INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1561, 29 March 1887, Page 4

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Stud and Pedigree Company, the financial report submitted showed a balance in favor of the company of £20,143. No dividend was declared. Frederick Fountain, formerly a messenger employed by Goverment, was on Friday committed for trial at Wellington on a charge of stealing £ll.

It is stated that Government, with a view of reducing departmental expenditure, have given notice dispensing with the service of a number of officials.

A grass fire has been .burning for several days on the Lytteltoudieads. On Thursday night it approached so near the Pilot Station that a telephone message was sent to Lyttelton for assistance. The tug went out with the firemen, who saved the bouses by burning away tbe grass around them. Soundings taken to ascertain the extent of the siltiog-up within the moles at Lyttelton harbor during the few months since dredging has been suspended, show that in some places three to four feet of mud have accumulated.

At the fifth annual meeting of tbe Canterbury Frozen Meat Company a 10 per cent dividend was declared. A bonus of £250 was voted to the directors. Mr John Grigg was re-elected Chairman. The Back of New Zealand at Hokitika, paid duty on 2255 ounces of gold, valued at £9,o22,|fer transshipment for Wellington to Sydney per Haoroto. Allan Herd, who fell from Freebooter in the Hurdle Race at the races at Nelson on Thursday, died the same night. At the inquest, Dr Creasy said that the cause of death was concussion ef the spinal column. A verdict in accordance with the evidence was returned.

At the inquest at Christchurch on the body of Thomas Lewis, who was drowned in the Avon, a verdict of “found drowned” was returned. It was stated that the night before the body was found, Lewis had called at two pubdchouses, ut one of which he was refused liquor because be was drunk. At the other he got a pint of beer before the barmaid noticed his condition, bat be was afterwards refused drink. The hearing of a somewhat peculiar case was commenced in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Dunedin, on Friday. A man named Robinson sued a person named John Brown for £SO damages for trespass and iniury done to furniture. It was contended for plaintiff that while no one was at his house but his daughter, who was of very weak intellect, Brown had entered the house and attempted to take liberties with the girl. Her brother and another young man on entering the house ordered Brown out, when ha assaulted them, and the furniture was knocked about. Defendant denied the charge, which his solicitor stated was a trumped up one. He merely went to the house to collect money, and, not believing the statement that no one was at home, he entered to see.

At the Court of Inquiry held at Auckland to investigate the charges laid against Color-Sergeant Wm. Power of the Veteran Rifles for endeavoring to raise discontent in the volunteer force and inciting the Volunteers to insubordination, Power was dismissed from the force.

The free library at Auckland was opened on Saturday by the Mayor with great eclat Hundreds were refused admission. Interesting addresses were given by the Mayor, Sir George Grey, ex-mayors Peacock, Waddell, and J. M. Clark, and Sir J. M. O'Uorke. The Choral Society, under Herr Schmidt, rendered choice musical selections. The Mayor was presented with a silver key on the opening of the library. Mr J. M. Clark has presented R. Atkinson’s ’• Knight in Armour" (oil painting) to the art gallery, the first of a series of paintings by colonial artists which he will give. Sir George Grey will present his portrait, by an eminent English artist, to the art gallery. A proposal baa been made to the Wellington City Council to erect and work 300 electric lamps for £IOOO per annum. It is calculated it would save £550 and give double the present light. Ihe Council Im.deferred consideration.

The services of several officers in the Sheep Department will be dispensed with now that the colony is practical ly olear of scab. The Jubilee address from the .New Zealand Legislature to Her Majesty the Queen is now complete, and is a beautiful specimen work of art. It will be sent Home in time to be presented to the Queen by the 20th June. Major Wolfe, senior major of Ist Canterbury battalion, has resigned. A fire broke out on Saturday morning morning at 3 o'clock.in a dwelling-house in Victoria street, Auckland, belonging to John Jones, and occupied by Violet MoPbee. The flames were suppressed very soon after the alarm was given, and the discovery was made that the fire had been burning in four different parts of the house, three down stairs and one upstairs, several articles being saturated with kerosene. Mrs McPbee was arrested by the police, and charged with arson. The Olutba County Council are protesting against the removal of the Harbormaster from Gatlins.

At the Supreme Court, Dunedin, the case Maskell v. the Tuapeka County Council was conc'uded. This was a claim for £498 damages through plaintiff losing his horses, waggon, etc., through the alleged negligence of the Council in not keeping a puut on the Molyneux in good order. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff for £4OO and costs. Mr Barron intends testing the feeling of the House by moving, when the Representation Bill is in Committee, that the number of members be reduced to sixty. Mr Fergus will propose the adoption of a modification of the Hare system, The Silverstream water supply is falling short, .and Dunedin will have to treat with owner-! of riparian rights at the Leith for a temporary supply. Considerable uneasiness is f-lt about the shortness of the supply. Owners of riparian rights at the Jjeith omlc an advance of 50 per cent, on la u t, yoai’s charge.