SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 195, 16 August 1906, Page 2

SOUTHERN NEWS.

(By Telegraph.— Press Association.) CUSTOMS ACT PROSECUTION". DUNEDLN, this day. The information laid by the Customs I I Department against Ernest James Fenn, j electrician, containing a. charge of malt- ' ing a false declaration under the Customs Act, was dismissed by Mr. Wid- j dowßon, S.M., who -based his decision on I the late Judge Gillies' judgment in the ease of Badham v. Hill. DUCK EGG-LAYING COMPETITION. GRimiOUTH, this day. "The New Zealand Poultry Journal" has decided to hold a duck egg-laying competition at Greymouth. Tho paper . bus nlmndv received sildioienr, anrmnrt. tr.

lias already received suineieni; support to warrant the undertaking. Provision will I be made for forty pens, each containing i six birds. Substantial prizes will lie of- j fcrcd, and as competitors will be re.pre- | sented from all over the colonies the com- ' petition will arouse considerable interest ! This will be the first duck competition in j New Zealand. ,

CHPJSTCHURCH GUN CLUB.

CIIRISTCTTURCH, Wednesday. { The Christchurch Gun Club's Grand j National Meeting was held to-day. There was a large number of competitors, and the shooting was fairly good, Grand National Handicap £100, second .£35, third £10: G. Bruce (who killed all his birds), 17, first. K. Gra- • ham, A. Gardiner, G. IL Andrew, J. Simpson, T. M. Dean, G. Cheeseman, T. Raney. 11. Falconer, S. Jensen tied for second place, with 16 kills each. They agreed to divide.

I RAILWAY EXTENSION. j

ASHBURTON, Wednesday. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones was interviewed to-day regarding the probability of the construction of the proposed railway from Temnka or Arari, through the Geraldine and Arundel and Ruapuna districts, to Mount Somers, being seriously considered. The Minister said that at present the country had its hands full with larger lines of railways, and he did not think the Government would 1 be prepared even to consider any branch lines until these works were completed. TIMARU TO CfTRISTCHURCH CYCLE RACE. NELSON, Wednesday. The sub-test road race to select the Nelson representatives for the Timaru to Christchurch road race was held today, over a distance of 48 miles, and was won by F. Ronghton. 0. Roughton was second and Boyes third- Nineteen started. The winner's time was 2h. 2m. 325. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. ASHBURTON. Wednesday. Mr McLachlan, M.H.R., has approached the Government, asking that the Land purchase Commissioners, who are at present in the district, be instructed •to inspect Mr John Withell's property at Ealing, comprising about 6000 acres, with a view to acquiring the same for

closer settlement. [