TELEGRAPHIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2554, 22 March 1887, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

(united peess association.) Nelson,' March 21. Mr Hurstbouse, M.H.R., addressed his constituents at Upper Moutere on Saturday. Ho objected to forcing any industries by protection, but thought that it might occasionally be advisable to foster some by protecting them for a time. He had hitherto given the Government a general support, but in future he would support them when he considered them right and oppose them wrong. He objected entirely to the Representation Bill if it prpposed to establish an equal population basis town for country, arid predicted that under such condition the stonewalling of the last Bill would be a mere pebble compared to the edifice of obstruction' raised against this. Auckland, March 21.

Shortly before midnight last night a fire broke out in Messrs Ehrenfried and Co.'s spirit stores, Lower Queenstreet. The fire got a good hold, but the brigade suppressed it within an hour. The insurances on it are as follows:—On the building, £2OOO in the United; on tho stock, £8500; and on the plant £SOO. These latter lines are believed to be in the New Zealand and London and Lancashire, and are partly reinsured. Of the reinsurances the Colonial holds £7OO and the National £IOOO. The damage to the building will probably be £SOO, and to the stock from £2OOO to £2500, all the stock on the top floor being destroyed. 1 The origin of the fire is a mystery, as the premises had been closed since 1.30 last. . Woodville, March 22. It is understood that the/ Government is not averse to handing over tho Gorge bridge and tolls to, the local authorities if a guarantee is given to keeping.it in repair, and to. pay the wages of the bridge keepers. It is alleged, however, that experience else-; where shows that bridges handed over to CountyCouhcils are neglected and allowed to go to ruin. For instance, the fine bridge over the Mangahua; it was allowed for want of supervision to get into such a stale that a few days would have seen/the end of it, had not the Minister of Publio Works threatened to'stop the Government subsidies, if it was not properly attended to. He is unwilling, therefore, to give up the .control of such costly work,' as the Manawatu Bridge, without a guarantee, and theredoubt this would be done if the looali authorities were willing. It does not follow that they would obtain any revenue, from it, as the tolls do not cover the expenses of maintenance, and tho caretaker's wages, ' It rained last night, and still looks threatening for.to-day's ceremony, .