Royal and £lOO in the Union; Gifford, £275 in the South British ; Hazard’s (Gifford’s tenant) furniture, £lOO in the Imperial. J. Ollive, the builder of Alien’s new shop, had a builder’s risk on the premises of £2OO in the New Zealnnd, but it expired on Friday, and he and his workmen lose their tools. A hose-reel and appliances were locked up within 100 yards of the fire, but the city brigade did not arrive for half-an-hour. A house belonging to Deidrick Bartie, a farmer at Ohaupo, was burned this morning. Incendiarism is suspected. Nearly 2,000 children took part in the Catholic school procession to the domain. TAWHIAO’S PROPOSED INTERVIEW WITH SIR G. GREY. Tawhiao, accompanied by Rewi and others, are going to Kawau to consult Sir Geo. Grey as to how they had best proceed to England, whether by America or direct steamer.