INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1714, 22 March 1888, Page 4

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

It is stated that the Assistant Riilway Commissioners are not to bo appointed until the office of Chief Commissioner his been filled, which will not be for soma little time to come yet, as the testimonials of half-a-dozen candidates whom the Agi nt-General considers suitable are to be tent out to the Government,

The Christchurch City Council on Monday night adopted the report of tbe special committee making wholesale reductions in the sale ies of the staff. The wages of the town clerk are reduced by £l6O a year, 30 per cent; city surveyor £l6O, 37$ p r cent j foreman 10a a week, laborers 4* a week. The total savings amount to £725 a year. It was stated that the reductions were made solely to save an increasing in rating, and that the officers wore most efficient.

■ ‘ The Lyell correspondent of the Nelson Colonist telegraphs as follows 11 The damage done to the Hoad, lleofton-Lyell to Westport, is something fearful. Several large slips hate taken place during the last day or two, and there is not the slightest chance of traffic between Ihe Coast, Westport and Lyell for months, unless via Reefton. It is estimated that between £BOOO and £9OOO will be required to put tbe road in repair. The matter is very serious for the inhabitants ot this .place, as supplies are very short. There is only about 4cwl of flour in the town. Mr Richard Rseves, M.H. 8., ia round this way, and he came through from Reefton •on Monday morning, Ha reports that all up the country is full of water, and he had to swim several creeks between Reefton and loangabua junction. He is now on his way to Wellington, to bring tbe matter before the Government.” Nine more bench leases have been applied for near Okarito, West O^ust. ■ ' The body of a aeven-days-oM male child, wrapped in calico was found in WellingIda by some children on Monday. It is supposed to be a case of infauticide, as there are marks about the throat.

.A sad and fatui accident occurred at Sandou Hack Races, We lington oa Saturday. In the Flying Handicap race nineteen horses started, and at a nasty dip in the course one horse stumbled and fell, and brought four others down. Three of the jockeys were badly bruised and severely shaken, but escaped comparatively unhurt. Of.the others a.boy Costello, sixteen years, w& unconscious for two hours, and is hurt internally. Hall, fourteen years, was unconscious for an hour, and had his left arm broken, A boy n»med McKeugie, fourteen years, sustained concussion of the brain and died twelve hours after. None of iho horses were injured. The u augural meeting of the first conference of the industrial Protection Association took place at Wellington on Monday. Representatives from Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin weie present. Mr Shepherd of Auckland, was unanU mously elected President and Mr J. Dransfield, of Wellington, Vice-President, of the Conference.

Report says that a Melbourne syndicate has opened negotiations with the owner* of Okororire hot springs, Oxford, Waikato, with a view to the purchase or lease of the springs as a sanatorium. The racehorses Ne-son aud Escutcheon returned to Auckland by the Marotoa. The Tarawera, which left Auckland on Wednesday afternoon, took five Clydes dales bred at Sylvia Park, and purchased on behalf of Mr W. Biroes, a large station, holder and extensive breeder on lbs Clarence River, New South Wales, The Auckland City Council decided on Thursday evening to pay a claim of £3745 preferred by Mr Maguire for extra work in connection with the Ponsonby reservoir, No. 2 contract. It is assorted that the reservoir—which holds 5,700,000 gallons, and the original contract price of which was £l2,l4o—even now is unsafe, though the engineer maintains that the contrary is the case.

Henry Augore, a minor, who had been missing at the Thames for a week, was found dead at Waiomo Crerk on Tuesday, Deceased had been drinking heavily fur some time.

Typhoid and scarlet foyer have made their appearance aruongat several families A the Thames._One public school has been closed in consequence already . On Tuesday at Christchurch Martha Dalzeil, who drowned, her infant eon in the Rakaia on December 20th, w!ie committed for tritl ona charge of murder. She was too ill to be brought before tbeMugis.trute sooner.

There nu a Urge meeting at Pirihaka on Saturday end Sunday, from 1600 to 0000 natives being preient. Te Wniti addrotiad jhe natves privately, but the purport of bis address haa been kept aeerefc. Te White, in an’awer to a European who knowa him well, mated that he would ner«r mop protesting egaioat the wrong* of the M&oris. In answer to the question—“ But what is the use of Protesting," Te Whbi replied—“ Neither ypuhorl can tell what will be the result of my work, but this I know, 1 will hare these meetings and show pauiivs Mfljftanoe .to the Government as long as 1 lire or pntii the Maoris hara got their rights.” Tne natives .yrjio had aeaambled from other parte of ' the ooaiS) began to disperse ea Monday, and returned to their homes. The** w.eye large quantities of provisions for the feast, e.ud the natiyea yisiting Farihaka gave large presepta to To Wbiti. The mote intelligent natives admit that Te Whiti is no prophet and has np miraculous power, but they say he it a “ man of knowledge, " and lie will always hold away with a large bulk of the natiree.