NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2766, 3 February 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A man named Finn, while burning scrub on Mr J. Perry’s station, Wellington, was caught in the fire and burned to death.

The average of crops in the Ashburton district is estimated to range, according to locality, from 14 to 30 bushels per acre for wheat; 12 to 35 for oats ; and 12 to 35 for barley.

The regular monthly meeting ef St. John’s Lodge will be hold this evening at half-past seven., The evening train from the North yesterday, was an hour and a quarter late in arriving here. The delay was caused by the engine getting off the rails while shunting at Rakaia. The adjourned annual and the ordinary meeting of the Timaru Harbor Board will be held on Thursday next. The annual report and statement of accounts for 1881 will be presented at this meeting.

Auckland seems to be the “naval station ” of New Zealand. The visits of warships, British and other, to that port are of frequent occurrence. The German war-ship Moeve arrived their yesterday from Sydney, and also H.M. surveying schooner Lark. The latter is to make a survey of the Auckland Harbor and coast.

The monthly meeting of the Timaru School Committee will be held at the school on Monday evening next, Feb. G, at half-past seven.

The Union Sash and Door Company at Auckland lately received some large orders, to complete which the manager required the men to work overtime, but refused to pay more than day rates for the extra time. The men demanded higher rates for the overtime, and have left because the manager would not give way.

Robert Finley, of the late firm of Lambert and Finley, builders, Dunedin, attempted suicide by hanging. He had a three-inch rope round his neck, specially bought for the purpose, and had made his willi and completed all preparations. His wife found him, and his attempt was frustrated’. He has been drinking heavily for the.last 'two years. The Alford Forest abduction case, which has been exciting great interest in the Ashburton district, ended in the orthodox fashion.after all. Fowler married “the only girl he ever loved,’’ to use his own expression, on, Wednesday afternoon at the Registrar’s office. He was consequently (having done the Magistrate’s bidding) discharged yesterday from his recognisances.

The contractor for the erection of the Exhibition building at Christchurch is mrkxng very fair progress with his work> and it is expected that the greater portion of the framework will be up this week* The formation of carriage drives has been completed and metalling is being actively proceeded with. The promoters, while w'lling to receive entries up to March, cannot guarantee full space to those persons applying after February 20. In allotting the positions of the various exhibitors, preference will be given to those, whose applications were earliest made. The North Canterbury Education Board have voted £lO for a bay in the Exhibition to be devoted to work done by. children attending the public schools—needlework, cabinet work, models, etc.

A cricket match will be played tomorrow between sides chosen by the Secretary and Treasurer, on the T.U.0.0.’s grounds, to commence at 2 p.m, sharp, the sides being as follows : —Secretary’s side— Courtis, Lough, Terry, Eichbaum W., Eichhaum F; Turner, Shepherd M., Pranks, Fraser, Wilson P., Haylock. Treasurer’s, oiuo--Bowie, Hughes, King, Andrews, Raymond, Jones F., Jones G., Nome, Blundell, Keicl, Shepherd, and Stevens. Members are requested to muster in good force, as the return match with Ger aldine will take place an the following Saturday, and the eleven will bepicked from members present.

Sir (George Grey is in Auckland to consult with members concerning the Otago runs sale.

- ‘ Mr P. J. Jeffreys, of Oamaru, will preach in the Barnarl street Hall on Sunday evening. Land sharking has not been confined to this Island and the Piako, and Sir George Grey might find hearer'home some reason to complain as he does. An Auckland paper has the followinglt is yet too soon to speak authoritatively of the effect of the Kaipara railway in promoting settlements adjacent thereto.- Here and there along the route is to be seen fresh fencing, and a newly erected house, but absenteeism, or holding large blocks of land for speculative purposes, appears to be far too frequent, and until these evils are suppressed there is little ground for expecting any great amount of, cultivation on the line of the railway. , j :