SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 11666, 28 September 1901, Page 6

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

CHRISTCHURCH, September 28

The rain which everybody has been longing for has come. It began to fall early on Wednesday morning, and has continued with short intervals ever since. At first it was warm, but yesterday the wind changed to south-west, and now the temperature, is much lower. The farmers are naturally jubilant at tho rainfall, but would like' a little sunshine now for young lambs. There are signs of the weather clearing this morning. Menschikoff and his two-year-old stable companion, Step-daughter, by Stepniak— Marion, leave to-day to fulfil their respective engagements at the Hawke's Bay meet-' ing. The superintendent of the Sailors' Home ot Lvttelton (Captain Robert Owen), who saw the historic race for the America Cup in 1851, retains a vivid recollection of the contest. He was shown over the America a few days before the race. He says that no doubt the American representative was the best boat, but her sails, as much as her hull, won her tho race; they were as flat as boards.

In opposition to the theory that the present influenza epidemic is a form of malaria introduced by the returned troopers, one.of the returned contingenters writes to to-day's 'Times'that the regimental doctors in South Africa regard that particular fever as distinctly non-contagious. Patients on active service are not specially isolated, and in camp or on the march it is common to see feverstricken men living and messing with their comrades. It was_ not noticed that they vonveyed any contagion, and their tent-mates accepted their presence without any apprehension.