LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1377, 1 March 1881, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[NEW ZEALAND PKESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, February 28. A carrier named Affwood was seriously hurt by being jammed between the wheels of his van. He was taken to the hospitil badly hurt internally, to what extent unknown. A number of influential gentlemen held a meeting to-day to confer with the Hon. E. Richardson upon the East and West Coast railway scheme. In the course of his remarks Mr Richardson said the real question as to the issue was not the practicability of Thornton and Browne's route, but whether it was actually the best procurable. If Thornton's line was de facto the best, he could not see how the Colony could refuse to sanction the scheme. Ultimately it was agreed in the meantime to take no further steps in the formation of the company, pending the report of the Government Engineer's survey. It was also determined to collect subscriptions and complete the survey from the head of Cannibal Gorge to the head of the Marnia Plains, and connect with existing Government surveys. Timaru, February 28. The old accomodation house at Tekapo Ferry was destroyed by fire early on Sunday morning. Nothing was saved of the contents. It belonged to the Mount Cook Road Board, and was insured for £250 in the New Zealand office. The dwelling of D. M'Kenzie, an old settler at Geraldine, was burned down on Sunday night. The inmate had barely time to escape. It is not known whether he is insured. Fish, resembling salmon in their habits, have recently been reported to be seen in the Opihi River, and on Saturday a dead one, found on the shingle at the Opihi Gorge, was sent to Timaru. Dr. Chilton, and experienced pisiculturist, pronounces it to be beyond doubt a true salmon, but is unable to decide whether it is salmo salar, the European salmon ; or salmo quimiate, the Californian salmon. The Acclimatisation Society will probably take steps to procure a live specimen and settle this point. Dunedin, February 28. The Dunedin Board of Assessors today decided it to be incompetent under the loth clause of the Property Assessment Act, to determine the capital of

a company for the purpose of taxation by the sum total of all its allotted shares, taken at their marketable value. Other Boards have held an opposite view. NEW ZEALAND RIELE ASSOCIATION MEETING. Nelson, February 28. At three o'clock Mrs Dodson opened the meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association meeting by firing the first shot, which proved a miss. One hundred and thirty competitors appeared for the first match, and the scores for the first range were as follow :—First Match, 200 yards, all members, seven shots— Downie, 27; Hughes, Ross, Cfossman, Owen, Griffiths, each 26 ; Paul, Tait, Furness, Parslow, Laird. M'Kenzie, Best, Ellis, Nutaford, Danglo, Rickets, Somerville, Frayes, Coleman, Thorburn, Thomas, each. 25; Randall, A. Jessop, Howell, Sutton, A. Soper, Wilkinson, M'Donald, Weir, Hoskin, M'lntosh, Lieut. Ballinger, Loveridge, Sutton, each 24 j remainder 23 or under. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Rifle Camp, March 1, 2. 12 p.m. First Match.—Any Member. 200, 400, and 500 yards. Seven Bhots at each distance. Open to all members of the Association. Entrance fee, ss. Snider and muzzle-loading Enfield rifles of Government pattern. Prizes: LlO, L 9, LB, L 7, L 6, L 5, four of L 3, six of L2, eight of LI Total L 77. Ross, Hokitika, made 73, and wins £5 ; Sampson, Kumara, 72, £2; Smith, Greymouth, 72, £1 10s. Linstrom made 69, Watt 65, Paul 65.