NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2719, 27 December 1882, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[per press association."] AUCKLAND, December 26. An altercation arose at Flagstaff Hill, North Shore, between John Johnston, of Lake Takapau, and Edward Scotter, blacksmith. The former, after a few rounds, drew his knife and inflicted a severe wound on the latter. Johnston then leaped on his horse and galloped off, but Constable Hutchenson started in pursuit, and captured him at Lake Takapau. On their return to the North Shore Johnßton bolted again, but after a half-mile spin the constable again captured him while entering the scrub at the border of the lake. WELLINGTON, December 26. The weather here is beautifully fine, but very hot for the holidays. One or two mild cases of sunstroke are reported. TIMARU, December 26.

A shepherd named Thomas D. Sneath was drowned while bathing in a water hole in the Pareora River on Sunday evening. The body was recovered. He was unmarried, and is believed to have no relatives in the colony. Heavy rain set in about eight o'clock this morning, and continued all day, interfering greatly with the various sports throughout the district. There was but a small attendance at the Friendly Societies' Sports in town. The rain, if it does not continue too long, will be of great benefit to the crops, which now promises a splendid yield. OAMARTJ, December 26. It has been raining heavily last night and to-day, but the rain will benefit the crops and grass materially. DUNEDIN, December 26. The weather has been wretched since Christmas morning, when a smart shower set in about 8 a.m., and the rain continued all day afterwards. To-day there has been very little rain, but it has been dull and cheerless. All holiday making has been spoilt. The police have received information that Thomas Carey, engaged as a property man with the Jennie Lee Dramatic Company, has not been seen since Saturday morning last, and it is surmised that he may have committed suicide. Some six weeks back he received a fall in one of the Melbourne theatres, from swhich he never recovered, and having been in a state of despondency of late fears for Ms safety are entertained. At the tea given to the sailors in Port by a committee of the Seamen's Rest on Christmas night, five hundred persons were present, and it proved highly successful. At the Police Court yesterday William Drinkwater was charged with attempting to commit suicide on Saturday morning. It appears that he had been drinking very heavily of late, and while in a fit of delirium tremens tried to cut his throat with a razor. His wound, however, was only skin deep, he was remanded. During the passage of the Victor the steward, a colored man, and native of St. Vincent, dropped dead in the cabin. He had been complaining a little previously. The Nelson has thirty-four ferrets on board for the Government. To-day a regatta was held at Port Chalmers, but was not well attended owing to the weather. The yacht race was spoiled by the want of wind, but the rowing events were well contested. The Persian lolly, which was stated to have made several children very sick, has been analysed, and found to contain nothing poisonous, as was feared. The amusements proceeding in the city are the Jennie Lee " Jo" Company and Fred. Maccabe.