INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1071, 13 May 1873, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

, An epidemic of a mild form of scarlet fever has lately prevailed in Picton, and a "great number of children have suffered from the malady.. Mr W. H. Eyes, of Marlborough, has laid criminal informations for libel against Alfred T. Card, proprietor of the Marlborough Press and T. W. Millington, proprietor of the Marlborough •News. There has been of late a coal famine at Napier, the supply having run out. The following, which is taken from the Auckland Star, as an instance of the sacrifice of interest to principle, is as remarkable as it is worthy of note : —The firm of John Boberton and Co. did not renew their wholesale wine and spirit license as reported in error yesterday. The name was on the list, hence the mistake. Wo are informed that the present principal of the firm is opposed to the trade, and has given £lO to the " Society for Suppression of Intemperance." , Splendid samples of Raglan coal have lately been received at Auckland, superior to either the Waikato or lvawakawa coal. At the last sitting of the Supreme Court in Auckland, Mr Justice Johnstone, remarking upon the non-classi-iication of female prisoners said : To his mind, it was one of the most pressing and urgent claims upon the Government of the Colony to have proper penal establishments. He knew himself, from personal observation, the amount of mischief that could be done by one profligate female "amongst a lot of less hardened women ; and their classification in the gaols was a matter which should not be 'overlooked. The rebuilding of the Government buildings, Shortland street and Port street, Auckland, is proceeding. The contract price is £IO,BOO, with extras allowed for stone work. The work is to be completed in 17 months. The goldfields of the colony are looking up again. During the quarter ended 31st March last, the quantity of gold exported was 194,422 ounces, valued at £732,063, while the returns for the March quarter of 1872 showed a production of only 154,997 ounces, valued at £008,022. The greatest increase is in the Province of Auckland, which exported 53,678 ounces during last quarter, compared with 32,587 ounces during the correspondent quarter of last year. There is a sight falling off in the yield from Westland. The Nelson, yield shows a slight increase, the amount exported during the quarter just ended having been 32,204 ounces, valuod at £125,816 against 27 3 90S ounces of the value of £111,632 for the corresponding period of last year. Otago's expbrts are Valued at £301,412.