CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1696, 19 May 1883, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday.

The Magistrate fined a man half-a-penny for assault, saying that under the circumstanc s he would almost have done the same himself. Four of Jacob&en's diamonds have been pronounced genuine by two experts from South Africa. The first animal meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held to-night in the Piovineinl Council Chamber, which was crowded. The receipts for the ten months amounted to £110, and the expenditure to £104. Piizes to children for an eosay on the duty of kindness to animals weie distributed. There were 31 competitors classified under 10 years, 12 years, 14 and 16 years. The young people's brauch numbers 900. Last Night. This afternoon Harriet Downey was committed for trial for setting fire to a house at Hallwell on April 21st, the property of Mr Sabey. Three nine-roomed houses belonging to L. and W. Hall, carpenters, Pounds Road, Sydneham, was burnt down at 4 a.m. to-day. The cause is unknown. T'tie houses are insured in the Standard for £000, in the Union for £300, in the Norwich for £800, nnd in the Northern for £200. The Hall's lived in one of the hous«3. The furniture was iusured m the New Zealand office for £400. In another of the houses occupied by Mr Kolly, the furmtuie was insured in the National for £300. The third house was empty, The fire began in Hall's kitchen. Brown's saw-mill, near the gas-works, Sydenham, was buined down about the same time. It was insured in the New Zealand Office for £750. The origin is not known.