INTER-PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1217, 6 October 1874, Page 2

INTER-PROVINCIAL NEWS.

The Wauganui Herald publishes the following suggestively vague patagraph •' We learn that-Wirihana, the Aramoho chief, took lodgings in the New Zealandar Hotel during his recent stay in Wellington, and one night during his stay finding the room getting uncomfortably hot, adjourned to an outhouse without giving the least alarm. The fire was fortunately discovered by Mrs M'lutosh, and wLh some difficulty put out. We presume that Wirihana smoked his pipe iu bed, and, falling asleep, set the bed on fire. A white man w'ou'd probably be charged with arson under such circumstances.

1 hj Act passed during the last session of the Assembly to amend the Bankruptcy Act, ISG7, by malting other pro vision for the appointment of Provisional Trustees, and authorising Clerks of District Courts to preside at meetings creditors, is very short but very concise It repeals the 22ud chuise of the Act of 1807, and provides that the Registrar or Deputy-Registrar of the Supreme Court shall be Provisional Trustee of estates brought under the Act at that office, an 1 the Clerk of the District Court of those brought under it at that office, unless the Governor shall dean it fit to appoint some other person as Provisional Trusted Clause 3 enacts that the Clerk of the District Court is to have the same powers with respect to calling meetings of creditors as are given to the Registrar of tlu Supreme Court by the principal Act. JNo Registrar or Clerk of the District Court is to hear •the last examination of or to suspend or grant an Older to any bankrupt. The Tuapeka Times says : The latest idea for tradesmen in Lawrence who have creditors that are hard to obtain money from, on account of their drinking propensities, is to get a leading member of the Good Templars' Lodge to propose the defaulter as a member of that worthy Society. This | lan is said to l.e unfailing. An alarm of fire recently arose iu a

music hall at the Thames (luring a performance, and the audience made a stain[icde for the doors. Tho Star says: When the alarm was at its height a lady took the opportunity to perform an aerial flight from the gallery to the pit; and performed the feat as successfully as might be expected under the circumstances. It is matter for speculation, however, wbeihev she could have done the same trick without a serious result had the audience beneath not formed a kind of "soft" break to her fall. It would be impossible to describe the surprise of the Pitites in the immediate vicinity of her fall, when they found' themselves "oppressed" with,their lovely burden : that is left to the imagination of the reader. Some men, also, in their hurry to make an exit, dropped from the gallery into the pit, fortunately without doing any damage to themselves or others. The younger branches of His Excellency's family will sail for England in the llalcione, which vessel has very superior passenger accommodation. His Excellency will not leave until on or about the time that the Marquis of Normaudy, is relieved by Mr Cairns of the charge of the governing Queensland. This, it is expected, will take place early in December. It is rumored, says the Lyttelton Times, that Mr M. B. Hart intends to resign the position lie now holds as Mayor of Christchurch, and also his seat in the City Council. At the last official inspection the Greytown 1 titles numbering ten all told, turned out three strong, the cavalry numbering twelve, mustered six. The Thames company appeared on parade with a drunken sergeant and an insubordinate captain. The railway sleepers now being imported from American by the Colonial government, are of redwood, such as are used 0:1 the Pacific railway. They were originally cut for that great line, but owing to their not being of the required length, they were solely rejected on that account The timber proved itself admirably adapted for the purpose required, or for any work where the service of timber is required to be imbedded in the earth. The measuremeut of each is siu by 7in by 7ft. The sleeperi weigh about 50ibs and can be landed in port at the rate of 6d each or thereabouts..

Miller, I<\U.S. lias issued a circular to the ratepayers of Wunguui, the document being headed with mottoes Passim Spargere Lucem; and *'l am demanded of conscience to speak the truth, therefore the truth I speak, impugn it whoso list," and calling upon the councillors to defend their statements that he has incurred an extravagant outlay for water supply to the Borough. The total coal he says will be £10,001) for the best, the cheapest, and only scientific water supply works in New Zealand. A Cafe after the continental order has been opened in Wellington. The room is screened off into compartments and the screens are decorated with painted scenes. We learn (says the Waikato Times) that the p.s. Luna will shortly tow a hulk of about GOO tons into the Waikato Heads, to be used as a depot for railway and bridge material, large quantities of winch will be brought to their destined place by river. The merchants of Germany and Belgiuin, writes the Southern Cross, are endeavouring to induce the squatters of Victoria to ship their wool direct to Antwerp and Hamburgh, instead of pouring every bale into London. They state that not only would more money be obtained in the Continental ports, but that the expenses would be considerably less. There is no mistake about the charges. An account sales for 100 bales of greasy wool realising l.jil a pound showed that the charges in Antwerp >vere £i:) 10s Id less" than would have been the case for a similar parcel in Loudon. The attempt of the Wellington Provincial- Government to sell all the provincial hind they possible can, and at any price to bo obtained, previous to the abolition of provincial rule, is arousing much indignation in Welling-

lon. The old coal workings on Highs' land, at Richmond, have boon recommend d by M.e Dennc, wiio has after considerable labor, clear tho 40ft shaft, and having sunken a few feot lower, has again come to the seam, bul', apuarently, better in Quality thau the upper, of which for the last four years something like a hundred tons have been got out, nnd U.sed in the neighborhood for steam and other purposes. A ton of coal from the newly found part of thesoarn has been sent to .Nelson to be tested at Mr Baigcnt's steam sawing yard mWainiea street. Mr William Hay, of Dunediu, has written to the press to complain of being compelled by the Customs Department to pay duty on a bale of colored double-demy printing paper, lie first complained tiy telegram that the detention was " unjustifiably vexatious." Mr Keynolds replied :—" JTou had bntter pay duty under protest, and forward your complaint through Collector of Customs, Duncdin, when thecaso will be taken into consideration." Mr Hay's rcpiv was : "I decline pay duty. Printing" paper freo. Detention arbitrary, arid tyrannical exercise of power." Mr Uoyriolda repeated:—" You must maku yoiir complaint in writing Collector of Customs. i cannot adjudgo of merits of tho casw otherwiso, an 1 cannot interfere wi hout fuli partieula:s." And then Mr II ay went into ( pi int. " I