TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5538, 27 December 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY). Grbytown, Thursday.

Fine holiday weather to-day. The races and sports at Moiki, near Grey town, were very successful. There was a large attendance of visitors.

The surveyors have completed the levels of three which are considered practicable for a loop line of railway. Grahamstottn, Thursday.

The' annual hospital demonstration took place to-day in the Tararna Gardens. Eire bands of music and 600 members of the friendly societies were present. About 2500 wore in the gardens and witnessed the sports outside, It is expected that £9O will be realised towards the hospital funds. Auckland, Thursday.

Two men named Richard Byone and Henry Browne were capsized in a boat in the Kaipara River and drowned.

About five hundred Foresters, representing four courts, took part in a procession and fete to-day. The Domain was crowded. About 2500 wore present. There was a largo number of excursionists. The day was generally observed as a holiday. Tu Awamutu, Wednesday. Doctor Hector arrived hero yesterday evening with Bewi from the Mokau. Ho reports that throughout the journey the natives were exceedingly friendly, and that ho experienced no difficulties whatever in bis journey overland. The weather was fine. Kumara, Thursday. A minor named Peter Skalon committed a determined suicide last night. He placed the muzzle of a gun in his mouth, with a string on his big too, pulled the trigger, and blew the Bide of his head off. Eighty pounds was found on tho body. It is supposed he was Jnsane.

PatßA, Thursday.

The nominations for the handicap for the I’atea District Jockey Club Races close at. Carlyle at 5 p.m. to-morrow, December 28. .

' Hokitika, Thursday. The damage done by the floods will cost the county, several - thousand pounds. The approaches to the bridges are much damaged and a large portion of the Hungertord bridge has been.carried away. The trafficvby that route will be stopped for weeks. There is no sign of the Christchurch coach, and it is feared that the Christchurch road is much damaged. The flood is down.- The steamers Waipara and Murray have entered the harbor. The races are postponed on account of wet weather.

Large quantities of gold are selling to the banks.

The Waimea water-race is fully employed. If 50 more heads of water were available they would be used.

It is reported that the .storm channel overflowed at Ross and flooded half the town, doing much injury. The holidays were completely spoiled by the continuous downpour of rain.

Christchurch, Thursday. To-day is the close of the holidays. The Foresters’ fete was the principal amusement. It was held on the Caledonian grounds. About 2000 were present, and it was a great success. Oaiiaru, Thursday.

The Kakanui races were held to-day. The weather was fine, but the attendance was small. Maiden Plate of 25 sbvs.; mile and a half.— A. Maokay’s bay mare Musine, 6 yrs, 1 ; IVm, McKay’s b g Shillelagh, aged, 2 ; Watson’s b g Gemorne, aged, 3. Gemorne made the running for a mile, and then fell back beaten. The other two kept together until entering the straight. Musine won by three lengths. ‘ Time, Smin. 9seo. Kakanui Handicap, of 75 boys,; 2 miles.— Mason’s c m Lady Kllen, aged, 7st 101 b; walked over.

Selling Handicap Race,’ of 20 sovs.—Four started. Won easily by A. Maokay’s Jaok-the-Klat.

Publicans’ Handicap, of 50 sovs., mile and a half.—Lady Ellen, 1 ; Blue Peter, 2. They raced together for a mile and a quarter, when Lady Ellen drew away, and won by a length, hands down.

. Novel Race, of 50 sovs.; mile and a quarter. Jaok-the-Flat, 1. Exile and Deception ran a dead heat for second place. Jack took the lead at start, was never headed, and won easily by four lengths. A match for 20 sovs., between Jack-the-Flat and Exile, 2 miles, was won by the former after a splendid race. Consolation Handicap, of 20 sovs.; 1 mile.— Blue Peter, 1; Sir William, 2. Swanson decided to win with Blue Peter. The two horses belonged to the same owner, and therefore merely cantered round. A cricket match was played between the team from the Excelsior Club, of Dunedin, and Excelsior, of Oamaru. The latter won by 3 runs. Balolctha, Thursday. A hoy eight years of age, the son of Andrew Chapman, was drowned yesterday afternoon while playing close to water-hole beside the main stream caused by the late flood. The weather yesterday was magnificent. There was a large attendance at the Kaitangata sports and at Pruarua and Parepa. The picnics all throughout were very successful. There were no accidents. Dunedin, Thursday. To-day has been observed as a general holiday, The Hibernian sports and the Waihola regatta were largely attended. For the New Zealand University examination, which commences to-morrow, there are twenty-three candidates, two of whom are ladies, but the majority are candidates for scholarships, and only a small number for degrees. Invercargill, Thursday. The Volunteer demonstration at Kew was a great success. Over two hundred of all arms were on parade. The sham fight was well contested, and the evolutions were admirably performed. The marching past was very perfect, the wheelings simply superb. A medal worth £3 10s. was presented by Mr. Ferguson, watchmaker, to the best marching company,

which was won by the Engineers. The sports are now proceeding. Over two thousand are present. The weather is fine.