INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7371, 19 November 1898, Page 1

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

(BY TELEGRAPH.) (FEB PKESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON. November 18. Mr J. R. Blair was re-elected Mayor of Wellington unopposed. : ■' It is understood that the Government has promised to grant the New Zealand Rifle Association the usual concessions for next meeting; which begins at Wanganni on the 23rd of February, 1899. It is expected this wili be the last meeting of the Association under its present management; the" Com' mandant of the Forces having recommended the discontinuance of the usual grant, and the allottment of money so voted under a. new plan, viz., that it be divided for shooting purposes amongst the various districts, tabe competed, for by the volunteers only. The Association has a large liability to meet, for which the trustees—Majors Somerville, Collins, and M'Donald-are personally responsible, but if this meeting-turns put as successful as is this debt will be At the opening of the new season's wool safes' to-iday catalogues .yrere by the various brokers for only some 550 baleß ad against 1200 bales offered last year, the broken weather and unfavorable prospects as to prices likely to rule hindering growers from offering their clips. There was a, moderate attendance of buyers, and it was evident they were-prepared to operate freely for any fine wools, but only low limits for ; the medium and coarse crossbreds. Top price for medium and ooarse crossbreds was( 64d, as against 7d last year. Bush stained -clips' realised from 4Jd - to 5Jd compared, "with the opening sales of last yeir. The following changes were noted : Crossbreds, good, last year 7d to 7£d, to-day sfd to 6£d; inferior, 6Jd to 7d last year,- to-day 5Jd to 6d ; lot stained and inferior 6d to 7d, to-day: 6d to 7id ; halfbred 5d to 6d, to-day 4Jd to, Sid, This shows a fall in crossbreds of say id, and an advance in halfbreds of id to |d.; It has been raining torrents all night. Shortly before midnight word reached town that the Hutt river was rißing rapidly, ana at 11 p.m. there were 3ft of water on the

main road at the Lower Hutfc. No further particulars are available to-night. As, the outcome of the alleged selling of bogus programmes at the recent Otaki laces, a man named Henry Solomons was arrested to-day on a charge of forging the name of the Secretary of the Otaki itacing Club to the programme, which purported to be the official program nee for the meeting. Be was remanded till Wednesday next, j A case of colonial interest, as affecting the i relations between racing clubs and bookmakers, was argued in the Supreme Court in banco this afternoon, before the Chief Justice. It was an appeal from the decision of Mr Kenny, S.M., who convicted George Champion, a bookmaker, and fined him L 5 and costs for having trespassed upon the Hutt Park racecourse on the 24th January last.. The stewardi of the Wellington Racing Club notified by advertisement on January 17 that no bookmakers would be admitted within the racecourse enclosure. Champion, however, went upon the course, and was warned off by authority of the stewards, and subsequently prosecuted and fined. The defence to-day was that the Wellington Racing Club, who were the lessees of the course, had no statutory power to evict any member of the public from the course. His Honor reserved judgment. A terrific thunderstorm, accompanied by exceptionally vivid lightning and torrents of raiu,"passed over the city about 5 o'clock this afternoon. November 19. During October 1894 men were employed by the Survey department, 1319 on railway works under the co-operative system, besides 179 on other works. The Premier was entertained at a banquet at Eltham last night. There was a large attendance, and the function was a most successful one.

DUNEDIN. November 18, During the voyage from London of the barque Waitangi an apprentice named Cutes, while loosening the foretopsail, fell to the deck, and was picked up quite dead. He was buried at sea. Application was made to Mr Jcsticp Pennefather in- Chambers to have a day fixed for the filing of the report of the liquidator in re the alter Guthrie companies, rendering same available for use. Bis Honor said he considered the report should be shown to the other parties concerned before it was made public. This had been done, and Mr Guthrie was preparing a reply. There must be a limit, and his Honor ordered the report to bo filed on Thursday, 24th inst.

John Shaw Smellie, late of Perth and Coolgardie, and subsequently of Adelaide, was brought up and charged that on August last, being indebted to W. H. Bassey, of Adelaide, in the sum of L 49 7s 6d, he did quit the colony , of South Australia with intent to defraud. A remand for seven days was granted, bail being allowed in LIOO. November 19.

In the matter of the dispute between the Tailoresses' Union and master tailors of Dunedin and surrounding district the Conciliation Board to-day decided that bespoke work is to be done at an employer's shop and paid at log prices, bespoke work to include all goods made, and sold as tailor-made, but not to include goods made according to chart measure ; unionists to be employed in preference to non-unioniats under the usual conditions as to competency and willingness, The Board adjourntd for a week, to enable the parties to confer as to acceptance of the award.

The police have been busy searching the sandhills at Dallington where the jawbone was unearthed the other day and supposed to be that of Vennell who disappeared in 1879. Dr Symes examined the bone, which was remarkably well preserved, aDd he gives it as his opinion that it is some old Maori warrior. It must have belonged to a giant in stature and man of comparative youth. Several other bones of equal antiquity were found near by, which are supposed to belong to the same skeleton.

CHRISTCHUROH. November 18.

A man named Willian Vickery committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor at Riccarton early this morning. At an inquest held to-day evidence was given to show that deceased was accustomed to have a drinking boat every six months, and was suffering from delirium tremens at the time he cut his throat. A verdict was returned that deceased committed suicide while lemporarily insane from the effects of alcohol.

AUCKLAND. November 18.

Inspector Cullen, reporting to the City Council on two applications for cabdrivers' licenses, said he wished to point out that Auckland was the only town in the colony where men of notoriously bad character could obtain licenses to drive cabs. It might be the correct thing for some A uckland cabmen to act as touts for prostitutes, run brothels for them, associate with the lowest thieves and prostitutes in the town, and allow their licensed cabs to be turned into wheeled brothels, but such conduct would not be tolerated in any other town in New Zealand, and the inspector hoped for the sake of the good name of Auckland and in the interests of law, order, and morality, that it would be put a stop to without delay. Certain parties might blame the traffic inspector, but the writer did not think that officer Was at fault. He ; considered that the blame should rest on other shoulders. The traffic inspector reported that 10 drivers had had their licenses cancelled during tile year. The town clerk explained that all applications for licenses were forwarded to the police for report, and were frequently endorsed: " Nothing known of the applicants." The Council decided to thoroughly investigate the complaint.

IHVERCAKGILL. November 18. The oat market continues very depressed, and values during the past fortnight have had a downward tendency. There is a steady demand for Sydney at reduced prices, and maize has advanced there to 3s per bushel, but so far the oat market has not reaped any .benefit excepting- the increased consumption. Victoria and Western Australia are only drawing small supplies, while the northern markets are apparently able to meet their requirements from stocks. The price offered for Australia leaves equal to Is lOd (sacks in, f.o.b. Bluff) for best feed, and this must be considered the top market value at present. WESTPORT. November 19. While coming down to Westport from Wanganui yesterday the Moa broke down through damage to her Bhaft. The accident occurred off Rocks Point. The vessel bein ej in company with the Waverley, the latter took her in tow, starting at 11 a.m. On reaching the bar at 6 in the evening, the extra strain caused the tow-line to break. The Pareora was just ahead in the river and Captain Christian promptly turned his boat, and went out over the bar to the assistance of the vessel j which he took in tow and brought up safely to the wharf.