INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1555, 19 February 1887, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Two houses were destroyed by fire at Ponsonby, Auckland, yesterday morning. They were both unoccupied, A sixroomed and two storeyed one belonged to Neil McLean a builder, and the other to George Quridney. Insurance £2OO each in the Royal Office. The Auckland City Council last Thursday night resolved to sell the Lock Hospital to the Government for £350. This virtually disposes of the proposal to have a poll of ratepayers on the 0. D. Act, but the matter will come again before the Council. The Wellington Harbor Board has resolved to refer their long-standing dispute with the City, Council to the Legislature. The two bodies had almost come to an agreement, and everything was on the point of settlement when a dispute arose as to the site for the Boating Club’s sheds. The whole matter was only a question of whether they should be built on the Eastern or Western side of Cuba street, and after wrangling over it for weeks the Board have rejected the Councils ultimatum aud passed a resolution to seek Legislative relief this session from the difficulties in the way of harbor improvements arising under \ho Te Aro foreshore grant. Nelson left Auckland for Web lington this on Wednesday afternoon. Major-General Whitmore was passenger by her, as the guest of Admiral Iryon. Mr Bryce, as a leading member of the Opposition, intends speaking atWaverley, and criticising Sir Robert Stout’s speech. It will not be of a local character. It will deal mainly with important political questions from the Opposition standpoint, Martin McNamara, the man found dead a few miles out of Wanganui, is supposed to have broken bis neck by falling ever a cliff when drunk.

Sir R. Stout promised the Dunedio Charitable Aid Board that he would endeavor to frame regulations, giving them eome direct control of Industrial School management. In licensing elections moderate candidates were returned for Auckland City East and North, only one temperance candidate being elected. In the Graftoa, Karapgahape, and Ponaonbj Wards the Temperance Committees were returned unopposed.

The hangman who is to ex*-cir- t .o G;eat Barrier murderers, arrived at Au< kland by the Waihora. Caffrey’s relatives have applied to the authorities to have his body given to them for interment. Owing to rumors thatTe Kooti intended visiting Gisborne, a meeting of Europeans and Natives was held and it was decided to ask the Defence Minister to stop (he visit. The Maoris were unanimous in protesting against such visit. A feeling of intense bitterness against the murderer exists amongst settlers whose relatives were butchered by him, and if he goes to Gisborne there is sure to be trouble,— Later telegrams state Te Kooti baa already been advised by Government not to perservere in his intention of visiting Poverty Bay, and warned if he persists Government would not bo answerable for his safety. Te Kooti’s religions followers are scattered amongst the various districts, and it is these he proposes anxiously to visit, having no wish to go among the other natives cr amongst the Europeans. He has already on several occasions expressed sentiments to the Native Minister similar to those in his letter to Auckland, and showed that ho fully appreciated his position. Of late he has given away largely to drink. A further warning will be addressed to him if he shows any intention of persisting in his design of visiting the Easi Coast. The four Maori prisoners connected with the murder of Nuku and wife were brought before the Gisborne Court on Wednesday. The evidence, as far as it has gone, shows that the mother of the Native who it was alleged had been bewitched told the other prisoners that Nuku must be killed, and the three prisoners decided to do the deed. The principal evidence was from a witness who was asked to join the prisoners, but refused at the last moment. The case was adjourned. Mr J. Naocarrow, late Government Inspector of Machinery, will be a candidate for the Te Aro seat, to be vacated by Mr C. J, Johnston. Bush fires were very troublesome on theeastside of Carterton on Wednesday. A large area was alight and much damage was done to fencing and grass paddocks. Mr H. Wad ha ms' house was destroyed after long continued attempts to save it. The house was uninsured. The application by Mr Pyke to the Otago Land Board, on behalf of five Wyndham settlers, to be allowed to pay up arrears in three instalments, and to get a surrender of their present leases in the meantime was refused. The new Licensing Committee at Dunedin are Messrs Sligo, Hislop, Bracken, Gourley, and Stanford, and they represent the moderate party. At the meeting of the To Aro Theatre and Opera House Company at Wellington on Wednesday afternoon, a resolution to wind up voluntarily was carried, and that a new company of the present shareholders be formed to take over the liabilities and carry on. Either Sir Julius Vogel or Mr Ballauce will-bring down a measure next session extending the franchise to women, for the return of members to Parliament.

At the annual meeting of the North Canterbury Educational Institute at Christchurch, on Thursday, Mr 0, E, Sevan Brown, master of the Boys’ High School was elected President. The contractors at Dunedin complain that the unemployed do not do a fair day’s work and ask the Government to refund them them their loss, £l7O. Mr Larnach told them that it is hopeless to to expect any consideration, though they might petition Parliament.