INTERPEOVINCIAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1207, 1 September 1874, Page 2

INTERPEOVINCIAL NEWS.

One of the immigrants by the ship Carisburn recently brought an action in the Resident Magistrate's Court Dnuedin for recovery of £IOO damages for an aggravated assault committed by officers of the ship during the passnge. The case was a most lengthy one, during the hearing of which the most conflicting evidence was sworn to, and part of which, in giving his decision, Mr Bathgate characterised as flat perjury. The plaintiff, who was an old Indian sergeant, possessing medals and pension for long and honorable service, was awarded £SO damges and costs. A resident farmer in the Tokomairiro district, having for some time back tried very hard to gain the hand, if not the heart, of a few of his neighbor farmers' daughters, had always failed in his attempt. Being advised by a friend to try the Immigration Barracks, as there was plenty to select from just now, he acted on the advice, and presented himself at the Barracks and asked the Matron if she had any single girls that would suit him for a wife. She then, in a most business manner, showed hini her present stock of beauties; he very soon selected his article, proposed marriage to her at once, and was accepted. He went off to a clergyman and registrar, settled preliminaries, and went home with his happy bride. The arrival of the first batch of immigrants at New Plymouth wa? celebrated by a tea and public meeting, to which the immigrants were invited. The welcome was a kindly one, and addresses were delivered at the meeting by several old colonists. It is said that Mr Reader Wood is the moving spirit in the proposal to federaiise Wellington, and that the Government has been opposed to his bringing forward the motion this session, as tending possibly to pro. longation of the business which they are anxious to avoid. The Thames Advertiser says : —The principal cattle dealers in Auckland and at the Thames hove lately intimated to the butchers here that the price of meat must be raised—a very unpleasant notification it must bo admitted. They are very modest to begin with, and propose an increase of twopence per pound, but if the plan agreed upon is at all ful, no doubt the price will bo further odvanced. The fact is that a " cattle ring" lias been formed, and the monopoly of the trade, held by a few persons, is to be abused to put money into their own pockets. The breeders and owners of stock will not be benefited, as the buyers are not likely to divide any portion of increase with them, and the butchers will probably get no more profit than at present. The Auckland Star, of the 12th instant, says :—" The Taranaki, which left the Manukau yesterday morning, was from and to the port of Nelson, in chargo of Mr Evans, the chiwf officer. Captain Wheeler, tho wellknown skipper, met with a singular accident—if such it can be called—iu Nelson, which prevented him accompanying tho boat to the Manukau. While ashore au enthusiastic friend saw i.im, and coming up behind gave tho worthy captain a, friendly hug, bear

fashion. There was a crack heard, 1 Hullo ! old man. I've broken your watch I'm afraid,' said the friend. ' Watch, indeed ! ribs you moan,' replied Captain Wheeler. And po itturned out. A doctor had to be called in, who pronounced that the embrace had proved too much for one of tlio ribs on the right side. The captain is laid up for a time ; meanwhile he has especial reason to re-echo the pro/crb, 'save me from my friends.' " The Otago Daily Times says:—" The name of Fox will live long in the memories of the young ladies who dispense drinks in exchange for sixpence in the bars of Dunedin hotels. The amount of small talk that these young creatures are compelled to indulge in during the day is well known to most people, but as a sensible barmaid remarked to one of our staff, it ' goes in one ear and out at the other.' Not so, however, with Mr Fox and his propositions. Every man who goes into a bar now a days has something to say about the gentleman, whom one of the Northern papers calls ' The Chr-mpion Teetotaler.' Every time a barmaid serves a drink she is reminded that her occupation will probably soon be gone, or jokingly asked whether she is thirty years of age, so that she may be outside Mr Fox's proposed limit. The result of all this is that amongst the barmaids Mr Fox is voted an extremely disagreeable old fellow, while a large number of persons who prefer receiving their refreshment at the hands of a pretty girl than those of a crusty barman, hold similar if not stronger sentiments on the subject."