NEW PLYMOUTH, this day.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2716, 6 January 1879, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH, this day.

At the Government land sale to-day several sections of rural land in standing bush, near Stratford Road, were sold at from £3 to £S per acre. The silt of the graphite has been discovered in one of the rivers of the Waimate Plaius. CHRISTCHUKCH, this day. BETTTING ON DUNEDIN CUP. The weather is now favourable for the crops, and wheat will average better than was anticipated, but will be considerably under that of last season. Increased averages will, however, give an available surplus for exportation about equal to that of last year. Old stocks of wheat arc working ofF. Sales are made at 4s and -Is 3d ; flour, £9 10s, £10, £10 10s ; feed oats, 4s; hams and bacon, SJd; butter, 9d and lOd ; cneese, 7id. The '"' i.yttelton Times" enlargement only contains seven columns instead of eight as before it is intended to lay a large portion of the rails between Christchiuch an<t Dunedin with 421bs, steel rails, equal to 6'4lbs iron. This is rendered necessary by the heavy tralli c. It is understood that if repairs to Rangatata bridge are not completed before next flood, it will again be partially carried away. Improvements are now going on at the Waimakiri with a view to pieveution of floods doing damage to the railway in future. They are estimated to cost £10,000. A sum of £10,000 was voted for a new wing to Sunnyside Asylum, but as lowest tender is £30,000, only a portion of the work can be gone on with at present, or less elaborate plans will have to be prepared. The Caledonian Sports of to-day have been postponed till Monday on account of heavy rain. The number of immigrants nominated at Dunedin oifice duiing the past mouth was 72 souls, equal to 5S statute. Those nominated at Invercargilll were 26 souls, equal to 23 statute adults. Owing to the aosence of the bookmaking fraternity at Auckland meeting, the betting on the Dunedin Cup has been rather slack. The following are the latest quotations :— 8 to 1 against Fishhook and Titania ; 9 to 1 Mata and Templeton ; 100 to S Camballo and Fallacy ; 100 to 7 Mufti and Chau- , cellor; 100 to 6 Natator, Insolvent, and Sinking Fund ; 100 to 5 Danebury, Nemo, Cloth of Gold, Jangler, Longhands, and Lsertes ; 100 to 4 York ; 100 to 1 the rest.

The management of the Athenajum is giving much dissatisfaction.

There was a perfect deluge of rain throughout the northern district on Saturday night.

Baker and Farron bring their performances to a close to-night.

A contract of atnouuting to £36,000 is going on iv connection with the Lyttelton harbour. The Waimakauri Protective Works are being proceeded with as fast as possible. They are expected to cost £12,000. Ledward Dudley for many years connected with the hotel trade in Christenurch, fell and died in a lit yesterday morning.