NEW ZEALAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2126, 15 January 1880, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[PeE" Times” -Special Wire.] . A Beseigcd Contractor. Auckland, Jan. 15.—Large numbers of tlic late employees of Dempsey, contractor, who has failed in the railway reclamation contract, obtained judgment for their wages at the H.M. Court to-day. Destruction of a Cottage. Gkahamstown, Jan. 15. —A tworoomed' cottage occupied by a miner named John Inch,with his mother and his young brother, was destroyed by lire last night. .When the house was first 'seen it was all in flames, and before anything could be saved the house and its contents were burned to cinders. It is believed the tire occurred through a candle having been left burning. Working Men’s Club. Wellington, Jan. 15. —The halfyearly meeting of the Working Men’s Club was held last night, when the report and balance sheet showed a satisfactory result. Volunteer Inspection. Colonel Scratchley inspects the whole of the Wellington Yoluntccrs to-night. A Valuable Cargo. The ship Zealanclia cleared for London this morning, with a cargo valued at £71,392. Acclimatisation News. Cheistchukch, Jan. 15,—The Secretary of the Acclimatisation Society received the following list of birds shipped for Waimate in charge of Mr H. Bills, who left Gravesend on Nov. 27: —240 partridges ; 100 thrushes ; 40 yellow hammers; 30 red Poles; 110 bramble finches ; 40 pheasants; 39 crop-bills: 180 quail; 65 siskins; 180 turtles; 10 robins; 100 hedge chanters ; 10 red buntings. No crabs or lobsters were shipped as desired by the Society. During the present year 144 troutliccnses have been issued as against 82 last year. The weather was beautifully fine all day. Bad News from Oamaru. Oamaku, Jan. 15.—'The heavy rain of yesterday lias done a considerable amount of damage to the crops, wbicb in many cases are beaten down to sucb an extent as to render harvesting difficult. The weather is still unsettled. Divorce Proceedings. Dunedin, Jan. 15,- —Judge Williams heard the divorce case of Davidson v. Davidson in camera. This is a wife’s petition for judicial separation. Smart leformers. The “ Times ” tells a story of sly groginformers outwitting the police, compromising with the offenders by takingmoney from them, and then clearing out for Melbourne with over £2OO.