NEW ZEALAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2471, 18 February 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

FPer “Times”Speciali Wire.] A Child Massacred. Auckland, Feb. 18, A painful accident happened at Totahtolm, northern Wairoa. A number of telegraph poles were stacked on top of an embankment, parallel with the public road, and five children were playing round the poles. Two were seated under a bank, the other three running round, "when one of them stumbled against the poles, and an outside pole turned over and dropped down the bank, striking one of the children and burling her back, and instantly killing the other, a fine little girl of three years, daughter of Mr Saunders. At the inquest the jury expressed their opinion that the Government were to blame for the careless manner in which the telegraph poles were stacked. Had the poles been on end to the bank, all would have been well. Inspector Typhoid. There are twelve cases of typhoid fever, and one of scarlet fever in the Auckland Hospital. Found Drowned. Wellington, Feb. 18. A son of Jacob Lichtschiendal, proprietor of the Empire Hotel, aged 4 years, was found drowned this morning. It is not known how he got into the water. But it is supposed be accidentally fell off the wharf at the rear of the hotel. Grain for Dondon. Lyttelton, Feb. 18. Sailed —West Riding, barque, for London, with a cargo of grain. Cleared —Ship Waimate for London. A Narrow Escape. The roof of the kitchen of the Vic torian Hotel caught fire this morning, hut was fortunately extinguished before it hud obtained a good hold.

Education Management. Dunedin, Feb. 18. The members of tbe Education Board appeared greatly astonished at tbe statistics furnished yesterday, by Mr Fulton M.H.R., showing the extravagant expenditure on school buildings &c., in the Auckland district, at the expense of Otago. The statement of the hon gentleman was endorsed by Mr Fergus, one of the members, who has recently made a tour through the colony. It was staled that in the Auckland educational district the cost of management in 1879 was os Gid per scholar, against Is Bfd in Otago. Forbury Park. The Forbury Park Company have agreed to sell their rights to the new company with a capital of £40,000. It is intended to lay out the grounds for cricket and athletics, to offer GO acres to the suburban municipalities as recreation grounds, and to improve the rest of the park. Old Times Returning. Thirteen declarations of insolvencies were tiled this week.