NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 680, 24 August 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Kaiapoi Borough Council. —The retiring members of this Council at the annual election are Crs Kerr (Mayor), Blackwell, and Funstou, who are eligible for re-election. City Council Election. —A deputation of ratepayers waited on Mr W. Dunford this forenoon, and asked him to allow him'self to be nominated as a candidate for a seat in the City Council at the approaching election. Mr Dunford expressed his willingness to come forward. University ov New Zealand. The following undergraduates have passed the University examination, held in May and June, 1876 : Passed for the degree of Bachelor of Arts—S. Solomon, Dunedin, Passed the first section (compulsory) of the B.A. examination— K. M. Edger, Auckland ; 11, 11. Beid, Auckland. Passed for keeping terms of 1875—A. li. Fitchett, Dunedin ; IT, Hill, Christchurch; A. C. Newton, Christchurch. No 9 Co, C.R.Y. - A general meeting of the Woodend Volunteer Corps was held on Tuesday evening, at Conway’s White Crane Hotel agsembly-ropm. There was a large attendance .; Mr H. Hinge, late captain of the company, was voted to the chair. 1 The accounts of the company, especially relating to the drill-shed, as audited, were, discussed and passed, it was resolved — “ That the drill shed and other property of the late company be sold, and after paying all demands on the company, the balance in band be handed as a donation, in equal portions, to the Church of England and Wesleyan Sunday schools,” and a committee of Messrs Morrell, Turner, Brown, and Garlick, was appointed to carry the resolutions of the meeting into effect. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings,

Courtenay Ploughing Match.— The annual district match takes place to-morrow in Mr T. Anson’s paddock, close to White’s Accommodation House, The programme includes five classes, for which the committee offer exceedingly liberal prizes, with extra prizes for the best groomed horses, &c. Teams must be on the ground by nine o’clock, to start at 9.30. The usual dinner will be held in the evening, at the Halkett and Courtenay Hotel.

Poultry Show,—' The ninth exhibition under the auspices of the Christchurch Poultry Association will take place tomorrow and (Saturday, in the Oddfellows’ Hall. From the number of exhibits and the general quality of the birds a very successful show may be anticipated. The pigeonflying race from the Ashburton is attracting considerable attention, and it is generally supposed that the finish will be a close one. Fire Brigade Practice — A full practice of the different companies took place last evening, under Mr Superintendent Harris. The steamer Extinguisher was stationed at the Cashel street bridge, and the Deluge at Hereford street bridge, the hand-engine being placed at the river about midway between the steamers. The two first companies were exercised with several branches of hose out in wet practice, and the latter company at dry practice. The hook and ladder company were exercised at Lane’s mill. The men worked exceedingly well, showing a thorough knowledge of their several positions and duties.

Discovery op Remarkable Caves.— Intelligence has reached the Bathurst Free Press of an extraordinary discovery, in the shape of several large caves containing fossil remains, supposed to be those of some extinct animals, having been made in the limestone country between Cowra and Canowindra. By a letter written by one of the party of four by whom the discovery was made, the following information is derived : “ The entrance to cave No. 1 was accidentally discovered by the party above referred to, when engaged in work in the bush, arid is in country of limestone formation. The mouth of the cave is very large, but the roof gradually falls, and progress can only be made on hands and knees for the space of about 20ft, when there is another abrupt rise, and a very large cavern is entered. The astonishment of the exploring party on discovering this cave was great, but more astonishing discoveries were before them, Entering the roomy space and searching for further openings, they came across a large deposit of bones, about sft in width, embedded in a layer of different colored soil, between two layers of limestone. This strange deposit is about 50ft from the surface, but I cannot give you a good description of the bones just yet, as wo did not like to disturb them. There was one bone, however, which we could not help observing above the others, as it was larger than any exposed to view. It is about 12in or 13in in length, and about IJin in diameter. There are thousands of bones in the heap, and I am sure they are not those of kangaroo. Below the spot where these remains were found there is another cavity about 20ft deep where other bones are to be seen, and there are many other caves leading from the one described. Cave No 2 is described as being in the same hill, and about 100 yards distant from cave No 1. To this cave there is a splendid entrance, which extends some some 50ft or 60ft inwards, when it narrows down, as in the first-mention'd cave, the explorers being under the necessity of crawling for some distance on their elbows and knees. A roomy cave is then entered, but nothing very striking appears. Satisfied that there were other compartments farther on, the party made careful search, but for a long time could find no outlet. At last one of the four discovered a small hole in the back of the cave—a hole ‘just about large enough to put your hand through.’ That hole was, after some trouble, made larger, and cautiously and tremblingly one after another of theparty crawled through the newly-made aperture, and then found themselves in a cave of narrow dimensions. A descent of several feet upon a narrow ledge of ro;k brought them to an opening ‘just la r ge enough for a man to get down through’ —and down the plucky fellows went, and again crawling for 20ft with their faces near the ground, they found themselves in a cave of large dimensions and grandeur. The writer says : —‘ This is the principal cave, as far as we have, yet discovered. The scenery is truly magnificent, the stalactites. &c, forming a very grand sight. The height ftom the floor is eighty o- ninety feet, and there are some twelve or fourteen different openings leading into other cavities. Into some of these we ventured, but from others we were driven by the foul air. The sights in some of them are beautiful to behold. Strange to say, in the deepest part of the large cave there is the same sort of strata as we found in the first cave, and, stranger still, there are many bones here also. These bones are lying abou" 300 ft or 400 ft lower in the earth than were the bones we saw in No I cave.”