CHRISTCHURCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3561, 7 December 1882, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

December 7

A meeting of shareholders in the Southern Cross Petroleum Company was held last night, twelve thousand shares being represented. It was resolved to protest against the proposal by the directors to let fifty acres of the company's ground on tribute, and Mr W. Wilson was appointed to represent the shareholder at the meeting to be held shortly at Gisborne. For some little time after sunrise this morning slight cirrus clouds proved an obstacle to clear definitions of the transit of Venus, but during the later stages the atmosphere was perfectly clear. Immense numbers of people were watching the phenomenon, and the operations by the English observers at Burnham were highly successful. Another case of violent assault in the streets was before the 11.M. Court yesterday. From the evidence given it seemed that the prisoner, whose name was Brown, met a man named Holt at AdJington, seized him, and with the assistance of another man knocked him down. Brown accused Holt of being a Fenian, crying out, " Rob him and dovvu him." In Court, Brown said he respected the complainant as a brother. His Worship said the prisoner took a siugular way of showing hi,s respect, and remanded him, bail being allowed. At Leeston early yesterday morning a " swagger" who had been about the place for the past three or four days was found dead in the middle of the road with bis throat cut. It is understood be was suffering from a weak constitution, aud was also deranged. A lively discussion took place at the

meeting of the Kaiapoi Borough Council on Thursday night respecting the action of the auditors in passing and signing as correct the annual balance-sheet, when at the same time the rate-book had not been submitted to them. By a list then read it was showu there was £329 outstanding in rates. It was finally resolved that the accounts be re-audited, and that Councillor Champion and the Mayor act with the auditors.