NEW ZEALAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2184, 18 March 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[Per “Times” Special Wire.] Doing- the Railways. ’Wellington. March 18. —The Bailway Commissioners leave for Invercargill to-morrow. They proceed by rail from Christchurch in the afternoon. After taking evidence and inspecting the lines in Southland, they will travel northwards. Black-mailing 1 . A telegram received from Foxton this morning states that Hastwell and McArra’s coach, on a journey from Foxton to Wellington, and when it had reached the road between Manawatu river and the beach, was suddenly stopped by a party' of Natives, who refused to allow it to proceed until tolls for the coach and horses were paid, and also a sixpence for each passenger. The amount was paid under protest, and the coach proceeded. It is understood that the matter has been brought under the notice of the Government. Burglary and Incendiarism in Dunedin. Dunedin, March 18. —The residence of Halliwell, in York place, was entered last night. Some monc} r was stolon, and the building fired. Mrs Halliwell was the only inmate. The fire was discovered by some boys who succeeded in putting it out. Fire at South Dunedin. A lire broke out in Gorman and Johnston’s store at South Dunedin. It is supposed to have been caused by the explosion of: a kerosene lamp. As there was no water, the store and adjoining cottage were allowed to burn themselves out. Nauinanu’s large hotel and hail were in great danger. Insurances:— Barclay’s three roomed cottage owned by Naumann, £2lO in the Norwich Union ; Gorman and Johnston’s premises and stock (premises being the property of David Laing), £BOO in the Colonial. Seventy Bushels to the Acre. Oamault, March 18. Matthew Grant’s hundred acre paddock of wheat at Totara, is threshing out over seventy bushels to the acre. The wheat is a fine sample. There are sevci’al other heavy yields in the same district. Serious Accident. Christchurch, March 18. —A rather serious accident occurred yesterday afternoon, at Austin and Kirk’s Brick and Pottery works. AY. Smith, the builder of the new 130 ft. shaft, was coming down the chimney, and was knocking out the struts, which were let into the breastwork at intervals. AA’hcn about thirty-five feet from the ground, the strut on which his feet were resting, gave way, precipitating him to the bottom of the shaft. Two doctors were speedily in attendance. They found the sufferer severely cut and bruised, aud his left wrist broken. It is not yet known whether he is internally injured. Native Bands Court. The Native Lands Court finished its business at Akaroa yesterday, and adjourned to Southland, where it opens on March 21.