PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 2905, 19 February 1886, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

■UNITED CRESS ASSOCIATION, ] Wellington, February 18. Government offer £IOO reward for information leading to the conviction of the persons who set fire to the public ■school, Hokitika, on the 7th of January last. Christchurch, February 18. This afternoon Cardinal Moran laid the foundation of the Magdalene Asylum, at Mount Magdala, Lincoln road, towards which the Maxwell bequest of £2OOO is to be applied. The "Cardinal, accompanied by a lar»e number of ecclesiastics and others, drove out in a number of carriages to the site of the Asylum. On arrival the pat ty was received by 800 school children drawn up in two lines. The stone having linen laid, Cardinal Moran delivered an address, stating that they were met that day to lay the foundation stone of an asylum for the most forlorn of their fellow creatures, a work which would commend itself to eveiwone. The virtue of charity was the crown of all other virtues, and the words of their Divine Master had told them that it was a pearl above price. A collection was made, realising a sum, including four contributions of 100 guineas each, and two of £25. The Cardinal and party left for Wellington this evening by the Rotomahana.

Henry Kerr, aged 13 years, was drowned yesterday evening while batbja, th , e Waitnakariri at Kaianoi. Ine body has been recovered.

„ Waxoanui, February 18. bcorge Fish, a little boy six- years old, was drowned while bathing in the Wanganui river. The body was dragged for, but has not yet been recovered'

Mastertox, February 18. A. settler named Hoffmann, while clearing land near Masterton this morning, borrowed a keg of powder to burst a stump. He was told it was wet and

incautiously set fire to it to test 1 ■ JTe is now minus his whiskets, I( -"| , eye-brows and eye-lashes, and is scalped. His clothes were burned oft. It is believed his injuries will not prove serious.