NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2755, 21 January 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mr M. Jonas, the agent in Timaru for the sale of the Wood reaping and binding machines, received the following telegram from Christchurch to-day. “ Gold medal awarded Wood’s twino binder at Thursday’s grand trial, beating all English and American machines.”

Bishop Redwood lays the foundation stone of a new Catholic Church at Ashburton to-morrow.

A member of the Waikouaiti Eifles did some extraordinary shooting| whilst firing for the district prizes. He failed to hit the target in twentyone shots.

At the first meeting of the new Christchurch Drainage Board yesterday a ratepayer claimed the right to be admitted to the meetings. After discussion a; resolution was carried by the casting vote of the Chairman that any ratepayer should bi admitted provided there was room for him. The Maori King and his party are being well treated in Auckland. They were shown round the factories yesterday, were given a banquet in the eyening, aud then taken to a special entertainment at the theatre. If Tawbiao does not say “ Kapai te Pakeha ” after all that he is irredeemably savage.

The “ Prarie Farmer,” a paper published in Chicago, commenting in a sort of {'Musi-facetious manner on the action of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in reference to the American protective tariff, remarks that “Australia and New Zealand afford facilities for sheep raising far superior to tho ; e at present existing in this country, but there is. no reason why such a profitable industry . should ■ not be fostered in the United States. If we undertake ,to enrich all the sheep raisers in the world except our own, we should extend the Freetrade policy to the States of South America as well as the Australasian islands. It may be annoying to the Australian colonists that they cannot dump their wool ad libitum, on our market; but the fact is they do not live within the jurisdiction of our government. If their British connection, with its open market, is what they most desire, let them remain loyal subjects of the British Empire!; if, on the contrary, they wish to enjoy the freedom of the American market, with the freedom of the, British market also, then let them seek annexation with the United States.”

It appears to be definitely settled that a portion of Hagley Park will be granted for the purpose of the Intercolonial Exhibition. In answer to the City Council and Domain Board, the Premier has replied “ When particulars of plans and conditions are received, the preparation of the lease will be undertaken without delay." It has been decided to enlarge the building for the Exhibition by increasing the width, so as to admit of four additional bays, each 15 feet by 12 feet, in each end, This arrangement will provide, eight more bays, with a total space for exhibition purposes of 1440 square feet. The gangways, or approaches, to these bays will cover some 480 square feet, so that the total area of the additions will be 1920 superficial feet. The dimensions of the enlarged building will be:—Length, 668 feet; width, 282 feet.