CANTERBURY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 706, 5 August 1869, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

Our files extend to the 26th July, from which we extract as follows : Earthquakes,—A smart shock of earthquake was felt a few seconds before ten o'clock on the morning of the 23rd July, and a slight one about fifteen minutes later. SPARROWS.—The effort of the Acclimatization Society to introduce sparrows inlo the province, is successful, several of these birds having been seen in the streets of Christchurch. Gold Prospecting.—The quartz reefing excitement is still kept up, and several companies are established, and others about being established. It is in contemplation to form a company for the purpose of thoroughly, testing the reef discovered by Messrs Bowen, Be Bourbel, & Eeynell, and some preliminary negotiotior.s on the subject had taken place. From what the Times of the 23rd July says, it would not appear that the prospects are encouraging : —" We understand that MrStansell, after repeated tests, has failed to discover anv ijold in the quartz brought from Mr Gobbie's. Experiments by other persons have been attended with a similar i-esult. Mr lieynell arrived in town yesterday fron" the Peninsula, and brought with him a specimen of quartz procured from the ordinal reef, which has been given to tke Government for analysis.