NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1108, 22 April 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By TeleErapU.-Prcss Association.! VERV WELCOME RAIN. Christchurch, April 21. the prolonged spell of dry weatheP which has recently affected the country districts of Canterbury was broken last night by heavy and very welcome rain lrora the north-east, which has every appearance of continuing. The raiii will have comparatively small effect in town. It is in the country that tho great benefit will ho felt, as alonn- tho sea. coast from Timaru to the Peninsula land has been parched, and feed had become scarce. Heavy showers on faster Monday freshened things up a little, hut these were by no means sufficient to do much permanent good. Now, however, there appears to bo some chance of a thorough soaking. Unfortunately this rain has como too late to save tho turnii) crtm, which has been practically ruined by aphides and other pests. Incidentally tho rain will mako ploughing operations possible, tho ground for somo little time past having been too hard to bo broken. Timaru, April 21. Welcome ram has been falling and has not yet ceased. .. 6UCAR DISCOUNTS; Croymouth, April 2i. Great indignation is expressed by the public and merchants in tho town by the refusal of the Colonial Sugar Company to allow any bonus on direct purchases unless of £500 worth or over. This must prove detrimental to working men, who strongly condemn tho tactics of the Sugar Company. The Grevmouth Chamber of Commerco has taken tho matter m hand, and it will bo laid before parliament. The company now allowed tho following discounts:—On n™ y P urcha ses of tho value of f °°svU ,er o Ccllt; of £1000 > 2 l> er «>»*■ I of £20f10,'3 per cent.; of £10,000, 41 per cent. No restriction is placed upon' purchasers as to where or fm« whom they shall, buy their sugar,. DRAUCHTS CHAMPIONSHIP/ Ounedln, April 21, Iho Australasian . Championship draughts.tournament was continued today, when the fourth round was commenced, Brodio meeting Penman in the winners class, and Hilliker meeting Jigan' in the losers' class. In tho contest between Brodio and Penman tho iormer won tho first game, tho second and third wore drawn, and tho fourth won by Penman. The last gamo occupied about 2} hours, and Penman was heartily applauded at tho conclusion. In the losers' class. Hilliker. and Egan played four 1 drawn"games'. Tho handicap tournament concluded to-day, when Bruce met Kcenan, and Carswell met Matheson. Bruco ' won one game, and lost ono to Kcenan, and Matheson scored a win, and had a draw against Carswell. Tho following aro the scores .-—Bruce, 16} .points; Matlioson, 16 points; Ilutton, 12J points; Lang, 12J- points; Kcenan, 12 [mnlac Moore, 11.J- points; Botting. 11 point;* Gillies, 10 points; Penman, 0 points Carswell, 0 points; Morris, 61 points' Edwards, 5j points. THE HON T. MACKENZIE. Walmate, April 21. The Hon. T. Mackenzie paid a short visit here to-day, and received deputations in regard to the Woihao Downs railway extension, experiment farm, and the acquiring of Keley's Bush, where tho head works of the town water supply is located. The Minister said he would give tho matters his best attention. HASTINGS CENSUS. Hastings, April 21. Tho census shows the population of Hastings as 6270, an increase of 1678 since 1900.