INTERPROVINCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 225, 20 January 1880, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, Jan, 16. The Remuera Lodge of Freemasons have purclied a site on which to erect a Ma&onic Hall, which will be commenced at once. The annual meeting of the Auckland District of N.L0.0. was held in the chambers in Albert street, when the following Bros, were elected officers for the forthcoming year, viz. :—Bro. C; B. Thorne, P.Ix.M. ; Bro, Cann, P.D.G.M. ; and Bro. Jos. Dixon, P.C.S The Order has made most rapid progress in the shert space of two years. There are now two lodges and another is about to be opened and numbers near 500 numbers. Not one death claim has been presented up to the present. A diabolical attempt was made to upset the Wa : knto train to-day, by J ploei ig large blocks of scoria on the | rai s neer the mouth of the Domain tunnel. Tie vigilance of the drivers prevented the success of the dastardly attempt. The police are investigating the nivsterv.

About two chains of railway embankment were washed away on the Kaipura line by the late rains.

'At the Thames a deputation waited upon the Hon, Mr Whitaker, to urge the continuation of the works on the Grahamsti wu railway. Mr Whitaker said his own influences with Government was that of an ordinary Minister, and that as lie was personally interested in the line ho had abstained frnn interference in the matter. The deputation should lay there case before the Minister of Public Works, who was expected to visit Auckland shortly. The first step to be taken would bo to settle claims for compensation. It woul.l be necessary to overcome the obstinacy of Tukukino, and come to some definite arrangement with that chief before tiie line could be proceeded with. Mr Brodie sad a sum of LIO9O would be amply sufficient to settle all such claims. The Mayor said the people of the Thames would he satisfied if the construction of the line to Purin, eight miles, were commenced. The Mayor promised that a statement in writing - should be drawn np, and handed to Mr Whitaker for transmission to the Minister of Public Works. Napier, Jan. 16. _ y Recent rains hove done veiy little if any damage to the cropsThe Jockey Club have decided to adopt the revised Victorian weights-for-age. A fire at Kopua sawmill to-day did damage to the extent of LIOO before it was extinguished. The mill is insurer, in the New Zealand Company. Thfe cause of the fire is unknown. The white fish ova arrived in very healthy condition, and were at once taken 'by J. W. Williams to the Acclimatisation Society’s pond. The Natives at Awaniuj hast Coast, have stopped Haig, the in surveying’ a block of land at Waipu. On t man warned the party off the ground and went away threatening to return with an armed party. Under the circumstances Major Ropata haa written to Mr Haig, saying he had better not. survey for the present. Wellington, Jan. 16At the district Court to-day, Ilemy Best, com scion agent, was sumnioned

by Mrs Moares for L2OO, moneys . alleged to have been received by the j defendant as agent for Hie plaintiff ate fraudulentlv appropriated to Ins own use. II is Honor reserved judgment until to-morrow. The fund in aid of Irish distress i* j teadily Increasing.

Colonel Scratcbley -inspected the whole of the Wellington Yolivteirs lids evening. There was a mm-tcr, numbering at least 403. Owing to the dullness of the coastal trade, the Union Steamebip Company have decided oh laying up three of their steamers. , . Ashburton, Jan. 16. The weather has been fine Until this evening, when a heavy shower tell, ami at about 9 p.m. it still looked very threatening. The Mayor has convened a meeting for Monday next, to take steps towards raising subscriptions for the relief of the distress in-Ireland. It is expected thpt a good sum will be raised here O amauu, Jan. 16. There was a violent thunderstorm with heavy rain and hail, at noon toda?. Dunemn, Jan. 16. There are 7050 scholars on the rolls ot the Presbyterian Sabbath schools in Otago, comprising 3362 and 3688 girls - . Yesterday afternoon Daniel Bell, sailmaker, of the ship Auckland, missed his footing and fell down the main hold a distance of fifteen feet, striking an iron tank in the fall and breaking his right leg. The hearing of the divorce case, Davidson v Davidson, was continued to-day before Mr Justice Williams, but was not concluded. Invercargill, Jan. 16. The scaffolding of the new Law Court now in course of erection in Tay street gave way th‘s affernco ', precipitating five men to the grounc, a distance of 30 feet. One of the men, George Smith is believed to be fatally injured, while two others have sustaned serious injuries. The other two escaped wtih a shaking and a few bruises. The three severely injured are now in the Hospital.