INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1567, 19 March 1887, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Last Thursday night, shortly before 12, a block of buildings was destroyed by fire at Auckland. This originated in an unoccupied shop and dwelling and destroyed two houses and three shops. One house was owned by Piatt, and the other building? by Porter. The total damage amounts to £IOOO,

The cutter Whangarei, belonging to J. Ryan, of Auckland, went ashore at the Grout Barrier island on Thursday, and became a total wreck. All hands were saved.

A Rob Roy canoe, the " Foam," has been picked up capsized in the Auckland harbor and a man's hat was found floating near. It is feared that a fatal accident has happened, but no one is reported missing.

At the Opaki raoes on Thursday, Cribbage during his preliminary canter fell and broke his back. His jockey, Allan, was severely shaken. William Kettle, a Greymouth baker, in good circumstances, left his bed on Tuesday nigbt to set a batch of bread and bas not been seen since. Search has been made but without avail. Ha was a sober man and had been in weak health, but there is no reason to suspect anything wrong, John JacHaon, an old soldier, whom in mistaken kindness the Wellington Benevolent Committee helped off to Greymouth last week, has been taken back and sentenced to four month's imprisonment for robbing his landlord at Maaterton. While the Bteamer Orowajti was abreast of Cape Lambert at 10,45 on Wednesday night a large meteor was seen descending in a northerly direction. It dropped into the sea at a distance of about three cr four ships' lengths from the steamer, causing a great hissing noise as it entered the water."

The dogs belonging to Fryer's Oircua, which were not permitted to Und'at Auckland owing to the quarantine laws, were shipped by the s.s. Wairarapa for Melbourne.

Id reference to JFames Simpson, who disppeared from Cambridge suddenly, the search parties found the slightest trace of him. He had the keys of the safe in Lewis and Simpson's store when he left. The safe haß been opened, and everything found straight. His life is" insured in the Australian Mutual Provident Society for £SOO and in the Mutual of Victoria for 1750 guineas. In connection with the resignation of the Ponsonby Rifles, Uaptain McDonnld tendered his resignation,' and" that' ot Lieutenants Martilla and Palmer, to Colonel LyoD, but he declined to receive

[ them, and referred Captain Mcl)on:'i.l in Lieutenant-Colonel MahoD, th« officer commanding the battalion, as being t,ho proper person to receive them. The litter officer refused to accept them, but placed the officers under arrest. At u stormy meeting of the No 2. Battalion Garrison Band one of the prominent officers was called on to resign, in order that an attempt might be made to restore birmony. Colonel Lyon will hold a Court of Inquiry concerning the arrested officers. The charge is laid under section 174, in regard tn discipline. The sitting of the Court of Inquiry and its decision are looked forward to with considerable interest.

The ship Lady Jocelyn, from London (November 27th) arrived at Auckland yesterday. She brings about 50 passengers, all well. News has been received that three out of four sea lions sent by the s.s. Tongariro from Wellington to the British Zoological Gardens have arrived there alive.

The schooner Marion, Cuptain Larson, capsized and sank in Havelock Channel, Cook Strait, on Monday. She was afterwards raised and found to be undamaged. The Directors of the N.Z. Drug Company have decided not to establish Local Boar js of Advice at the branches. A man named John Scott, a barber by trade, was found dead in his bed at Wanganui on Thursday morning. He was seen alive at 5 a.m., when he had to be assisted to bed, and an hour after he was found dead.

Spurious sovereigns are in circulation in Wellington. A printed document bus been circulated among the civil servants relative to promotions and salaries. The general effect is to cut down salaries on promotion, so as to gradually lower the gross atnouuts paid in that way, and to indicate that in future £6OO a year will be the maximum salary of heads of departments. On Thursday Mr Beetham, the Resident Magistrate, dismissed the informations against the Lyttelton Harbor Board and their Secretary for refusing to allow their accounts to be audited by an accountant appointed by the Audit Office. He considered fin' penal cUuho 222 of the Harbors Act, 1878, would not apply to offences under sections 31 and 32 of the Public Revenues Act, under which the informations had been laid.