CHRISTCHURCH. 15th March.

Evening Post, Volume XIX, Issue 61, 16 March 1880, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH. 15th March.

The Lands Commission ia still sitting at Akaroa. Mr. Clarke presented an urgent petition from 300 natives of the Aparima, Southland, asking the Commissioners to hold a sitting there, in order that they may be heard in connection with the pnrchase of ttie Murihaku Block. The Commissioners decided to proceed to Aparima after finishing the investigation at Akaroa. This Dat. Mr. Blackwell's alternative water supply ! scheme was read at the City Council la6t | night. It proposes a system of turbine wheels pumping water from the river, and Artesian wells, through a series of mines to , a reservoir. There are three alternative plans of this description at a cost of .£106,000, .£BO,OOO, and .£73.000 respectively. The cost of maintenance of the last plan is JJ1960, and the other two .£IOOO per annum. The £80,000 scheme is recommended. The City Council last night passed a resolution asking the ratepayers to sanction a loan of .£SOOO for the erection of Municipal offices. On Saturday night a man was standing on the edge of the Kaiapoi Railway when a train was approaching. The station-master, seeing his danger, pulled the man back not a moment too soon, as in another instant he would have been dragged on and lost his life. The Review Committee hare received notifications to date indicating the intention of 1400 visitors to be present at the Easter Encampment.

A number of persons are endeavoring to form a Naval Brigade in Christchurch. On Sunday a fire broke out among the tussocks at Kakaia, and spread over a large portion of the township extension, destroying several chains of gorse fencing, and burning a ]arg-e portion of the Government plantation. Nearly all the Rakaia people turned out, and succeeded in beating out the fire before it reached their dwellings.