INTER-PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1038, 17 January 1873, Page 3

INTER-PROVINCIAL NEWS.

The extension of the railway in 'Canterbury seems fully 'to carry out the idea that railways create population. The first result of the construction of the branch line to the Malvern Hills is the establishment of a new township which promises to lead to the settlement of a large population in that part of the province of Canterbury. "The Canterbury Deep Sea Fishery Company have purchased the schooner Nautilus, 83 tons, and she has been placed on the slip for the purpose of being prepared for the fishery service. expect to have the vessel : at sea in about three weeks. Some fruit growers at Picton, •annoyed by the depredations of pilferers, have hit upon an ingenious 'method -of saving a portion of the •growing fruit. A slight incision is made in some of the articles required to be protected, and in these a small portion of some subtle drug, usually croton oil, is inserted, the quantity ■used being so minute as to prevent any fear of dangerous consequences to partakers, but is enough to cause them to wonder what the 'dickens' possesses them ; and as the incision is almost ■imperceptible unless searched for, the stealers of the fruit have no idea that they are inflicting upon themselves a just punishment. A family at Greytown, Wairarapa, •'have had a narrow escape from poisoning from ealing preserved rhubarb. Severe symptoms for a t'me existed but ultimately they recovered, under the care of Dr Welch. It is remarkable hew people "will persist in eating imported preserves of any kind, when, by a trifling expenditure of money umd labour, they can produce a much superior article. Extreme care should : always he taken that the part next the tin be not eaten. The acid of preserves dissolves the tin, producing in ■some cases a deadly poison. An unusual incident in fires occurred at Invercargill on Christmas Eve, Mr L. Eodgers had engaged the Exchange Hall for a Christmas exhibition, in which a prominaut feature was a huge Christmas tree, reaching to the roof. The tree caught fire and the flames rapidly ignited the woodwork of the ceiling. Fortunately water was at hand, the brigade soon upon the spot, and the flames were •quickly got under. The heat in Otago has been intense during the past month. At Toko'mairiro the thermometer has registered 98deg. in the shade. In Southland also the heat has been intense; and the crops seriously damaged. A correspondent says, the number of bush fires reported throughout the Province on the 24th Deo, would almost justify its being distinguished in future by the name of " Blazing Tuesday." The ' Press' says : —" We understand that the greater part of the -exhibits in the flax court as well as the wools shown in the Interprovincial Exhibition will be sent to the Vienna Exhibition. We are glad to learn that the whole of Messrs. Burns's excellent exhibits of tweeds and hosiery have been purchased by the Colonial Government especially to be sent to Vienna, as also a special case of Webley and Co.'s Nelson tweed", now being packed by that firm at Nelson. There will also, most likely, be a large selection made of the minerals exhibited." At a meeting of commercial travellers, held at the Empire Hotel, Dunedin, Mr Goldsmith in the chair ; it was resolved that the commercial travellers •connected with the City houses should dine together for the purpose of meeting some of their old friends, and discussing the desirability of forming a Commercial travellers' Sooiety. A committee, consisting of Messrs Lockley, Engel, Dixon, Coates, and Davie was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. A publican in Cromwell was recently charged with committing a breach of the Licensing Ordinance by permitting a man to remain drunk on bis premises for a fortnight and supplying him witb liquor. The man was at length reduced to such a state that medical aid had to be obtained; but, owing to an informality in tho information, the caso was dismissed. The * Lyttelton Times' of the 3rd instant reports:—" Ahout six o'clock on Wednesday evening the mill and

sheds belonging to Mr C. "Whithall, and used for the preparation of flax fibre, were destroyed by fire. Mr Whithall and his men being out barvesitng at the time of the fire, there was no one on the premises, and its origin is entirely unknown. There was a large quantity of fibre in the mill, and as Mr "Withall was uninsured he will lose between £7OO and £800."