LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1179, 26 May 1874, Page 4

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[fbom ot/b own coebespondent.] NELSON. May 22. The Provincial to-day, Friday, adjourned till Tuesday, iu honor of her. Majesty's birthday. The Estimates have been proceeded with as far ; as " Scab Act," a few items having been postponed and one or two Struck out. All supplementary estimate motions have been postponed, pending further consideration of estimates. Mr Donne's Nile bridge motion being the first in order for consideration, and the Four-mile water race the fifth. The Bill for repeal of the Executive Act was read the first time yesterday. Second reading ordered for Tuesday. Mr O'Conor took his seat yesterday." [Per Anglo-Australian Telegraph Agency.] HOKITIKA. May 22. The census returns for the Province, show a total population of 14,823. Males, 9458; females, 5365 ; number of houses, 4974. Chinese population, 898. An Education Bill similar to the Nelson Bill, is being introduced in the Provincial Council. POET CHALMERS. May 23. Endeavors are being made to establish a sailors' home here. A persistent system of crimping having been carried on for some time. DUNEDIN. May 22. In the Provincial Council last night Mr Stout's motion for appointment of Dunedin Harbor Trust, with power to borrow £150,000 to deepen the harbor, was carried, after a long debate. A deputation from Lawrence waited on the Superintendent to ask consideration of a petition requesting the expenditure of about £IO,OOO for water channel to facilitate mining operations. The Superintendent promised to bring the matter under tho notice of the Executive. May 23. The Times publishes two telegrams from Judge Ward to the Hon. J. Vogel, dated April, asking him to suspend Judge Chapman until the meeting of the General Assembly, and send Judge Johnston down to try the case, Macassey v. Bell, on the ground that Chapman is an interested party, because his son is partner with Macassey, and he himself is godfather of Macassey's child. WELLINGTON. May 22. During the last year, according to report of the Commissioner of Annuities, there were 1400 proposals for life insurance, which amounted to £547,800, of these 309 were rejected, representing £120,750. The gross annual income of the department was increased £16,429. There were nine claims on the fund amounting to £2BOI. May 23. The New Zealand Steam Shipping Company have advertised their fleet of steamers for sale by public tender. Private advices from New Caledonia re the escaped Communists state that Eochfort was on the Presquil Duco, and that Jouard was employed in a butchery as cashier, his accounts being correct to a centime before he left. Grousset was employed at Sohn's circular saw establishment as architect, and was prepariug a plan of a new theatre in Sydney for exhibition. He left a letter for his employer, thanking him for his kindness, and stating that he had taken his plan of the theatre and would see that it was in the exhibition at Ilnow. A convict was guillotined for striking an officer, and another was condemned for the same offence. At Oubachee, a man named Bateman, late of New Zealand, shot the commandant for trying to elope with a girl, at one time a barmaid at the Greyhound Hotel, Auckland, who lived with Bateman as his wife. It was expected that Bateman would get off with three months' imprisonment. The commandant lived two hours after being shot. Letters have been found from him enclosing poison to the girl to give to Bateman. H.M.S, Pearl arrived at Noumea on the 23rd April, and was to leave on the 27th.