NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2236, 18 May 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The meeting of the Timaru Athletic Club on Monday promises to be a most successful one. The handicaps were declared last night and comprise a large number of entries. They will be found in another column. At the meeting last evening a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Messrs Jonas, Hart and Wilclie, for disposing of the privileges in connection with the sports gratis, and it was resolved to present each member of the firm with a ticket of membership.

From May 30 the following alterations, among others, in railway rates, will take effect :—A truck of firewood must not exceed 3 cords in measurement, and 5 tons in weight. Any excess over this quantity will be charged as a second truck. Sheepskins, green, in bundles, not exceeding 1 cwt.; if loose or in bales exceeding I cwt., rate and a half. Class B.—Dray bodies : For “ minimum charge as for 1 each ” ; substitute “ minimum charge, 1 ton for each consignment.” All goods and material carried for the Public Works Department will be charged for at three-fourths of ordinary tariff rates.

The final arrangements have now been made for the walking match, for £IOO a-sidc and the championship of New Zealand, between O’Connor and Bowlcy, which takes place on Thursday at Hagley Parle. The distance is seven miles and the match is arranged for half-past 3 p.m., half an hour’s grace being allowed. The umpires nominated by O’Connor, arc Mr P. H. Duncan of Geraldine, and Mr Edward Parker of Elephant Hill. The contest is causing considerable excitement in sporting circles, both in Timaru and Christchurch, O’Connor, our local pod, left Timaru for Christchurch with a number of his friends and backers per Express train to-day.

We understand that the celebrated racehorse Faugh-a-ballagh has been raffled twice over lately, and by a singular stroke of luck his owner scored a double win.

The grain in Dalgety and cVs store at Kaipoi has got mixed through th o tumbling in of an upper floor.

The second ordinary meeting of the Colonial Insurance Companj'i was held at Wellington yesterday ofternoon. The report for the year ending March 31st, shewed premium receipts amounting to £61,780 5b interest on investments, £3,764 18s 5d transfer fees, £lO3 5s Bd, making a total income of £65,648 9s Id. The expenditure was £57,258 12s 4d, leaving a credit balance of £8,389 16s 9d. This added to last year’s balance brought forward made a total of £15,109 11s Id to the Company’s credit. It was resolved to appropriate £IO,OOO to the reserve fund, and to declare a dividend of 10 per cent, leaving a balance of £620 11s Id to be carried forward.