PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2347, 6 March 1884, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

[united press association.] Christchurch, March 5. William Farquhar, a well-known settler, was gored to death to-day, at Amberley, by a young bull. He was horribly mangled, and every shred of clothing was torn off. Invercargill, February 27. J. D. Macalister, of the Post Office Department here, died suddenly from the effects of an overdose of sleeping draught. He had been some time in bad health. Nelson, March 5. At an inquest on the body of Charles Edward Bradlock, who was drowned in the City Baths, a verdict of accidental drowning was returned, with a rider that the baths were not properly kept and that there was not sufficient protection for bathers. The Horticultural Show contains a splendid display of apples and grapes. Wanganui, March 5. To-day a man named Brown was found lying on the floor of a house dead, with his head under the bed in which his wife was lying drunk, not knowing he was there. Brown some time ago received £SOO from home. Since then he and his wife have been drinking hard in their own house. It is said they used to get in five gallons of beer every two days. Wellington, March 5. M‘Grath, a well-known boniface who recently failed as a contractor, has levanted to Sydney, leaving his wife and family and a large circle of anxious inquirers. NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING. Auckland, March 3. The weather was again fine to-day, but a fresh Inoeze was blowing dead across the range, and being steady the

shooting was not so good as previously. Great interest was centred in the Union and Marlborough matches, as they were the last competitions before the selection of the twenties to fire the final stages for the championship. Churton, of Wanganui, continued to shoot in his usual excellent form, and increased his lead. He won the champion belt with the score of 298, being 23 ahead of Purnell, of Wanganui. Hughes, of Wanganui, also improved his position, and was placed third with a score 264. For the champion carbine belt there were several changes. F. France, who had held the lead since the opening of the meeting fell away altogether, and was only placed eleventh, the belt being won by Lieutenant Ross, of the Napier Artillery, with a score of 593 ; F. Stitt, of the Wanganui Navals, second, with 278 ; Bell, of Auckland Artillery, third, with 273. RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP. The following is the result of the final stage for the rifle championship:— Churton, Wanganui ... 298 Purnell, Wanganui ... 275 Hughes, Wanganui ... 264 Cooper, Wellington ... 262 Hay, Auckland ... ... 261 White, Auckland ... ... 255 Flyger, Wanganui... ... 254 Downie, Thames ... ... 253 A. Thomas, Thames ... 253 Buchanan, Auckland ... 247 Wratt, Nelson ... ... 247 Foster, Wanganui... ... 242 Giblin, Nelson ... ... 241 A. Armodt, Wanganui ... 241 Harding, Blenheim ... 239 Wells, Taranaki ... ... 239 Paynter, Nelson 233 Kennedy, Otago 236 M'Gonagh, Wanganui ... 230 Haslet, J. H., Auckland ... 218 With the belt, Churton takes the New Zealand Rifle Association Gold Star and ,£25; Purnell, the New Zealand Rifle Association Silver Star and £l2 10s; Hughes, the New Zealand Rifle Association Star and £8; Cooper, £5 ; Hay, Auckland £3. Churton also takes the National Rifle Association Medal for the highest aggregate in the matches which count for championship. CARBINE CHAMPIONSHIP. The following is the result of the final stage for the carbine championship : Ross, Napier ... ... 278 Stitt, Wanganui ... ... 278 Bell, Auckland ... ... 273 Webb, Wellington ... ... 271 Barstow, Auckland ... 271 E. Perry, Wanganui ... 267 Payne, Auckland ... ... 266 H. Dixon, Wellington ... 265 Lumsden, Auckland ... 263 W. Trayes, Auckland ... 263 F. France, Wellington ... 263 C. France, Wellington ... 263 Williams, Napier ... ... 263 Leevers, Wellington ... 262 Gill, Thames ... ... 262 Weir, Thames ... ... 261 Lucas, Thames ... ... 261 Hunter, Nelson ... ... 258 Williams, Wellington ... 257 Barriball, Auckland ... 254 With the champion belt Ross takes £25 and the New Zealand Rifle Association gold star ; Stitt takes the New Zealand Rifle Association silver star and £10; Bell the New Zealand Rifle Association silver medal and £5; Webb, £4; and Parslow, £2 10s. March 4. The shooting throughout the meeting has not been good, and the range is not favorably spoken of by the representatives. The meeting closed at six o’clock this evening. The prizes are to be presented to-morrow night, and most of the Southern representatives leave for home on Thursday. Woolley wins the Carbine Challenge Cup as the highest scorer in the winning team for the Carbines, and Sergt. Taylor the Rifle Challenge Cup.