INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1023, 19 November 1872, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

Referring to» the recent reduction in ho rate of discount and exchange, the Auckland ' Herald.' claims for one particular Bank the credit of initiating the change. Another Auckland paper denies this, and asserts that the Bank credited with the change had, on account of it, "ruptured all diplo matic relations with another " —had, in fact, departed from the union. Our contemporary says : —" We shall not be surprised if we find the war waxing hot and fiery until touters will be sent out into the streets to force men into the sweating rooms, in which they will bo treated to champagne for giving their paper, and taking out money at discount nil per cent. The New National Bank of New Zealand, capital two millions sterling, is just about to bo launched on our financial sea. We have an idea that coming events cast their shadows before, and that the softening influence of the shadow of this monster institution has toned down the fierceness of our monetary bigwigs." Auckland papers state that Mrs Colclough, better known as " Polly

Plum " intends visiting the Southern Provinces on a lecturing tour durino the Christmas vacation. Mrs CoE clough is now in direct communication with some of the leaders of the " women's movements " in England and will probably therefore have something quite new for her hearers. Bishop Moran succeeds Bishop Viard. Ho has charge of both sees. Some excitement has been caused in Auckland, arising from a member of the Catholic Church, named Preer, having been refused burial and absolution, unless ho renounced Premasonry. He refused. After death the Bishop refused burial of the deceased in the Catholic ground. The interment took place in the Presbyterian grounds. The funeral ' service was entirely Masonic, and read by the Master of the Lodge. Pour hundred members were present. On the following day Pather Norris wrote to the ' Cross,' stating that Freer, previous to his death, formally renounced Masonry, whereupon Pather Norris administered the last sacrament. The body would have been buried in Catholic ground, but that the Masons insisted on holding ceremonies at the funeral, which the Bishop refused to allow. The subject will be taken up in the Masonic brotherhood.

By the schooner Mariner, which arrived at the Thames from the Bay of Islands on Tuesday week, Mr TV". H. Oldrey received a parcel of quartz weighing 7cwt. in order that its goldbearing qualities may be accurately ascertained by crushing at one of the batteries on the field. The stone resembles auriferous quartz, and is confidently expected to yield a fair payable return. The locality from which it was obtained is said to exhibit an abundance of stone of a similar description, and the result of the test - is looked forward to with some in. terest.

A Dunedin contemporary says : " It is the intention of Sir George and Lady Bowen, we understand, to make Fern Hill their residence for a few weeks before the end of the year. On the occasion of tbe Governor's vist to Dunedin, his Excellency will be accompanied by the hon. Mr Waterhouse, who is desirous of making himself personally acquainted with this part of the Colony. This will be the first visit paid by Lady Bowen to Dunedin."