INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1232, 27 November 1874, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

The Lytteltori Times in announcing the accession of Mr C. C. Bowen to the Colonial Government, says:—The new Minister of Justice is known in the Middle Island as an "honorable, efficient, and experienced public servant," and the people of Ohristchurch naturally think it proper that such a man should be called to a seat in the Ministry. Criminal proceedings have been commenced against a man named MTlroy, who received money from intending passengers, per ship Comet, to the Endeavor Eiver, and appropriated it to his own use. 11. B. Martin, of Duuedin, has sworn that he never authorised the accused to act as his agent. In a report to the Government Mr Calcutt states '•' in Canterbury lately bush land realised £±o per acre." /\ At Christchurch, a number of young salmon have been placed in the Avon river. They will be taken to the Donner river, and confined at the junction of salt and fresh water, with a view to obtaining spawn for artificial hatching. The experiment is being watched with great interest. A travelling dentist in Blenheim adds to the profits of his tour, and fills up spare time, by exhibiting dissolving views and giving Dicken's readings. Mr Hawthorne, Eector of the Buncdin High ; School, is dangerously ill. Very slight hope of his recovery is entertained. He is suffering from inflammation of the lungs. A covey of partridges have taken possession of a farmer's garden in Otago, and all efforts to dislodge them have proved futile. Professor Sale is a candidate for the position about to be vacated by Dr Branley, of the Church of England School, Melbourne. The New Zealand Times says:— "The nearest thing to the sirocco of Sahara must be one of Wellington's peculiar pebble-blasts, when it blows a gale from the north-west on a hot day. The dust is nothing ; that could be laid by copious supplies of water from the hydrants, but the fierce pebble-laden gusts of wind which sweep the beach from Thorndon-quay downwards, are enough to create the idea that Munchausen's "blowing" man has been brought into requisition at that cud of the city." Tho following important notice appears in the N.Z. Gazette of the sth.

instant:—"All sales of Acts and other publications issued from the General Government Press will, after this date, be made only to the Trade throughout the colony. Purchasers are therefore requested to make application to some bookseller, instead of to the undersigned.—George Didsbury, Government Printer." That is to say, the general public will no longer be entitled to buy these public documents at cost price, but must pay the booksellers' profit beyond that rate. The New Zealand Herald regrets' to learn that quite a third of the young cattle in the province have died during the year. One farmer at Mangarie lost over a hundred, and another whose name has been mentioned to us has lost thirteen head, the whole of his young cattle. A disease something like, if not influenza, we are informed has been very prevalent among them, and has proved fatal in many cases. The Dunedin Star says : —The question of the abolition of the North Island Provinces is opening up several subjects that, but for that proposition, might have slumbered. Amongst them is the manner in which the land of the colony is dealt with by Provincial Councils. We have pointed out many times in the course of those stormy sessions occupied mainly with discussions on the land question, that it was impossible the regulations adopted could be considered final, as two sections of the community only were considered in the matter : the farmers and the graziers. These two, being the majority of the Council, set up a sort of faction fight on the subject, and dealt with the question of property in land as if they were the only parties interested. It seems to have been overlooked that there is a third and large class who should equally be considered—those who neither own nor lease land, but make their livings by trade or labor. The employees on the Brunner railway contract have signed a Pound Pobin, contradicting the statements made that the truck system had been enforced to their injury, stating (also that the contractor had supplied them with stores on more moderate terms than could be obtained elsewhere, and expressing willingness to petition the Minister of Public Wooks to sanction existing arrangements. Mr Thomson, one of the Australian Mutual Provident Assurance Company's travelling agents, made the rather rash statement at Coromandel recently that instead of the Government Assurance having any profits to divide, it was £23,000 short. This was telegraphed to head quarters by the local postmaster, Mr P. Tait, to whom the following reply was sent by Mr Gisborne:—" Received telegram. Clear profits when ascertained by actuarial calculation, after deduction of sufficient reserve similarly ascertained will be distributed among policy-holders after actuarial investigation in 1880 (next but one), and henceforward every five years. Balance to credit of department on 30th July last was £G7,105 9s Bd. Income for last financial year was £45,734 14s 3d, and excess of receipts over disbursements was £30,303 IGs. New business done last year was the issue of 1499 policies, and receipts of new annual premiums, £18,223 Is lOd."