INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1715, 24 March 1888, Page 4

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Professor Thomas left Auckland for Wellington on Thursday, in response to a request from Government that he should make enquiries respecting a certain disease that has broken out amongst the rabbits at Wairnraps, The Hon. J. Williamson, M.L.0., died on Thursday afternoon at 3.15 at his residence, The Pah, Onehunga, Auckland. Mr Wilson, of Broken Hill, on Wednesday offered the proprietors of the Battery Company at Te Aroha £25,000 for fourfifths of the Company’s mine and battery, and after some negotiations this was accepted. In addition to this Mr Wilson pays £4OOO for the Silver King mine, which adjoins the Battery Company’s property.

John Ashley, alias Jack Carling, was committed for trial at Wellington on a charge of having stolen £29 and a gold ring from Harry Todd. A deputation from Westport arrived at Wellington on Thursday to urge on Government the necessity of rendering assistance in repairing the Buller road. A. W. BUko and Henry Handing have been committed for trial at Wellington for pawning law books, a wig, and gown, the property of Mr J. W. Middleton. Handing has laid an information against Mr Middleton, charging him with perjury. In the Assessment Court, Wellington, in the case of Luke and Sons (iroufoundsrs) v. City Corporation (cl »im for £26,000 for loss of foreshore rights) an award was made for £4BOO, partly in cash and partly in land. Lillywbite’s team of English cricketers arrived at Wellington on Thursday, The annual meeting of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held at Christchurch on Thursday night. Mr John Deans was elected President, The Committee’s report showed that £3334 had been received during the year, and £7029 expended, including £4115 on the new grounds. The bank overdraft was £3695. The Association numbers 141 life and 804 annual members. The annual Ram Fair was held at Christchurch on Thursday. The entries numbered 2144, against 8274 last year. The general quality was good, but prices did not run vary high. The following will represent Canterbury in the coming English cricket match : —E. P. Barnes, W. J. Grawsfeaw, L, A. Cuff, D. Dunlop, J. Fowke, W. Frith, C. Garrard, R. D. Harman, A. L'bbntt, R. Halley, H, R. Mathias, R, B. Mathias, P. A. Macdonald, H, Ogier, W. P. Reeves, H. M. Reeves, W. Stndholme, and F. Wilding. The team is strong in bowling and fielding, but its batting form is not ranch above the average.

At the Dunedin Police Court on Thursday three lads, about twelve years of age, were charged with assaulting another lad. It appears the feud was between boys attending the primary and high schools. The boy assaulted belonged to the latter. In addition to being beaten, the boy was stuck with the blade of a knife in the leg. The Bench dismissed the case, remarking that if schoolmasters were allowed to give a boy a good flogging when he deserved it, without being in fear of being brought up to the Police Court for an assault, there would be less of this sort of thing herrd of.

Steps are being taken at Waipawa, Auckland, Wellington, and other places for the relief of the sufferers by the Noraewood fire. Assistance is wanted promptly. The inquest on the body of Connell at Lawrence resulted in a verdict of manslaughter against James Mcßory, with a rider “that while Connell’s death was directly caused by a stab in the groin, it was nevertheless expedited by the gross negligent and indifference of those about him.” Mcßory admits that he stabbed Connell, but says the latter had first put nim down on the ground and was kneeling on him when be (Mcßory) got his knife out of his pocket and stabbed him. The doctor said Connell simply bled to death. At the Supreme Court, Auckland, on Thursday an old,' man named Archibald Douglas was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for endeavoring to procure abortion on a young woman. The Auckland city school committees have resolved to ask the board not to reduce the numerical strength of the teaching stuff, and to suggest that they should rather make arrangements for reducing salaries.

James Thomas Lee, an Auckland builder, arrested a few weeks ago on five charges of obtainiog money uniter f»lse pretences, was sentenced at the Supremo Court on Wednesday to IS months’ hard labor on each charge, the sentences to run concurrently. At the recent licensing elections held at Waipu five prohibition candidates were elected. A petition, lodged by the moderate party against their return, w'as heard at Whangarei, when the R.M. declared the election void.

Tt has been ascertained that the recent floods in the Waimakiriri did considerable damage to the protective woiks of the river which prevent the water from coming towards Christchurch. Had the flood been a little higher the water would doubtless have come into the town. £2OO will be reonired to repair ti e damaged groins. The Kaiapo' Borough Council have resolved to ai-k ihe authority of the .burgesses for a loan of for raising the river embankments in that town, aud for other woiks.

An inquiry was held at Lawrence on Thursday regarding the fire at Waitahuna, by which a house, the properly of Thomas Scott, was des'roy-d. The evidence was of the most extraordinary character. Some trnods bad been found planted in a hay. stack. Among them was a family Bible, in which was an album. Thomas Scott, owner of the bible, could not swear to it being his when produced in court, Hi« eon went even further, and would not swear to his own photograph. Every article produced he said was like what they bad, but he could not say if it was tbeir’s. He would not swear to a volunteer cap being his. The daughter was troubled with forgetfulness, and it was not till the coroner threatened repeatedly to commit her to gaol that she could be induced to remember. The constable described a large number of articles found in the hayit&fk, including a gun, violin, boxes, e to. The.constable on finding the plant jj \nded the gun and violin to Scott tp Jay vn eafely while he was on the stack, uS when he came down they were gone. Ail three of the Scott family swore that had not seen these articles at the g ack.